Chapter 299 – Delivery and A Most Worthy Name
Faith walked into the other room and opened the door. She saw Pastor Frank sitting there.
"Pastor Frank." Faith said.
Frank stood up.
"Yes, what do you need?" He asked.
"Carson isn't back yet." Faith said. "I need you to run to the cafe. Tell Abigail that we will need the hot water bottles soon. At least two of them, hot as she can handle, but not burning. Also have her get a heavy quilt and bring it when she brings the water bottles."
"Okay." Frank said. "If she asks for a time frame?"
"Hour tops." Faith said. "Probably sooner."
"Okay." Frank said. "Look, here comes Carson."
"Thank you." Faith said. "I was getting worried."
"Everything okay?" Carson asked.
"It is now that you are here." Faith said.
"Let's go." Carson said.
When they stepped inside, Carson turned to Faith.
"I just checked her a few minutes ago." Faith said. "She was almost ten centimeters and the head was pushing through. It won't be long."
"Let's get ready." Carson said.
"I sent Frank to have Abigail get the hot water bottles ready." Faith said. "I told him to also bring a heavy quilt and an hour tops."
"Good plan." Carson said.
Just then they heard Elizabeth yelling in pain. They ran to her side.
"Do you want me to give you something?" Carson asked. "I don't think it is a good idea, it could affect the baby's breathing and I don't know what condition their lungs are in."
"Then no." Elizabeth cried. "I will deal. I feel like I have to push."
"That is a good thing." Carson said.
"I am right here Elizabeth." Jack said. "I promise I won't leave you."
"Jack." Carson said. "I want you to sit Elizabeth up and then get in behind her. It will help her push better. She will be able to lean into you and you will be able to help her through the contractions."
"Okay." Jack said.
Jack got behind Elizabeth as Carson made sure they had everything ready for when the baby was born. Not sure what they were going to get, he had to be ready for any complication and he felt he was as best as he could. While Carson was doing that, Faith was coaching Elizabeth to push. Carson could tell by the sounds Elizabeth was making that she was close.
"Alright." Carson said, turning around and coming over to the bed. "Let's bring this baby into the world. Elizabeth, I am going to check you and see where the baby is."
When Carson lifted the sheet to check Elizabeth he was surprised to see the top of a little head.
"Elizabeth." Carson said. "I need you to listen to me very carefully. I can see the baby's head. You are really close. It is going to come to a point that I ask you to stop pushing for a moment and I need you to do everything that you can to stop."
Elizabeth nodded her head just as another contraction gripped her.
"Deep breath and hold it." Carson said. "Push. One, two, three, four, five, six …"
As Carson counted, Elizabeth was pushing. Carson put his hand on the baby's head to control how fast the baby was coming.
"Ten." Carson said. "Breathe. Jack, can you help her do that with each contraction? Also using your body weight, help her to curl up over her stomach it will help her push. The baby is right there."
Before Carson could finish talking Elizabeth was pushing again. With that push, the baby's head really started to emerge. Three pushes later, the baby's head was out.
"Elizabeth." Carson said. "I need you to stop pushing for a second. Lean back into Jack. The baby's head is out and I need to clean out the mouth. Short, quick breaths."
"Like a pant?" Jack asked.
"Yes." Carson said.
Elizabeth tried to do what Carson was asking, but it was hard. She felt like her body wasn't her own anymore and it was doing what it wanted. She felt another contraction, but she did her best not to push.
"Very good, Elizabeth." Carson said. "Now take some deep breaths and when you are ready, big push and your baby will be here. Just do what I say. Once the shoulder are delivered, the rest of the body will slip out. Faith, get ready to mark the time and have a blanket ready."
Faith grabbed a blanket and Elizabeth took a couple deep breaths and then Jack helped her curl around herself and she pushed. Just as the shoulders passed, Elizabeth let out a scream and then collapsed back into Jack.
"4:57pm." Faith said. "It's a girl."
Carson quickly tied off the umbilical cord and cut it. He then grabbed the baby and turned around. The baby didn't appear to be breathing and was very limp in Carson's arms.
"Why isn't she crying?" Elizabeth asked weakly.
"Carson is just clearing her airway." Faith said, trying to reassure Elizabeth. "Just give him a minute."
"Jack." Carson called. "I need a second pair of hands. Faith needs to stay with Elizabeth."
Jack looked at Elizabeth and the look in her eyes, he knew that he needed to go to his daughter. Jack quickly was out of the bed and over to Carson.
"What do you need?" Jack asked.
"Here." Carson said, handing him his tiny newborn daughter. "Hold her laying across your arm, head down."
Jack did what Carson said. While Jack was holding the baby, Carson worked to suction out the airway. Finally the baby gave a small cry.
"Good." Carson said. "Give her back to me."
Jack handed Carson the baby. Carson flicked the bottom of her foot a couple times and she let out another cry. He quickly wrapped her up and weighed her.
"Three pounds, seven ounces." Carson said quietly, but Jack heard him.
Carson looked at Jack and then down at the baby and it came to him.
"Jack." Carson said. "Open up your shirt. We need to warm her up, quickly."
Jack knew what Carson was getting at and quickly unbuttoned his shirt. Carson unwrapped the baby and laid her on Jack's chest. Then covered her with a clean blanket.
"What is going on?" Elizabeth asked Faith.
"Jack and Carson have her." Faith said. "Just focus on you. You still have work to do. So lay back and relax for a moment."
Once Carson got Jack and the baby wrapped up, he rinsed and dried his hands. He then made a couple notes on the clipboard.
"Jack." Carson said. "Keep her covered, but make sure that she can breathe. The biggest thing right now is going to keep her warm. You need to let me know the moment her breathing changes. I think that there may still be stuff in her airway, but until she starts really crying, there isn't much more that I can do without risking injury. It is up to her right now."
Carson turned to walk away for a moment, but Jack reached out and grabbed him to stop him.
"I don't know why you stopped being a doctor." Jack said. "But I am grateful that you were here for us."
"I lost my wife." Carson said quietly.
Jack nodded in understanding. He had never lost a spouse, but he had seen what it could do to people first hand.
"I don't know what I would do if I lost Elizabeth." Jack said quietly. "No explanation needed. Grief can do a lot to people. What was her name?"
"Amber." Carson said. "So does that little one have a name?"
"She does now." Jack said. "Elizabeth and I couldn't agree on a name, but she said I would know when I saw the baby. Well I know now. Would you mind?"
"I would be honored." Carson said knowing what Jack was asking.
"In that case." Jack said. "Please meet Amber Rose Thornton. Small but mighty."
With that Carson needed a moment. He walked to the other room wiping tears from his eyes. When Carson got to the back door, he looked toward the sky, closed his eyes and whispered a prayer. Something that he had done for the second time that day and that had been the first sincere prayer since Amber had died.
"Watch over that little one." Carson whispered. "Please don't take her from Jack and Elizabeth. I promise I won't let the gifts and talents you have given me go to waste anymore."
Carson took another moment and then headed back to Elizabeth. He needed to see how the second baby was coming. When he walked back into the room, Jack was sitting on the edge of the bed holding little Amber. Elizabeth was laying down with her eyes closed. Faith was over at the table.
"Everything okay?" Carson asked Faith.
"Yes." Faith said. "One intact placenta. The other baby is still laying across and high. I told Elizabeth to rest for a bit. As far as I can tell, the other bag is intact and that baby is in no hurry to get here."
"Let's see if he turns on his own." Carson said. "As long as the water hasn't broken and the heartbeat is strong, I am not too worried."
Just about that time, there was a knock at the door. Carson went to get it and it was Abigail.
"How are things going in here?" Abigail asked. "I have two hot water bottles, the heavy quilt and some diapers."
"Good." Carson said. "Baby one is here, small but breathing."
"Twins?" Abigail asked.
"Yeah." Carson said. "Probably why she is early."
"May I?" Abigail asked, indicating the other room.
"Sure." Carson said. "We need to get that little one wrapped up."
Carson and Abigail walked into the other room.
"Jack." Abigail said. "I hope it is okay. I went over to the house and got some diapers. I also have the hot water bottles to help keep the baby warm."
"It is more than okay, Abigail." Jack said.
Jack got up and headed over to Abigail.
"Meet Amber Rose Thornton." Jack said, pulling the blanket back just a bit.
"She is tiny." Abigail said. "Much more than Carla's twins."
"Just over three pounds." Jack said. "If I remember correctly, both of Carla's boys were almost six. I am afraid I am going to break her. I thought Carla's were small when I first held them, that is nothing compared to how tiny she is."
"Let's get her wrapped up." Abigail said.
Jack laid the baby down and Abigail put a diaper on her, having to fold it in half so it was small enough. She then wrapped little Amber back up in the blanket and tucked a water bottle on either side, wrapping her in another blanket. She then picked her up and handed her back to Jack.
"How is Elizabeth?" Abigail asked.
"Exhausted." Jack said. "She is resting since the other baby is content to just hang out right now."
"Good idea." Abigail said. "I let you go. I will let Frank know. We won't be far if you need anything."
"There is something that you could do." Jack said.
"Sure, anything." Abigail said.
"Get Ned to send a message." Jack said.
"Sure, your mother?" Abigail asked.
"No." Jack said. "I will message Ma tomorrow. I need to send a wire to Wynn at Mountie Headquarters in Hamilton."
"Okay." Abigail said. "What should I say?"
"Here take Amber for a moment and I will write it." Jack said, handing her the baby.
Jack picked up his coat and grabbed his notepad. He quickly wrote out a message:
Deputy Commissioner W. Delaney Sr Mountie Headquarters Hamilton Ontario
Operation BT Early. One here waiting on another. Send help
Corporal Jack Thornton, Hope Valley Alberta
Jack handed the message to Abigail and took Amber back. Abigail happened to see what Jack wrote and she let out a small laugh.
"Wynn will know what I am talking about." Jack said. "Also this way, Ned can't have anything to talk about. Tell him it is Mountie business and he better keep it to himself. I decided that we should be the ones to tell people about the twins. Especially since it is still touch and go."
"I understand." Abigail said. "I will say an extra prayer. Frank has been sitting out there praying pretty much since Elizabeth first came over."
"Speaking of Frank." Jack said. "Will you have him come in a moment?"
"Sure." Abigail said.
Jack and Abigail walked to the other room. Jack waited as Abigail left and Frank came in.
"Abigail said that you wanted to see me for a moment." Frank said.
"Yes." Jack said. "Elizabeth is resting, but she wanted me to ask you something."
"Anything if I can." Frank said.
"I know that it is highly unusual." Jack said. "But she is afraid the baby is not going to make it and wants it baptized."
"Is it really that bad?" Frank asked.
"Yes." Jack said. "She is very tiny and Carson had a hard time getting her to breathe. She can't hold her body temperature, hence the hot water bottles."
"I can do that." Frank said. "We just need a witness and a name. Later we can have a blessing at the church and name godparents."
Jack walked over to the doorway.
"Carson." Jack said. "Can you come here for a moment."
"Sure what do you need?" Carson asked.
"Elizabeth wanted me to make sure the baby got baptized if there was any question of survival." Jack said. "I know enough to know that she is not out of the woods. Frank agreed to do it, but we need a witness."
"Me?" Carson asked.
"I couldn't think of a better person." Jack said. "Amber is alive right now because of you."
"Okay." Carson said.