Thomas O'Sullivan & Edith Montgomery

The Plan

Thursday. 8 days overdue. It was time. Mum was upstairs, in her and dad's bedroom, groaning slowly and rocking from side to side on her birthing ball. Bill and Edie were there too, for moral support. We were all sat on the settee downstairs in silence, staring awkwardly at the floor, while my dad spoke to the midwife on the phone.

"Right... yep... thanks... great... no worries... She's been going on for a few hours so... okay... cool. I'll tell her... bye." He put the phone down and came up to us, rubbing his hands together. "The midwife is helping out with another labor, so they'll try to send someone else, but we might have to take her in if no one comes before her waters break." He told us.

I passed a hand over my face, knowing my mum would panic.

Bill shifted awkwardly in his seat, his eyes down.

But, Edith, she stood up.

"I can help." She volunteered. "Please, I have done this before and watched it so many times. My mum has taught me everything she knows. If I could at least check the baby's position, or I could even give her an internal examination too." She continued persuasively.

My dad narrowed his eyes at her, before exhaling deeply.

"Alright, you can have a look I suppose. You sure you know what you're doing?" He questioned and she nodded.

"Trust me, sir. I do." She promised with a look so earnest that even my dad softened up.

"Okay, I believe you. Come on." He beckoned and led her upstairs.

I followed, though Bill did not. We went into my parents bedroom to find mum on her knees, elbows on the bed and head bowed, rocking back and forth.

Edith got to work with such professional actions, that I could have sworn she was a qualified midwife already.

She knelt down beside mum and put her hand on her back.

"Right. Mrs. O'Sullivan, are you okay if I help out?" She asked softly. Mum nodded and groaned. "Okay, thank you. Just remember to breathe deeply, in for five, out for eight. Try it with me." She urged. "Ready? And in for one... two, three, four, five... good.... out for eight... seven, six, five, four, three, two, one... good... you're doing well." She encouraged gently, while my dad and I watched her in amazement.

Mum groaned loudly and gripped the sheets of the bed.

Edith massaged her lower back, speaking softly to her.

"Good, try not to scream, it will only make you feel out of control. And we need you in control, don't we." She murmured.

Mum nodded and let out a quivering groan in response, before she finally let her breath go, and seemed to relax, finally breathing nice and slow.

Dad helped her up and she sat on the bed, frowning and looking uncomfortable.

Edie tucked her side fringe behind her ear and tied her hair back with a scrunchy she kept on her wrist.

"Right, could I ask you to lay on your back, just so I can check the baby?" She instructed.

With dad's help, mum shuffled into place, laying on her back and closing her eyes.

While she got comfortable, Edie smiled at me and beckoned me over with a wave of her hand.

I came up to her.

"Yeah? Do you need anything."

She giggled. "No, it's just you look so terrified in that corner." She remarked, lifting my mum's black top up.

She put her hands on my mum's big belly, gently applying pressure with her fingers and palm. She smiled so happily, when she felt the gentle kicking of the baby. "Oh, hello, Mr. You're very active." She commented, beaming. She looked at my mum. "He feels really good, strong too. He's going to be a healthy baby, and you should have no trouble later on. He's in the correct position, head right down. Now, if you don't mind, I would like to do an internal exam."