Cold Hard Courage

[28] - Atti

[Tobias Eaton]

The rain pours loud against the house, the thunder even louder than the rain, constant and never ending. Tris groans in the other room, another contraction hitting her like a wave. It's kind of ironic that the night her water breaks, the biggest storm we've had in moths deeds to hit town. The rain pours and the wind howls. Branches snap off of trees and are carried through the sky with the breeze. Her water broke hours ago when the storm first started. We called the Hospital and warned them that the baby was coming. Cassie's words were "stay put, an ambulance is on it's way as soon as this storm lets up." Tris doesn't have that long, though. Cassie warned us that there were risks of complications with a natural birth after Tris's uterine rupture last time. But she also said that cesarean posed even more threats than naturally delivering. At the rate that the contractions are coming, I don't doubt that he'll be here in the next hour or so. I grab the phone and call the Hospital again.

"Tobias, what's the word?" Cassie asks.
"Contractions are every two minutes, getting even closer as the night goes on." I say.

'Every minute and a half!' Tris exclaims from the other room.

"Scratch that, every minute thirty." I state.
"Damn, she's getting even closer. Tobias, Tris cannot deliver that baby herself. If it comes time that he's ready to come, you have to be there for her. She might crowning as we speak. I need you do a pelvic exam and tell me what you feel." She says.
"I can't do that." I state. "I don't know I'm searching for. I'm not licensed in the medical field."
"Tobias, that doesn't matter. I need you to check. If your baby is in Breach or footling breech, your baby is as serious risk. Now go do the damned exam. I'll stay on the line." She says.

I walk into the other room where Tris leans against the bed, rocking back and forth. I approach her, rubbing her shoulder gently.

"I'm on with Cassie. She says I need to do a pelvic exam to see if the baby is in position." I state.

She nods and lays down, getting into an easier position.

"Tobias, if he's in breach you'll either feet his bottom or his feet. If he's in footling breach, the feet might be clamping off the abdominal cord. That's why you need to check." Cassie says.

Tris teaches me how to do a pelvic exam, slowly instructing me as I go.

"Okay, I feel something large and round at the back." I state.

"Yes! That's his head. You're crowning. He's in proper positioning. Tris, I know this isnt how your Birth plan was laid out, but you've git this. Tobias will be there to get your boy. You just have to push now. Tobias will call me if he needs any help. You've got this." She states.

Cassie ends the call and I walk to the bathroom, thoroughly washing my hands.

"Are you ready?" I ask, approaching Tris.