Free A Midwife Crisis by Lisa Cooke Page B

belly and waited for another contraction to lessen. Then she shoved with all her might. The baby moved a little, but the next contraction shoved him back where he’d been. This would’ve been so much easier if she could have turned him earlier in labor. As it was, every time she pushed on Rebecca’s belly, it contracted with a vengeance. She needed help.
    “I’ll be right back,” Katie said, hurrying to the front door.
    All the men and Rebecca’s other children stood on the front porch, waiting for the wail of a new child.
    “Dr. Keffer?”
    John crossed the porch. “Yes?”
    “I need your help.”
    “Wait a minute.” Paul grabbed John’s arm. “I don’t want no man touchin’ my wife. Katie can do this.”
    “Paul.” She leveled her gaze at him. “He’s a good man, and I’m right here. I need his help to move the baby.”
    Paul shook his head again.
    “Listen.” She leaned closely to him so Rebecca couldn’t hear. “If we can’t move this baby, Rebecca could die. Please let him help me.”
    Rebecca yelled as a contraction ripped through her, leaving her panting and white in its aftermath. Paul blanched, nodding reluctantly in agreement to Katie’s request.
    John wasted no time hurrying to Katie’s side, getting ready for the next relaxation of Rebecca’s abdomen. He jerked off his coat and rolled up his shirtsleeves before placing his hands beside Katie’s and waiting. As soon as the belly softened, he shoved with Katie, and the baby moved considerably.
    “Don’t let up,” Katie instructed, fully aware that he probably knew what he was doing, but she didn’t have time to find out for sure.
    They held pressure through the following contraction, then shoved again as soon as the next break came. Katie felt the perspiration bead on her upper lip as they worked to move the child into the proper position.
    After about an hour of pushing, the baby slipped to the canal and Rebecca yelled, “He’s comin’!”
    “I know he is,” Katie answered, moving around tohelp with the final part of delivery. She lifted Rebecca’s nightgown.
    Paul stuck his head in the cabin door. “You can come out with me to the porch now,” he said to John. “Katie can take it from here, cain’t you, Katie?”
    Most men were funny about another man doing what they considered woman things, and evidently Paul was no different. Katie guessed she should just be grateful he’d allowed John to help turn the baby.
    “Sure,” she answered briefly, having no more time for talking. A tiny head was making its way from Rebecca’s body.
    Katie was aware John had stepped from the cabin with Paul, and she knew he had to be upset, but she’d think about that later. For now, one more push against Rebecca’s belly freed a small shoulder, and the fourth little Fisher slid into the world. Wet and wiggly, she let out a cry while Katie tied the umbilical cord and cut it.
    She wrapped the child in a blanket and handed her to Rebecca. “It’s a girl.”
    Rebecca smiled through tears of relief and exhaustion, reaching for her baby to place her on her breast. Katie loved this moment. The pain was over, for the most part, and both mother and child had made it. That wasn’t always the case and had it not been for John, Katie feared it wouldn’t have been the case this time either.
    “Thank you,” Rebecca said, tired but happy.
    “You’re welcome,” Katie said, and she meant it. She would smile for days because of this.
    As soon as the afterbirth was delivered, she cleanedup Rebecca and stepped out to the porch for a breath of cool air. John stood rooted to the spot, while Paul, Rebecca’s father, and her other children hurried inside to see the new baby. He was still clearly angry for being sent from the cabin.
    “Thank you for your help,” she said, because she didn’t know what else to say.
    “I’m a doctor. I should be the one thanking you for your help.”
    Even though his anger wasn’t directed toward her, she wasn’t