Rose and Anita exchanged a glance. It was clear to both of them that Belinda’s strength was dwindling and all her pushing could not dislodge the baby’s shoulders. In a low voice she said to the nurse, “We’ve got to do a crash section. Get me a neonatologist and let’s get Belinda prepped for surgery.”
Anita nodded and sped to the phone.
“What’s happening?” Charlie asked.
Rose pulled in a deep breath so she would sound completely calm when she said, “Baby’s shoulders are too wide. We’re going to have to do a C-section after all.”
“But the head’s out!” Belinda cried.
She walked to the side of the bed and took Belinda’s hand in both of hers. She gazed into the mother’s eyes and saw the fear. Really hoped her own wasn’t showing. “I need you to stay positive. We need to get your baby out, now. Okay?”
“How can you do a C-section when the baby’s head is already out?” Belinda asked, her voice trembling.
“I’m sorry to tell you this, but the head is going back up the same way it came out. You’re going to be sore tomorrow.”
If she and the baby survived.
Rose had read about cases like this, but never been involved in one. And she could have lived her whole life without ever encountering this phenomenon.
“Charlie?” Belinda held out her hand and her husband gripped it in his huge paw.
“I’ll be right here when you get out.” Then he looked at Rose, so white with fear she thought he might faint. “You’ll do it, right?”
“Yes, I’m caesarian certified.”
He nodded.
In seconds, scrub nurses arrived to wheel Belinda to the OR while Rose prepped for surgery. She nearly knocked Matt to the floor when she ran in to scrub. “Hey, what’s up?” he asked after one look at her face.
“Crash section. Baby’s head came out and the shoulder’s stuck.”
He looked at her for a moment and she felt that he could see her tension. “Let me assist.”
“Thanks.” She had no time for more. They scrubbed up side-by-side and then walked together into the OR.
The anesthetist arrived and put Belinda under, and a surgical nurse intubated the unconscious woman.
“Have you done this before?” Matt asked. “With the head already out?”
“First time for everything.” Their gazes connected and then she took a steadying breath, carefully grasped the baby’s head and pushed it back up the birth canal. “Anita, I need you to hold the head in place. Let’s go.” She glanced at the big clock.
“We’ve got three minutes people,” she snapped. “Let’s do this.”
The prep nurse had put a film over the belly and there was a drape in place to catch fluids. Rose took a cautery scalpel and sliced through skin and fat, when she got to the abdominal rectus muscle, Matt and she pulled it apart. Then, while he retracted the bladder, she sliced oh, so carefully into the uterus, causing a big gush of fluid. Matt suctioned out fluid and blood to give her a clear view. He helped her expand the uterus and then she was able to grasp the head and get the baby out.
It was Matt who cut the umbilical cord, a job Charlie had been so looking forward to doing himself.
Rose sent up a silent prayer for that poor, big-shouldered baby and for the brave mother whose three kids needed her as she passed the babe to Anita who immediately took the baby to the neonatologist.
Matt pulled the layers of muscle and skin together while she sewed Belinda back up.
She felt they made a good team. Both were fast, careful, and efficient.
She was nearly done stitching when she heard a sound that brought tears to her eyes. The child began to cry.
“Good work, everyone,” she said when she’d finished. Belinda’s vitals were good and the baby was checking out fine.
“Nice work, doc,” Matt said.
