The Serial: Far From the Rowan Tree Day 32

The doctor looked a little surprised that I should want to go through the ‘agonies’ of childbirth unaided

After examination the doctor said: “The baby is on the way but there is nothing very imminent. You might have to wait some time.”

Secretly, I hoped not and chose to remember the sudden and unexpected arrival of my last baby. The doctor, however, was right in his prediction.

It was an on and off affair – the pains starting and then petering out into frustrating times of plain waiting. Not the straight-through roaring challenge I had hoped it would be.

Last time the pains came in great mountain peaks that demanded to be climbed before descending into lotus valleys.

Eventually, after Everest heights had been reached came the calmer waves of giving birth.

Unfortunately it was never like that – never predictable. I was displaced and couldn’t get into the rhythm.

I had plenty of time to reminisce on other births in another land.

Tired

Plenty time to go over, in my mind, the hills of home where I had learned so much about birth from sheep on the morning slopes, fresh with April.

I remembered the outwintering Highland cattle giving birth under the trees, their calves falling on to decades of pine needles.

Twenty hours after setting foot in hospital there was still no baby and I was beginning to feel very tired.

The ward I was in was pleasant. Up until now I had been its only inmate and then another mother-to-be was admitted.

Eve looked very young – it was her first baby that was expected. I had been told that when the actual birth was close, I would be shifted into the “labour room”.

I didn’t like the sound of this, I wanted to be left alone not moved around. At home I had always been allowed to remain in the same bed.

I inquired further and was informed by the nurse that the shift was left to the last moment because there was only one bed in the labour room and it was a case of first come, first served.

I also found out, after further questioning, that I would be strapped on to the bed. When the doctor came in on one of his quick visits, I asked if it was absolutely necessary to be shifted and strapped to the bed in the labour room.

He looked down at me kindly and smiled. “I’m pretty well in charge here,” he said. “It’s not usual but since you especially request it, we will leave you unfettered but you’ll have to move through to the labour room, I’m afraid.”

“And please doctor,” I said as he was about to leave the room, “no anaesthetic.” I had also learned from the nurse, that it was usual practice to give a whiff of anaesthetic prior to the birth.

The doctor looked a little surprised that I should want to go through the “agonies” of childbirth unaided. At an earlier date, when visiting his surgery, I had surprised him even more.

The question of his fee came up. “How much will it cost?” I had asked. “My fee is $70 for a girl, $80 for a boy.”

I was taken aback. Several ideas shifted around in my head as to why one should cost more than the other. “Why the difference?” I asked.

The doctor replied: “The $80 for a boy includes circumcision.”

Surprised

“But if it’s a boy I don’t want him circumcised,” I said immediately and then it was the doctor’s turn to look surprised.

After he left, Eve and I lay side by side, the curtains drawn between us. We didn’t speak. I suspected she was as near to giving birth as I was myself, perhaps nearer.

Would we both land at once, would there be one mad rush for the bed in the labour room? This thought gave me something to worry about.

At last the doctor decided my time had come and I was trundled along the passage on a trolley and helped on to the waiting labour room bed.

Even here, the baby was slow but eventually the great moment arrived and I heard that first wonderful cry that sends love into immediate action.

“A girl,” the doctor said triumphantly (he knew I already had three boys) and very soon he laid my naked child against my half bared shoulder. What a moment.

I looked at my little $70-worth – the most beautiful baby girl one could imagine.

I looked up at the doctor to thank him for his help and noticed his eyes were shining with that special love seen in the eyes of both doctors and nurses after the triumph of helping to bring another being safely into the world.

I felt tired after the birth but not sleepy. When all was done, the doctor gone and the baby bathed and dressed in a white gown, I asked what time it was. “One o’clock in the morning,” said the nurse. How would I ever be able to wait until the following afternoon before Ronald would see his first born daughter?

Excited

Normally he would have been there right after the birth to see our child. I felt cut off. I kept thinking, he won’t know we have a little girl.

What a lovely surprise it will be for him. It made me all warm inside to imagine the morning and Betty Jacobs rushing over to our shack with the glad tidings.

I knew she also was excited by the impending birth but I couldn’t disturb her at one in the morning.

“As soon as it’s daylight,” I asked the nurse, “could you please phone the farm and let my husband know we have a daughter?”

She beamed broadly and promised she would. I was taken back on a trolley just as Eve was brought in to the labour room.

The doctor was having a busy night. I was given a pill to help me sleep which I did fitfully, waking up when Eve returned to keep me company.

“What did you get?” I asked sleepily.

(More tomorrow.)