Moonlight Road (Virgin River #11)(105)

The contraction let up, and Erin, sitting up on the bed by her sister’s head, wiped Marcie’s brow and then turned her face so she could look in her eyes. “Marcie, look at me,” she said. “Listen to me. Aiden needs your complete cooperation to deliver this baby. It’s critical, Marcie. Hang on to my hands and listen to Aiden. Breathe deep and listen to Aiden.”

“Will the baby be all right?” Marcie asked, a sob in her voice.

“He will be all right. We’ll get through this,” Aiden said. “Work with me. You’ve got to work with me. No pushing yet.”

“I…have…to…”

“Gimme a second,” Aiden said. “Pant, if that helps. Get control. Erin—coach her. Pant like a dog. Try that.”

“It hurts,” Marcie said. “God, it hurts.”

“Yeah,” Aiden said. “But you’re there.” And as he said that, he watched the bu**ocks of the baby, back up, thighs tucked underneath. “Marcie. Erin. You really have to listen to me. This is critical. When I say push, you push. When I say stop, you stop.”

Erin gripped her sister’s hand. She stared hard into Marcie’s eyes. “We will…we can. Can’t we, Marcie?”

Breathless, she said, “Yes. Yes. Please make it be all right.”

“It’s going to be all right,” Aiden said. “Now, Marcie. Push now…”

The baby had to deliver himself all the way up to the umbilicus without any manipulation or interference—that was the safest way. It was actually hard to watch; to remain uninvolved.

“Good,” he said. “Rest a second.”

It wasn’t going to take long; the baby was small and would come fast. The butt was out.

“Once more, Marcie—push when you’re ready…”

She was so ready for that. She pushed and Aiden could see thighs and knees. “Stop pushing. Pant. Hold back.” He ran two fingers up the baby’s thigh to the underside of the knee, applied pressure, the knee bent and the right leg delivered. He did the same on the left side and both legs were out. He supported the baby around the hips; to grab the baby around the belly could cause internal damage to the organs. With his thumb on the sacrum, his hands around the hip bones, he slowly rotated the baby downward until the first shoulder appeared.

“Arrrgggghhhh…” Marcie growled.

“Don’t push! Don’t push! Don’t push,” he instructed.

The baby at this point was without oxygen and it was time to move quickly, but he had to be in charge and couldn’t have the mother’s natural urge to deliver trip them up. Aiden quickly moved two fingers up along the arm, applied pressure to the inside of the elbow to deliver the arm. He slowly rotated the baby in the other direction, repeated the maneuver to deliver the second arm.

This was the most dangerous part of the breech delivery—delivering the head. It had to be done carefully. He supported the baby’s underbelly with his left hand, bu**ocks up. “Marcie, do NOT push. Erin, I need you.” He moved a hand to Marcie’s pelvis. “In a second I’m going to ask you to press down right here.” He slid two fingers of his right hand inside the birth canal, slipped them around the baby’s neck in search of a cord. Luck was with him—no cord loops. He found the baby’s maxilla and pressed down, tilting the baby’s chin toward his chest.

“Erin, push down…Marcie, push the baby out. Now. Now. Now.”

And the baby slipped out. He was limp. Sluggish and worn-out and he’d been without oxygen, but not for a dangerous length of time. Aiden had a hand on his chest, flipped him over and stroked his back for a second. He was just about to turn him right side up and suck the mucus from him with his own mouth when there was a cough, sputter and lusty cry. Also, in the distant background, the sound of rotor blades.

“Nicely done, Marcie,” he said. “Erin, lay a towel across Marcie. Let’s clean this boy off, dry him and warm him. That’s what he really needs right now.”

Marcie was crying and reaching for him before there was a towel in place. “Oh, God, oh, God, oh, God,” she cried.

Aiden covered the baby to keep him warm, but then he tied off the umbilicus. He could hear the chopper; he wasn’t going to deal with the placenta. If the placenta delivered spontaneously, they’d take care of it.

Before the helicopter landed, the door to the cabin was kicked open and Ian yelled, “Marcie! Marcie!” He stood in the bedroom door, a look of sheer fright on his face.

Aiden stood to his full height, stripped off his bloody gloves and smiled. He was splattered with blood and fluids. “Everything’s fine, Ian. Your boy is here.”

Ian fell to his knees in the doorway. His fists were pressed to his eyes for a moment. Then he looked up. “They’re all right?”

Aiden walked over to him, lifted him up by the elbow. “They’re in good shape, but they’re going to the neonatal intensive care unit in Redding, to be on the safe side. The helicopter is landing. I’m sure you can hitch a ride.”

He moved to the bed. Erin got out of the way and Ian took her place. He lifted a corner of the towel and ran a finger down the baby’s belly. “God,” he said in a breath.

Marcie looked into Ian’s eyes. “Are you really mad?” she asked softly.