“Let me examine you, Lena, and then you can get into whatever position is comfortable for you. You can walk, sit, lie down, whatever, but first let me see how far you’ve progressed.”
Once they got Lena settled on her back in the bed, Sylvia made herself scarce to give Lena privacy. She joined Saloma across the room. Becky didn’t have that option, since Lena had latched onto her hand again. Her intent was to look away or even squeeze her eyes shut, but a sudden calmness overtook her, along with an intense desire to watch everything that was happening. She murmured soothing words to Lena during the brief but, most likely, uncomfortable exam.
“It won’t be long, Lena,” Laurie announced. “You’ll be ready to push in no time.”
“Gut.” Lena’s voice came out in a soft gasp.
Laurie disposed of her gloves in the trash bag Saloma had set up for her and patted Lena’s leg. “You’re doing fine.”
Becky pulled her hand from Lena’s grip to rearrange Lena’s nightgown. She pulled up a sheet to cover her, though modesty was probably the last thing on Lena’s mind at the moment. She took the cold washcloth her mamm passed to her and mopped Lena’s brow. She pushed loose tendrils of brown hair from Lena’s cheek. Lena smiled but then reached for Becky’s hand as another contraction swelled.
Laurie pulled out a contraption she called a fetoscope. She positioned one end over Lena’s hardened belly and the other in her own ear. “I’m just going to listen to the baby’s heartbeat, Lena.” After a moment’s silence, she lifted her head. “It’s galloping along strong and steady.”
Becky didn’t realize she’d been staring. What an interesting instrument that could allow someone to hear the heartbeat of a boppli in the womb! What must that sound like?
“Would you like to listen?” Laurie held the fetoscope out to Becky.
“Could I?”
“Here. I’ll show you. The baby’s head is down to exit the birth canal. Not all babies are head down, mind you, but thankfully Lena’s baby is cooperating beautifully. The baby’s heart can best be heard right about here.” Laurie pointed to a spot on Lena’s distended abdomen.
Becky placed the instrument against Lena’s belly and lowered her head to listen. “Ach! The heartbeat! I hear it! It’s amazing!”
“I always think birth is pretty amazing, too.” Laurie took the fetoscope Becky reluctantly gave up.
“You have the best job in the world!” Becky’s excited words shot from her mouth before she even finished thinking them. How wunderbaar it must be to help bring new life into the world. At a louder moan from Lena, Becky reached for the other woman’s hand.
“Breathe through it, Lena.” Laurie exaggerated her own breathing so Lena would follow along.
Becky felt her own breathing take on the same rhythm as Lena crushed her fingers. “It won’t be long, Lena,” she soothed.
“P-push!” Lena cried when the next contraction peaked. “I need to push!”
“Pant with her, Becky.” Laurie demonstrated quickly. “Don’t push yet, Lena. Let me check.” Laurie thrust her hands into a fresh pair of gloves and whisked the sheet out of the way.
Becky panted with Lena. Her excitement mounted. She no longer felt afraid or squeamish. A new life was about to enter the world. Becky barely noticed the antiseptic smell of Laurie’s prepared instruments. Her stomach hadn’t balked even once. She had been watching Laurie’s movements in fascination. Some buried instinct told her when to wipe Lena’s brow or when to utter calming words or when to let Lena be.
“Okay, Lena. You can push with the next contraction.”
Lena lay with her eyes closed after the contraction ebbed. She gulped in huge breaths of air.
“Did you hear Laurie, Lena?” Becky bent close to Lena’s ear. “You can push next time. The boppli will be here soon. You’re doing great.” She swiped the cool cloth across Lena’s forehead again.
“Here, Dochder.” Sylvia passed a fresh washcloth to Becky and took the now-warm one from her. She nodded at Becky. Her brown eyes showed the pride she, as an Amish woman, could not give voice to.
Becky smiled. She received her mamm’s unspoken message loud and clear. Who’d have thought the formerly self-centered girl could selflessly offer aid and comfort during childbirth? She really had grown up. She wiped Lena’s face again with the cooler cloth.
“Ach! Here it kumms again.” Lena clapped a hand across her tightening abdomen.
“Okay, Lena, you can push.” Laurie positioned herself at the foot of the bed.
Instinctively, Becky supported Lena’s head and shoulders as the frail-looking woman summoned enormous strength to bear down with the next contraction.
“Okay, breathe,” Becky said encouragingly as Lena flopped back against her at the end of the contraction.
“You’re doing great, Lena.” Laurie patted Lena’s leg. “You can yell or make noise if you want to. You don’t have to be so stoic. We will all certainly understand.”
“For sure and for certain,” Saloma mumbled as Sylvia nodded. “We’ve all been in your place.”
“Except me,” Becky whispered.
“Your time is coming,” Sylvia said.
“And you will do just fine.” Lena managed to get the sentence out before the next contraction hit. She grunted as she bore down but did not make any louder sound.
“I see the baby’s head!” Laurie cried.
Becky couldn’t help herself. She stretched to peek at the dark head beginning to crown. She found this whole birth process completely fascinating. Who knows? Maybe Laurie would need an assistant one day, and she could help. First, though, she had to get through her own labor and delivery.
“It won’t be long now, Lena, and you’ll be holding that little one in your arms,” Saloma said encouragingly. She had everything ready to receive the newborn. Sylvia occasionally mopped Laurie’s brow or held out a glass of water for her to sip through a curved straw.
Lena still gasped to catch her breath. Her eyes were closed and her brow was furrowed. Becky feared Lena’s strength was waning. The poor girl had been through so much. Becky willed her own strength to flow through Lena’s veins. “You can do this, Lena.” Glancing at Lena’s abdomen, she could see the tightening that signaled another contraction. “I’ll help you, Lena. Get ready to push.” Becky again supported Lena’s effort as the laboring woman strained and pushed.
“Okay, Lena, pant now.” Laurie panted like a dog.
With her face red from heavy exertion, Lena struggled to imitate Laurie. She raised her eyebrows at Becky but couldn’t seem to put voice to her question.
Becky peeked around. Her mouth dropped open in awe. Laurie was using a little blue rubber suction bulb to clear the boppli’s mouth and nose. Only the head full of dark hair had emerged. “It’s okay, Lena. Laurie is suctioning the baby.”
“Get ready, Lena. I’m going to guide the shoulders, and I want you to give a gentle push. One, two, three, push!”
The baby slipped out and immediately began crying in protest at being forced from a warm, safe womb.
“It’s a boy, Lena! You have a little boy!” Laurie held the baby up for Lena to see.
“Ach, a bu!” Tears streamed down Lena’s face. She held out her thin arms, eager to embrace her son.
Laurie quickly clamped and cut the umbilical cord, dried the baby with the soft towel Saloma handed her, and placed the baby on Lena’s chest. Sylvia rushed over to cover the baby with a blanket.
Becky observed the whole experience in awe. She absorbed Laurie’s every movement and scarcely noticed the tears coursing down her own cheeks. “H-he’s absolutely beautiful, Lena.” She sniffed and swiped at her tears before they dripped off her chin to splash onto the bed. “That was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.”
Laurie nodded. “No matter how many births I attend, I find each one amazing.”
Lena, all pain apparently forgotten, stared in fascination at her son. She cooed to him and kissed his tiny hands.
�
�As soon as I finish up here, Lena, we’ll weigh and measure him and get him started nursing.”
Lena nodded, but her eyes never left the newborn. Becky couldn’t keep her own eyes off him, either, and gently stroked his dark hair.
“Here, Becky. Put this little hat on his head so he doesn’t lose body heat.” Laurie nodded to the tiny knit hat near her instruments.
Carefully Becky stretched the little blue hat over the baby’s head. “There, little one. We want to keep you nice and warm.”
“I think he looks like a combination of you and Joseph.” Saloma moved closer to the bed to get a better look.
“He has Joseph’s mouth.” Lena smiled at her son.
“And your eyes.” Sylvia crowded in next to Saloma to peer at the new arrival. “What will you name him?”
“Matthew. Joseph and I picked that name when we were expecting Mary. His middle name will be Joseph, for his daed.” Lena bent to kiss her infant’s head.
“I like it. Matthew Joseph Troyer.” Laurie stripped off and disposed of her gloves. “Let me wash my hands and we’ll see how big this fellow is.”
Chapter Twenty
“Six pounds, two ounces, and eighteen and one-half inches,” Laurie sang out. “Not bad for a tiny little woman like you. His heart and lungs sound great.” Laurie swaddled the infant and handed him to Becky. “I need to press on Lena’s belly to check her uterus, and I don’t want her to drop him or squeeze him in half.” Laurie winked at Lena.
Lena moaned softly through Laurie’s brief ministrations, but not even the discomfort stole the peace and joy that lit her face.
“Look at this. Her belly is flat already.” Laurie pulled the covers back over Lena.
“That’s because she was all boppli.” Everyone chuckled at Saloma’s remark. Saloma and Sylvia busily cleaned up to return the room from delivery room to bedroom.
Becky swayed, gently rocking the boppli in her arms. “You are a precious one,” she whispered.
“Look at that, Sylvia.” Saloma nudged Sylvia and nodded toward Becky. “She’s a natural.”
“She’s a natural at assisting at childbirth, too,” Laurie observed. “Are you sure you’ve never done this before, Becky?”
“I’m positive. I’ve never even seen a birth before, but it was totally amazing. A miracle.”
Laurie helped Lena sit up in bed and propped pillows behind her. Becky reluctantly relinquished Matthew to his mamm so she could nurse him. Suddenly she couldn’t wait to hold her own boppli in her arms. Glancing down, she couldn’t even see a bump to indicate she was expecting. She’d have to be patient for a while yet.
“Kumm, ladies. We’ll leave Lena and Matthew to get acquainted. There’s kaffi and pie in the kitchen,” Saloma announced.
“I’ll bring you some,” Becky told Lena.
“You go ahead and eat. I’m fine for now. Are the girls still asleep?”
“I’ll check on them.”
“You don’t need to.” Malinda cracked open the door and stuck her head inside. “They’re both fast asleep. There was never one single peep out of them. Let me have a quick look at the new arrival. I’ll get you a piece of pie and some milk, Lena, so these women can rest. Would you like a sandwich, too?”
“Nee. The pie and milk will do fine.” As Lena positioned the infant to nurse, the women slipped from the room.
Once in the kitchen, Saloma sliced the apple pie she’d brought and plopped a generous piece onto a plate for Lena. “We need to fatten that girl up. Get a tall glass of milk for her, Malinda.”
Laurie sighed as she sank onto a kitchen chair to fill out the necessary paperwork. She wrapped her hands around the steaming mug Sylvia set in front of her and stared into space for a moment before pulling out a folder and an ink pen.
“You did gut in there, Dochder.” Sylvia squeezed Becky’s arm.
“I’ll say she did.” Laurie looked up from her papers. “I could train you to be an assistant in no time, if you’re interested.”
“I think I’d like that when Lena doesn’t need me any longer, at least until my own little one arrives.” Adrenaline still pumped through her, keeping her energy at peak level despite the fact that the hands on the kitchen clock pointed to two a.m.
* * *
“Where’s Malinda?” Atlee rubbed his still-damp hands on his pants as he entered the kitchen after morning chores.
“Wasn’t there a towel for you to dry your hands on?” Saloma looked over the silver wire-rimmed glasses that had slid down her nose.
“Jah, there was a towel.”
“You chose not to use it?”
“I did use it. My hands didn’t get all the way dry.”
“So you thought your pants would work better?” Saloma made a little “tsk” sound.
“It’s just water. It won’t hurt my pants none.”
“Says one who doesn’t do the laundry.”
The telltale twitch in her lips and twinkle in her eyes told Atlee his mamm was teasing him, despite the fact she looked pretty tired.
“Where are your bruders?”
“They should be along any second. Daed, too. Where’s Malinda?” Usually his schweschder scurried around the kitchen filling lunch boxes and helping with breakfast.
“I let her sleep. I don’t want her getting sick. It was nearly three o’clock when we got home from Lena Troyer’s place.”
“Lena had the boppli?”
“She did. A fine little bu.”
“Everything went well?” Rufus stomped into the kitchen, followed by Roman, Ray, and Aden. He wiped his hands along his pant leg.
Saloma rolled her eyes. “I see where you got that from, Atlee. I shouldn’t bother to hang towels out, since you fellows prefer to dry your hands on your pants.”
“It’s only water, Fraa.” Rufus gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
“That’s exactly what your son said. All of you sit down. Breakfast is ready.”
“I’ll carry something for you, Mamm.”
“Danki, Atlee. Just take that plate of pancakes while I dish up the oatmeal. Bacon, butter, and syrup are already on the table.”
“Mamm, you should have called me.” Malinda raced into the kitchen, breathless from her trot down the steps. Dark circles rimmed her brown eyes, making her complexion appear more pale than usual.
“I wanted you to rest. You were up nearly the whole night.”
“So were you.”
“I don’t want you to have a flare-up.”
“I’ll be fine. I’ll get the oatmeal if you pour the kaffi.”
“Jah, Mamm, you get the kaffi,” Atlee called. “We don’t want Malinda spilling it all over us and scorching us. She’s clumsy enough on normal days, but if she’s sleep deprived, we could be in real danger.”
“I heard that, Bruder. You’re so funny.”
After the silent prayer, conversation again turned to the previous night’s events.
“Did Lena name her boppli?” Aden’s question came out garbled, since his mouth was full of pancakes. Maple syrup dribbled down his chin.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full. You know better.” Saloma took a quick sip of the kaffi, which was a little stronger than usual. “His name is Matthew Joseph.”
“That’s a gut, strong name.” Rufus wiped his napkin across his mouth.
“Mamm, is it my imagination, or does the kaffi have an extra kick this morning? I’m not complaining, mind you. I think I need an extra kick anyway.” Atlee set his mug down and swirled his last forkful of pancakes through the puddle of syrup on his plate.
“You can always use an extra kick—in the pants,” Malinda mumbled.
“Hey!”
Malinda wrinkled her nose at her older bruder.
“I thought a little extra caffeine might be in order this morning,” Saloma said. “You can always add more sugar or milk.”
“Nee, this is fine.” Atlee took another gulp as if to prove his point. He’d probably stay wired all day.
/> * * *
As he allowed the horse to run at a brisk trot, Atlee’s thoughts turned to Becky. From what his mamm had said, Becky had been a big help to Lena and was a natural at handling the boppli. Maybe all women had natural motherly instincts. He didn’t know. But his heart had been strangely warmed as his mamm had sung Becky’s praises. Of course, Mamm would never say she was proud of Becky. Pride was a sin. Praising anyone but the Lord Gott was a sin. Just the same, his mamm did seem pretty happy with Becky’s behavior. Maybe she was surprised at seeing this new, responsible Becky, as opposed to the flirtatious girl who had stolen her dochder’s fellow.
Atlee wondered if Becky had thought of her own little one while she had helped Lena and the midwife. Had she wondered if anyone would be there to hold her hand and help her through? Surely her mamm would be with her. He wished he could be the one to hold her hand and offer her support. He wished he could be the one pacing the floor when the women threw him out of the room to do their work.
Ach! Where did such ideas kumm from? Atlee slapped his own forehead to chase the confusing thoughts from his brain. Without any encouragement from him, the horse had picked up the pace. His breath rose like puffs of smoke from his nostrils as he pulled the buggy at a fast clip. He obviously wanted to reach the dairy and get out of the cold wind. Atlee needed to get busy working to keep his mind occupied with mundane, normal thoughts. At least Becky’s boppli would arrive in warm weather. Becky again! He had to get her out of his head! Like that was going to happen. Maybe he’d stop by Lena’s after work to check on, um, everyone.
Chapter Twenty-One
“Kumm, girls. Let’s let your mamm and new bruder rest a bit.”
“Again? Didn’t they take a nap when we did?”
“They did, Mary, but having a boppli is very hard work. Your mamm needs to rest up.”
The Reconciliation Page 13