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"Hold her legs back and open," I co down their cheeks, but they do what I tell theloves and the sterilized scissors I’ve never before had to use the has she been paining?" I ask as I begin ure out why the baby won’t come

"Three days," the ladies answer in chorus It’s like the vet told me: when times are hard, families don’t call hie of collapseonly this is sohter

"Has she had children before?" I continue to take her history as I oil loved hand and slip it around the infant’s skull There’s an ear just under the pubic bone Now I understand The s to co the sacrum With a tiny baby this soht

The round woman answers, "This is her first"

"Is it before her term?" I unwrap the scissors and reen eyes snap open

"We think ’s she been pushing?"

The trio look at one another, and the older wouesses, "About four hours" No wonder the patient is as limp as a wet noodle

"Okay, now, Mother" I touch the patient’s face with the back of et her attention, but she doesn’t react "You must push I’ve made more room for the baby It’s stuck, but I think I can turn it if you push hard"

"What’s her na the woman in bed

"Kitty," the albino offers

"Kitty, I’ive this your all, the delivery can be over in few irl’s eyes fly open again She’s not dead yet

"We need you to push Here, we’re going to get you up in a squat Just do what I tell you It will help spread your pelvis" With great effort the three assistants hoist Kitty upright Then, with one hand on top of the uterus and one hand below, I push down and a se apple, one of those commercial kinds at Bittman’s Grocery

My helpers ease the mother back on the bed, and the whole baby slides forth I blow on the little girl’s belly, but there’s no reaction I blow again No gri I try a few puffs into her nose and mouth, as I did with little William, but still no response No heartbeat either under the frail chest The lis there betweenEveryone but the id She stiffens her arms and screams

Maynard

"Get the husband Get Mr Hart!" I coham apron runs for hiet Kitty’s wo so hard I can’t keep et her to drink Mrs Potts’s tincture