The Neonatal Doc's Baby Surprise

“Most of them do, but we take in foundlings without question. This is a safe place for mothers to leave their unwanted babies. And one or two babies belong to mothers who had difficult deliveries and need their rest. That’s why we have this many in here right now.”

The baby Lucius held let out a gentle sigh.

“I see you have some skill in this area too,” said Amanda.

“Thanks. This is a good place to come and decompress.”

Lucius needed to decompress? He gave the impression he had everything under control at all times.

She looked around to see if the nurse had returned. “Look, Lucius...um... Dr. West, I want to apologize about yesterday. I didn’t intend to question your authority. I certainly would never undermine you in front of a patient. I’m sorry if you felt I had.”

“I appreciate that. However, after some thought I believe I might have overreacted to what you asked me.”

Amanda struggled to conceal her astonishment. She hadn’t expected him to say anything like that.

Lucius continued. “I was raised by a man who constantly questioned what I did. Consequently I don’t like to be interrogated about my decisions.”

For a moment he frowned, as if confused about what he’d said.

When he didn’t continue, she offered, “Thank you for sharing that. Now I understand your negative reaction to my professional curiosity. This exchange program is important to me. I need it to go well.”

“Why’s that?”

Should she reveal something as personal as her hopes and dreams? But her career plans weren’t a secret, and she was too far from home for it to matter if she talked about them.

“I believe coming here is my opportunity to get an important promotion back home. The fact that I’m here watching you perform such innovative procedures, and learning how and why you operate as you do, can only be good for my career. As lofty as it sounds, I want to help hurting women have babies.”

“In that we’ll always agree.”

For some reason that gave Amanda a warm feeling—as if they had found solidarity on this particular point, no matter their personal issues.

The nurse stuck her head in the door. “Dr. West, they’re ready for you in the procedure room.”

“Please tell them I’m on my way.”

He slowly rose and gently laid the baby in a bassinet. He looked at Amanda, still holding the now sleeping infant.

“I’ll see to it that you get every opportunity to learn while you’re here. Including getting answers to any questions you may have.”

“Thank you, Lucius. I’d really appreciate that.”

He lifted the child from her arms with practiced ease and lay her in the empty crib.

Amanda stood and Lucius extended his hand.

“Agreed?”

She slipped her hand into his. An electric volt shot through her, as it had the first time he’d clasped her hand. They shook hands.

Too soon, or perhaps not soon enough, he let her hand go and headed for the door leading to the hall.

“See you around,” he threw over his broad shoulder with a sincere smile.

He left her feeling muddled in his wake. One minute he had been angry with her and the next he’d acted with understanding and been agreeable.

And he hadn’t reacted to the revelation of her career ambitions as she’d expected. What a challenge he had become to understand.

Still befuddled, she checked the sleeping baby before leaving. She liked challenges. Especially intriguing and handsome ones.

The next afternoon in Labor and Delivery, Amanda prepared to help deliver a baby. This one was the result of a second IVF transfer. The mother had conceived the first time, but lost the baby in the first trimester.

The parents-to-be were today equally anxious and excited. Just after Amanda had begun working with couples battling infertility she had learned that these primary emotions were part and package of a clinic atmosphere.

Amanda made a quick review of the mother’s medical chart on the computer tablet she held. Excitement bubbled within her. This would be the first time she’d helped with a delivery since coming to Harborside.

The birth of a baby was always exhilarating for the parents, but it was an equal thrill for the delivery staff as well. A new human being coming into the world for parents who had gone the extra mile or more to conceive made these babies extra-special. Nothing compared to the joy of this type of delivery.

Amanda slipped into her gown and gloves as the mother settled herself on the delivery table. Dr. Leah Johannsson, whom she had met on her first day at the clinic, would be handling the delivery. She was a small, soft-spoken woman in her mid-forties, with serious brown eyes. Amanda could understand why she was one of the patients’ favorites.

Moments later Dr. Johannsson entered, dressed in gown and gloves as well.

The head nurse had told Amanda there was some anxiety about this birth, since the mother had lost one baby before. She had been on bedrest for the last three months, spending the last two weeks in the clinic’s in-care unit. The goal had been to prevent an early birth.

Entering the delivery room, Amanda stepped beside the bed and smiled at the mother. “I’m Amanda Longstreet, a clinical nurse visiting from America. I’m honored to be helping with your delivery today. I look forward to meeting your baby.”

“I look forward to meeting Alease too,” the mother answered, smiling her happiness.

“What a beautiful name.”

“Thanks. We’re naming her after my grandmother.” The woman winced.

“I think Alease is telling us she thinks it’s time to meet her parents.” Amanda looked over at the man hovering next to his wife, holding her hand.

The woman sucked in a breath as another pain came.

Amanda stepped back, letting Dr. Johannsson move in next to the bed. “I think this is going to happen sooner rather than later,” she said.

Another pain gripped the patient.

“On the next one I want you to push,” Dr. Johannsson instructed.

Minutes passed, and then the doctor said, “Don’t push. I know you want to, but don’t.”

Seconds filled with heavy tension ticked by before she said, “Now it’s time to bear down.”

Slowly, little Alease slipped into the world.

The mother sighed and giggled at the same time.

Amanda switched her attention from her to the baby. Her heart caught. Something was wrong. The baby was blue. Not breathing. Limp. A pool of red fell to the floor.

Dr. Johannsson said quietly, “I need some help here.”

The doctor quickly handed the baby to Amanda. The mother was bleeding and the baby was in trouble.

Amanda rushed to the warmer, on her way hitting the emergency button on the wall that would bring additional help. Placing the baby inside the warmer, she dried her and started giving her stimulation with her fingers at the same time. Removing the wet blanket and dropping it to the floor, she quickly tapped the baby’s feet, hoping for a small sound. Nothing. She then checked the heart-rate, using two fingers under the base of the umbilical cord.

Sensing more than seeing, Amanda became aware that more people had entered the room.

The heart rate-remained below one hundred and the baby still hadn’t cried. She opened the baby’s airway and reached for an oxygen mask. A large hand was already placing it over the baby’s nose and mouth and giving it a pump.

She glanced up to see Lucius.

Still the baby wasn’t breathing. Amanda quickly checked the airway. Chest compressions were needed.

“You take over the oxygen.”

She didn’t wait for Lucius to respond. Wrapping her hands around the baby, with her thumbs under the center of her chest, she pushed.

“On my count,” she told Lucius. “One, two, three,” she recited, like counting for a waltz. “Breathe.”

Lucius pumped the oxygen bag.

“One, two, three. Breathe.”

He stayed with the beat she set. They worked for a minute. Then she stopped chest compressions and checked vitals. The baby moved. Amanda felt as if she could finally breathe herself. Lucius removed the oxygen mask. The baby let out a loud cry.

She smiled at Lucius and he returned it. His smile reached his eyes and caused a quiver in her middle.

“Well done, Amanda.” His words were soft, and loaded with appreciation.

She nodded before turning her attention to the baby, wrapping her in a blanket and gently pulling a knit cap over the now healthy and pink head. Done, she looked to Dr. Johannsson, who was still working with the mom. She checked the baby’s vitals again. Lucius still stood nearby, but didn’t hover over them.

“Nurse Longstreet,” Dr. Johannsson said, “I believe Mommy and Daddy would like to see their new baby girl now.”

Grinning, she carried the baby to the mother and laid her on her chest. They would be allowed to bond for a few minutes and then Amanda would take Alease to NICU for evaluation.

A few tender moments later the mother, with tears in her eyes, looked beyond Amanda and said, “Thank you, Dr. West.”

Amanda watched him. Lucius hadn’t moved from where he stood near the wall.

He nodded. “You’re welcome.”

Amanda studied him another moment. He appeared nonchalant, but she could see the moisture in his eyes.

When she turned again, having taken the baby from her mother, he was gone.

Well, well, well. That’s twice in a week I’ve caught a glimpse of Dr. Lucius West’s tender side.

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