A Man to Be Trusted (ebook)

Argumento de A Man to Be Trusted (ebook)

Will newly qualified midwife, Sue Mccain, be able to open up and face her past in order to accept the love of the Obs & Gynae Registrar, Dan Webster?

Would you like some gas and air to ease the pain a bit, Jenny? she asked. We have it here. Jenny shook her head, the sweat glistening on her face as she did so. Im all right, she said through gritted teeth. At least, for now Im all right.

Is there anyone we should tell youre in here? Sue asked delicately. Your partner or a family member?

No. Im an academic, Im getting older and I wanted a baby but not a partner. The biological father of my child will have nothing to do with it.

Its your decision, Sue said. It wasnt her place to judge.

She reached for a cloth and gently wiped the hot brow. Im just going to check the monitor to see that the babys heartbeat is OK, she said. And Ill check your contractions, too. Then Ill do the baseline observations temperature, pulse, and blood pressure. Just making sure youre healthy. It was always or nearly always important to tell the mother what you were doing. After all, she was the one giving birth.

All the observations were fine so far. Next, Sue gently palpated the top of Jennys abdomen. The fundus, the top of the womb, was at the right height. Sue moved her hands down and felt for the babys head.

She frowned. She could feel all of the head; it was mobile. It wasnt engaged, not sitting in the arch of the pelvis. Normally, in a primigravida, the head engaged between thirty-six and thirty-eight weeks. This was not serious, but definitely a cause for concern.

Your waters havent broken yet, have they? Sue asked, trying to sound casual.

Not yet. I wish they would, I want to get on with this!

Im afraid you might be quite a while yet. Now, try to relax, Im slipping out for a minute. If you need help, just press this here. She showed Jenny the little plastic buzzer hanging by the side of the bed.

Taking Jennys notes, Sue went in search of the shift leader. This was something she had to hand on.

Why didnt the community midwife diagnose this earlier? Sister Reeves grumbled, leafing through the notes. Oh, I see. Our Jenny Doyle has been too busy to see her midwife for the past three weeks. She could have saved us all some trouble and perhaps made things easier for herself.

Ill go and find Freddy, Sue said. Behind her, Sister wrote SHO by the side of Jenny Doyles name on the whiteboard. He was now in charge.

Sue found Freddy Sharp, the senior house officer, sprawled in the sisters room, his long legs propped up on the waste-paper basket. He was deep in consideration of the sporting pages of the evening paper.

Susan McCain, my favourite midwife, he said as she entered. I knew it. You couldnt resist me any longer and youve come along to tell me that you will go with me to Merry Stirlings ball. Together we can

Weve got a problem in room five, Sue interrupted. Forty weeks gone, shes in labour and the head hasnt engaged.

Freddy knew when to be serious. He stood and refastened his tie. Ah. Waters broken yet?

Not yet. Things otherwise seem to be going quite smoothly, but

Lets go to have a look.

Sue had to admit that Freddy was developing quite a good bedside manner. He introduced himself to Jenny, chatted for a moment, and explained that there was always a doctor hanging around somewhere, and this evening he was it. Then he looked through Jennys notes, checked the monitor, and lastly gently palpated her abdomen himself. He smiled at Jenny and left, beckoning Sue to follow him.

Outside the door he went up further in Sues estimation. I think the decision is beyond me, he said honestly. I want the senior registrar to look at her.

Are you going to send home for him?

Its not necessary. I saw him on one of the wards an hour ago. Ill bleep him.

Who is it? Sue asked curiously. The only one Ive ever had dealings with was Dr Rumney. She didnt say that she had found Dr Rumney a doctor of the old school, firmly convinced that his position was next to that of God, and that nurses, midwives, and junior doctors were there to observe, admire, and say nothing.

Its not Rumney, thank goodness. Dan Websters much more approachable you can learn from him. Now, you sit with Jenny and Ill see if I can get him.

Just what is going on? Jenny asked when Sue re-entered the room. If theres something wrong then I want to know. Sue could tell that Jenny was trying to be in control, trying to deal with any problem in a reasoned manner. But she was having a baby and her body and her emotions were betraying her.

Sue took her hand, and felt the fear in the tightness of the grip. Just a minor problem, she said, quietly. To be on the safe side, weve sent for the senior man here. Were probably worrying you and making a lot of fuss over nothing, but since hes handy we thought wed have him over.

Im frightened, Sue.

Theres no need to be. Just try to relax. Youll feel a lot better when youve talked to Dr Webster. In fact, everyone felt a lot better when Dan Webster walked in. Sue could tell at once why everyone found him reassuring. He was big. Big shoulders, big arms, a big chest. By comparison, Freddy was skinny. But Dans size wasnt threatening. His face was pleasantly rough-hewn and remarkably attractive. When he smiled you knew that he was your friend, and you wanted to be his friend too.

He winked at Sue, but said nothing to her. Instead, he moved straight to Jennys bedside and smiled down at her.0