Forehead creased as he felt around, Corsi’s eyes lifted to mine, and immediately, I knew whatever the issue was, it wasn’t good.
“Speak,” I commanded.
“Mrs. Bellini brought to our attention earlier that the baby has been unusually active throughout labor. It would seem that the little one’s gymnastics have put him in a position that isn’t conducive to a vaginal delivery.”
Rory clung to me, begging, “Don’t let him slice me open. I don’t want to die.”
With my lips pressed to the side of her head, I shushed my wife gently. “That’s not going to happen, because I’m sure Dr. Corsi has a plan. Isn’t that right?”
The look I shot in his direction told him if he didn’t have a plan, he’d better think of one, and quickly.
The doctor cleared his throat, voice coming out strained; he was likely scared for his life if this went sideways. “The baby is presenting shoulder first. I could attempt an internal version, which would require me to reach inside to turn him head down again, but I must warn you, without pain medication, the procedure will no doubt be excruciating.”
“Is that the only option other than surgery?”
He ducked his head. “Yes, sir.”
“Then do it.”
That was all the consent he needed to proceed. Retrieving his bag from nearby, he pulled out a syringe and a small pair of metal scissors. I arched an eyebrow at the implements as Rory moaned loudly, contorting in my arms while in the throes of yet another contraction.
Once it passed, and my wife relaxed on the mattress, Corsi laid out the procedure in detail. “While a cervical check only demands two fingers be inserted, the internal version requires my entire hand. To ensure there’s enough room, I’m going to perform an episiotomy, which will widen the vaginal opening. I apologize in advance; this won’t feel great, Mrs. Bellini, even with the use of a local anesthetic.”
When I glanced down at Rory, her eyes were blank, and I realized she’d made a conscious effort to disassociate from what promised to be perhaps the single most agonizing experience of her entire life.
“Just do it already.”
Rory hissed, stiffening when the needle pierced her sensitive flesh, but that was nothing compared to her reaction when thescissors cut into her. The inhuman howl next to my ear made me wince, and she jerked in my hold, desperate to escape what I could only imagine felt like torture, but my grip on her didn’t loosen, keeping her immobile so the doctor could do his job.
When Corsi pulled his hands away, the latex covering them was coated in bright red blood. With one, he palpated on her exposed stomach, locating the baby’s head before reaching inside her with the other.
That’s when Rory lost it completely.
An animalistic scream split the air, and she bucked wildly, fighting against both the man restraining her and the one whose arm was shoved to the elbow between her legs.
My nerves were completely shot by the time the doctor finally withdrew, a relieved rush of air flowing past his lips when he pressed on Rory’s belly, confirming our son was now engaged head down in her pelvis.
Wiping the sweat from his brow with the back of his forearm, he declared, “You should be good to push now, Mrs. Bellini.”
Rory didn’t waste any time, bearing down when the next contraction hit, grunting as she exerted extreme effort to birth our son.
“That’s it,” I coached. “You’re doing it.”
Time became an endless blur of pushing, broken up by the panting breaks that came in between. And yet, our boy still hadn’t made it earthside, and Rory’s energy was fading fast.
She collapsed against me with a defeated cry. “He’s too big. I can’t get him out.”
Thank God her eyes were closed because she’d have probably gone ballistic when she saw the gleaming forceps Dr. Corsi brought forth. Hell, even I was a little rattled at the sight of them. They were huge!
“I’m going to help guide the baby out, Mrs. Bellini.” He kept his tone calm, soothing, so as not to alarm her.
She was so delirious with pain that she only let out the tiniest whimper when he eased the tools inside her, positioning them around the baby’s head.
“With the next contraction, I want you to give it everything you’ve got,” Corsi instructed.
Rory mumbled something incoherent but managed a weak nod, indicating that she understood. Not long after, her body tensed, and she began to push, this time yelling, “Oh fuck! OH FUCK! IT BURNS!”
The doctor’s forearms strained as he tugged with a white-knuckled grip on the forceps’ handles. “Almost there. Keep going.”
