Baby's Breath (Garden of Love 2) Read online

  Baby’s Breath

  by Melanie Wilber

  Baby’s Breath

  © 2001 by Melanie L. Wilber

  Revised and updated, 2011

  All Rights Reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination. Except for well-known historical and contemporary figures, any resemblance to actual events or persons is entirely coincidental.

  Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

  Also:

  Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

  Scripture marked (THE MESSAGE) taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © by Eugene H. Peterson, 1993, 1994, 1995. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Sue, Joy, Marlo, Amanda, Jamie, Becky, Milly, and Amy; Your valuable insights into the work and heart of a labor and delivery nurse helped make this book a reality. Thank you for your time and for answering my questions far beyond my expectations.

  Sandie, Chris, Julie, Carol, Loralyn, Marty, Libby, and the other nurses (sorry I can’t remember all of your names) at Adventist Medical Center who offered me support, encouragement, and excellent care during my three labors, c-sections, and recoveries. You are my heroes, and I am forever grateful to you for making my days in the hospital the best they could be. May God bless you richly as you continue to be His heart and hands.

  Kevin ~ Your love inspires me to write happy endings. I love you. Thanks for believing in the dream with me.

  Father God, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit ~ I humbly thank you for this gift and the privilege of knowing you and being your voice of hope in the darkness.

  DEDICATION

  For you, Jesus.

  I love you more than anything.

  May I be a joy to you always.

  And,

  For my mom and dad.

  In many ways this is your story.

  I love you both very much.

  I’ve kept my feet on the ground,

  I’ve cultivated a quiet heart.

  Like a baby content in its mother’s arms,

  my soul is a baby content.

  Wait, Israel, for Yahweh. Wait with hope.

  Hope now; hope always!

  Psalm 131 (THE MESSAGE)

  CHAPTER ONE

  Newborn cries drifted into the corridor outside the nursery entrance. Josie Matthews, R.N. opened the door marked AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY and stepped inside, exposing herself to the wails at full volume. Strolling across the white tile, she scanned the bassinets for the baby she had been summoned to come for and found her patient alongside the viewing window screaming for attention, his face crimson-red from the effort. Unwrapping the warm blankets, she rubbed his chest and spoke soothing words to calm him.

  “What’s the matter, little one? Are you hungry?”

  The baby let out another piercing cry, flailing his thin arms in all directions.

  “Oh, I know. Don’t worry. We’ll get a fresh diaper on you and take you to your mama.”

  The babe wasn’t convinced. Josie removed the wet diaper and reached for a dry one in the cabinet below the bed. The newborn stopped shrieking for a moment, let out a few exhausted sobs, and then resumed his incessant wails. Her tiny patient’s legs had discovered their freedom to kick, and Josie struggled to fasten the tabs around the minuscule waist.

  “Well, you sure are an active one,” she said, tucking a strand of her dark hair behind her ear when she completed the task. “No wonder you have such an appetite.”

  Pulling the blue gown over the newborn’s busy feet, she wrapped him loosely in his blanket and wheeled the bassinet unit out of the room. The motion calmed the infant, and the otherwise vacant hallway returned to its peaceful nighttime state.

  It had been a typical night in the maternity ward of Willamette Hospital. Josie had already seen one baby born, the little guy currently demanding her attention. His mother had been in labor when she arrived for her twelve-hour shift at 7 p.m., and Josie had taken over her care, helping the first-time mom through an uncomplicated delivery. She had taken the baby to the nursery to allow Beth to get some rest after an exhausting day.

  Josie saw the young woman sleeping in the darkness when she entered the private room. The baby quickly took care of that, letting out another desperate cry. Josie turned on a soft light near the door. Beth stirred and blinked her eyes open.

  “Hi, Beth,” she said. “I have someone here who’s asking for you.”

  A smile spread across the young mother’s face despite the rude awakening. Josie pushed the bassinet close to the bed and began examining the infant while she gave Beth time to wake up a bit. The baby quieted again, finding his tiny fist and smacking his little mouth around it while Josie listened to his heart and lungs.

  When she finished her quick exam of the healthy newborn, she turned her attention to Beth. “I hope you got some sleep.”

  “A little,” Beth replied. “Thanks for taking him to the nursery.”

  Josie checked her patient’s abdomen for firmness and asked some routine questions. Taking a pen from the front pocket of her deep teal uniform, she noted Beth’s responses on her chart. Everything sounded fine.

  “Do you need some more pain medication?”

  Beth nodded. “That would be nice. Could I get some juice or something too? My throat feels like sandpaper.”

  “Absolutely,” Josie said, turning back to the infant and swaddling the newborn tightly in the soft blanket covered with blue bunnies. “I’ll help you get started with feeding him first.”

  Josie showed the first-time mother how to hold the baby properly for breast-feeding and gave her some gentle reminders about what to do. The baby let out a few more cries before he latched on and began to nurse.

  “Is this right?” Beth asked.

  Josie smiled. “Perfect,” she replied and reached for the thermometer to check Beth’s temperature. “Just remember to be patient and relax. You’ll get the hang of it in no time.”

  Beth lifted her eyes from the peaceful infant after Josie had completed all of her routine duties and was about to leave to get the medication for her.

  “Thanks for all your help, Josie.”

  “My pleasure.”

  “You’ve been so great all night. I wanted to thank you earlier for helping me through labor. I couldn’t have kept pushing without you.”

  “Oh, I think you could have,” she said. “But you’re welcome. This is what I do.”

  “You do it well.”

  Josie smiled, not taking Beth’s words lightly. As a labor and delivery nurse, she always strived to help her patients make the best of their childbirth experience. She also enjoyed caring for them as they recovered and learned to care for their newborns.

  Josie left the room to retrieve the medicine and juice Beth had requested. She delivered the pain pills along with some apple juice and fresh water. After seeing that Beth had gotten the baby to eat successfully on one side and he had latched onto the second, she took a short break, gulping down some stale coffee and eating half of a plain bagel in the nurses’ lounge.

  She needed to get back to her patient in active labor, however, and didn’t linger long. She expected Cindy would be ready to begin pushing soon. Josie hoped the second delivery of the night went smoothly and the newborn arrived before her shift ended at 7 a.m. This morning she needed to get out of here on time. She had promised Tommy she wouldn’t
be late today.

  She splashed some cool water on her face to help combat fatigue and returned to the hall, stopping at the nurses’ desk on her way back to Cindy’s room. The phone rang and the charge nurse on her shift answered.

  “Yes, she’s right here,” she heard Sue reply. Josie looked up from her paperwork. Sue held the phone out to her. Josie wondered who it could be. Doctor Jacobs had already returned her page and was on his way. The only other person she could imagine calling her at five-thirty in the morning was her son’s baby-sitter, Mrs. Ramsey. She felt a bit alarmed at the possibility.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, Sis. I’m glad I caught you.”

  “Natalie?”

  “It’s me. Sorry to have to call you at the hospital, but I had to get a hold of someone, and you were the only one who’d be awake in your time zone.”

  “Where are you?”

  “New York. I’m calling from the airport.”

  Josie’s heart leapt. “Are you on your way to Portland?”

  “No,” Natalie hedged. “I know I said I’d come when I got back from France, but the magazine is sending me on another assignment.”

  “Where to this time?”

  “Spain.”

  “Spain! How long will you be gone?”

  “I’m not sure. Probably a few weeks.”

  Josie knew how important her little sister’s latest dream of being a freelance photographer was to her, and she felt happy for Natalie, but a stab of disappointment invaded her heart also. She hadn’t seen her for six months.

  “That’s great, Nat. Really. You know everyone will be disappointed, but we understand. You’re planning on coming for a visit soon though, right?”

  “As soon as I can. I promise. Wish me luck.”

  “Have a great time. I’d love to chat longer, but I need to get back to my patient.”

  “I’ve got to run too. Kiss Tommy for me, and I’ll let you know as soon as I get back.”

  “Okay. Love you. Be careful.”

  “I will. Talk to you soon.”

  The line went dead, and Josie lingered a moment before replacing the phone. Well, that was that. No use dwelling on it. She and the rest of the family were used to Natalie’s whims.

  Shifting her thoughts back to the task at hand, she returned to Room 226 and saw Cindy’s doctor had arrived. Josie always enjoyed assisting Dr. Jacobs, an experienced, caring obstetrician who listened to his patients and treated each one on an individual basis. She discussed Cindy’s progress with him, and they agreed the time had come.

  “Okay, Cindy. This is it,” she said. “Time to start pushing.”

  Josie reminded Cindy about proper breathing and focusing on pushing the baby out. She helped her get into a semi-upright position on the bed, the way Cindy had felt most comfortable delivering her first baby. Her husband sat close beside her, rubbing her back and shoulders and murmuring loving words. Josie wondered if her patient knew how blessed she was to have such a supportive mate. Not all women did.

  When another contraction began, they were all ready. An epidural masked Cindy’s pain. Josie allowed Cindy’s husband to do the “coaching,” but she was right there also to offer words of encouragement and instruction.

  “You’re doing great, Cindy,” she told her, keeping a close eye on the fetal heart rate and Cindy’s blood pressure. “Everything looks fine.”

  When the contraction subsided, Cindy leaned back to relax and managed a brief smile. “Can you turn up the music, please?”

  Josie stepped across the laminate hardwood floor, designed to give the birthing suite a more homey appearance, and turned the volume knob on the stereo. The sound of rich symphony music filled the spacious room, and Josie watched Cindy lose herself in the intense melody.

  Scanning the equipment tray and supplies, Josie checked to see that everything was in place. She grabbed some receiving blankets from the cupboard, laid them on the warmer, and turned on the heating element. After four years of working as a nurse at Willamette Hospital in the heart of downtown Portland, her duties had become routine. She‘d performed these same tasks hundreds of times--the second time tonight--and yet welcoming a new life into the world could never be taken for granted.

  For the next thirty minutes Josie continued to monitor Cindy’s contractions and provide verbal instruction to help her push effectively. She also kept a close eye on the baby’s heart rate, making sure the little one was doing okay. The baby’s descent progressed steadily until the head began to crown.

  “Okay, Cindy,” Dr. Jacobs’ soothing and confident voice coaxed. “Push strong and steady now.”

  Josie grasped her patient’s hand and felt Cindy’s fingers tighten around her own. “Listen to your body, Cindy. Keep breathing and try to relax.”

  Cindy groaned deeply with the effort but followed the instructions well. Josie saw more of the head emerging and continued to encourage her patient.

  “Good, Cindy. Keep pushing. Keep pushing. You’re doing it. The head is coming!”

  Knowing the anticipated moment had arrived, Josie released Cindy’s hand and reached for a bulb syringe and a sterile cloth. Cindy continued to push with everything she had to give until Dr. Jacobs uttered the relieving words.

  “There it is,” Dr. Jacobs exclaimed, supporting the entire head in his large palm. “Relax now, Cindy. Almost done.”

  Josie wiped the eyes, nose, and mouth and suctioned fluid from the baby’s airway. “The baby looks great. Deep cleansing breaths, Cindy, and try to relax.”

  Cindy leaned back against her husband’s shoulder. He reached for a wet washcloth, wiped Cindy’s forehead, and continued to speak encouraging words. With the next contraction Cindy forced her weary body to push one more time. Josie willed the shoulders to pass through the narrow opening, and Dr. Jacobs grasped the tiny body with his experienced hands as it slithered out.

  “You have a daughter,” he announced, holding the moist newborn up for the parents to see. Even after twenty years of seeing babies enter the world, Dr. Jacobs had a smile the size of Texas each time he held a new life in his hands.

  The baby scrunched up her face and let out a tiny wail.

  “That’s what we like to hear, little one,” Dr. Jacobs said, laying the baby across her mother’s torso.

  Cindy let out a weary sob and clutched her baby gently, stroking its moist head as Josie quickly dried off the newborn’s wet skin and covered the baby girl with a warm blanket. Josie caught herself smiling. No matter how many times she had witnessed the birth of a baby, it sent chills through her every time. Another miracle had entered the world. She wouldn’t trade this job for anything.

  Stepping out of the way, Josie allowed the parents to have a few moments alone with their baby. Tears spilled onto Cindy’s cheeks, and the look on her face was priceless. Josie felt privileged to be a part of this sacred event, a time the proud parents would cherish forever.

  After the cord had been clamped and cut, Josie lifted the newborn from Cindy’s chest and stepped to the warmer. Placing the calm baby on the small bed, she dried the tiny body with warm blankets more thoroughly and noted her preliminary assessment: Good color, strong heartbeat, respiration rate normal.

  Josie fit a white stocking cap with a pink bow over the baby girl’s head, secured the I.D. bracelets and security band around her wrist and ankle, and swaddled the infant in a warm blanket. Scooping up the little bundle, she carried the baby to her mother and placed her in Cindy’s arms once again.

  Her duties pulled her away from remaining by Cindy’s side, but she checked on mother and baby frequently in the midst of other less-thrilling tasks. When she had finished with the cleanup and paperwork involved in a new life entering the world, the clock told her she needed to get away as soon as possible. Cindy wasn’t ready to let the baby be taken to the nursery for her bath, and Josie didn’t want to rush her.

  “Your day-nurse will be in to check on you shortly,” she said, wishing she could hang around a littl
e while longer as she often did when a woman delivered close to the end of her shift. She hated having to dash away, but today it couldn’t be helped. “I’ll be back this evening, and I’ll be sure to stop by and say hello.”

  “Thank you,” Cindy said sincerely. “You are a wonderful nurse, Josie. Thanks for everything.”

  Josie smiled and slipped from the room. She looked in on Beth once more, finding her and the baby sleeping peacefully. Hurrying to finish the last of her paperwork, she hoped to catch the early bus that stopped on the corner. If she missed it, she would either have to walk several blocks to get on a different route or wait for the later one. Neither alternative was ideal.

  Tommy started first grade today. She had promised to be early picking him up from Mrs. Ramsey’s, allowing her to accompany him to school herself. Ordinarily he caught a bus that stopped on the corner by their apartment building, but she wanted to meet his new teacher and help him feel more settled about the first day.

  Stopping at the nurses' lounge on her way out, she took some hand lotion from her locker and rubbed some onto her dry palms and fingers. She pulled the last stick of spearmint gum from the pack and folded the minty strip into her mouth, then changed into her regular shoes, grabbed her purse, and closed the door.

  “Hey, you’re getting out of here early today,” Gina said, meeting her in the hallway and letting down her silky black hair from its loose bun. She and Gina usually worked the same nights and had become good friends during the last few years.

  “Tommy starts first grade today.”

  “That’s right!” Gina replied with a smile. “Are you doing okay?”

  Josie knew Gina wasn’t referring to Tommy. She and Mark, a doctor they both knew, had recently broken up after dating for nearly a year.