Farewell to the East End Read Online Free PDF

driver.’
    ‘I can’t believe it! You might have had the baby on the lorry!’
    ‘The angels again.’ The girl shrugged cheerfully.
    ‘When did you arrive?’
    ‘This morning. I had been given this address and the landlord’s name. That was the only good thing my charming sailor-boy did for me.’
    She looked around the room and smiled contentedly.
    ‘Just draw up your knees for me, please, and let your legs fall apart. I want to examine you internally. The waters have broken, and I want to feel how far you are dilated, and in what position the baby is lying.’
    But there was no time for a vaginal examination. Another contraction was coming, and the girl winced in pain, throwing herself around the bed in an effort to escape it. The pain intensified as the uterine contraction became more fierce. Ruth admired the way the girl was coping with labour – she had already had a lot of physical exertion getting to London during the past twenty-four hours. She must have been tired and hungry, and there were no signs of food in the room. She had had no sedation or analgesic, yet she made no fuss nor complaint. The contraction became even more powerful, and suddenly Kathy spontaneously pulled her legs up, gave a prolonged grunt and pushed with all her strength. Ruth only got there just in time, pressing the palm of her hand firmly over the emerging head of the baby and holding it back to prevent an uncontrolled delivery.
    ‘Kathy, don’t push, not now, do not push. The baby mustn’t be born too quickly. Pant, my dear, quick breaths: in, out, in, out. Don’t push, just pant quickly, in, out, in, out.’
    The girl did exactly as she was told, and Ruth breathed a sigh of relief as the contraction passed.
    ‘With the next contraction your baby will be born. I know you feel as though you want to push, but don’t, not until I tell you. I want the baby’s head to be born slowly. If you push too soon, it will come too fast. Do you understand me Kathy?’
    The girl smiled weakly and nodded.
    ‘Is it possible for you to turn onto your left side to face the wall? It will make it easier for both of us.’
    The girl nodded and turned over, and as she moved another contraction started.
    Ruth was on her knees beside the low bed with its sagging mattress. The light was terrible, but she had no time to get her torch. The girl gave a low scream and buried her pretty face into the filthy pillow in order to stifle the sound. The baby’s head was emerging fast, too fast. Again Ruth held it back.
    ‘Don’t push, Kathy, just pant in and out quickly. Keep panting – like that. Good girl.’
    As the contraction subsided she eased the pressure on the presenting part and allowed the head to slide out a little, until it crowned. The perineum was stretched, but was still holding it back.
    ‘Only one more contraction, and your baby will be born. Try not to push. Your stomach muscles are pushing hard enough. They don’t need any help. The baby will come anyway.’
    Kathy nodded, but was unable to speak because another contraction came almost immediately. Ruth slowly edged the perineum around the broadest part of the baby’s head – ‘Now you can push, Kathy.’ The girl did so, and the head was born.
    ‘That is the hardest part over, my dear. There will be a minute of rest, then another contraction.’
    Ruth watched the head move about ten degrees clockwise as it aligned with the rest of the body. Another contraction came quickly.
    ‘You can push now, Kathy – as hard as you like.’
    Deftly she hooked her forefinger under the presenting shoulder. The baby’s whole body slid out easily, Ruth guiding it upwards between the mother’s legs, and over the pubic bone.
    ‘You can turn over now, Kathy, onto your back, and look at your baby. It’s a little boy.’
    The girl rolled over and raised her head.
    ‘Oh, bless him. A sailor’s son. Isn’t he tiny, nurse?’
    The baby was indeed tiny, smaller than Ruth had expected from her