two very curable conditions. Sara moaned as Millie squatted to place a knife beneath the bed. Later, when her mistress felt she could bear no more of the wrenching, searing contractions, she would remind her that the knife lay beneath her, to cut the pain.
Millie never really believed that the knife cut the pain. Instead, she had seen that images and ideas worked wonders for the suffering mother. She herself had a child once, still born. She nearly died until the midwife told her, “When the wave of pain hits, tis thy job to stay before it. Keep thy head above the wave, Millie!”
Twas amazing how that one image had kept her from giving up, given her a focus and a sense of control. She had used that knowledge in aiding many births since. Millie looked forward to the time when the castle again was filled with activity and life. By the time Adam came back to pack some food, it had been two hours and Sara was awake and cranky.
“Bring back plenty of water and, to be safe, boil it as Lord Sanders says. Sara is having the baby today.”
“Today!”
“Aye. Let us hope the babe is strong enough. She is not due for another three weeks at least.”
“Might she just put her feet up and wait longer?”
“I have tried that. Her labor still progresses. Get me some water. I will need one of thee around to fetch items for me.”
“Lord Sanders expects me to camp by the stream tonight, in case they attempt another assault.”
“I care not what ye do, once the babe is born. Until then, I will need some help.”
“Very well. I will fetch some water and tell the lord the news.”
Millie returned to the master chamber to see Sara again up and out of bed, leaning against the frame. “Do ye think walking around a bit would help?”
Sara’s moan was the only reply. Millie proceeded to the cedar chest and pulled out several old, moth-eaten blankets. She would cut up whatever was not stained later and use it for quilts and cleaning rags. The stained linen would work fine for lining Sara’s under layers while she recovered from her labor. Nothing would be wasted. Come to think of it, they would need more water for washing tomorrow. She would keep the men busy carrying water today. It had been days since the rain, and the barrel was running low. She would like to use the rain water for washing Sara’s hair after the birth. It would leave her hair feeling soft and be a nice treat for all of her hard work.
As Millie came up the stairs with soap and the baby blanket she had darned, Sara gasped out, “I fear there is something wrong with the babe, Millie. He is not moving, and I am in terrible pain.”
“Nonsense, child. He is not moving because he is resting. He is getting ready to enter this world and would be remiss if he did not keep thee up all night, once he arrives.”
“This-this is normal?”
“As far as I can tell. Why not crawl up in that bed and have me take a look? I can tell how close we are to having a bairn if thou wouldst let me see what’s going on down there.”
Millie worked as she talked, placing two folded blankets where Sara would lie, then helping her to climb back into the bed. Once her contraction passed, Millie examined her patient and determined, “We have a bit to wait, yet. Perhaps by dinner time he will come.” Hannah continued to sleep, stirring fretfully and wheezing, she felt warm to the touch.
“Hannah will have to move from our way-” Millie’s plans were interrupted by an insistent knock upon the chamber door. Sir Gavin strode in and glanced about. Finding Sara leaning over in the bed, he glanced at Millie for answers.
“She is in child bed, now remove yerself from the chamber, My Lord!”
Gavin did not immediately comply. “What can I do to help?”
“Ye can fetch a pallet for Hannah and lay it by the fire. Sara needs the bed for herself. Pull Hannah’s feather tick from her bed and her covers and bring them in here. Then bring up water. I will need several
Millie never really believed that the knife cut the pain. Instead, she had seen that images and ideas worked wonders for the suffering mother. She herself had a child once, still born. She nearly died until the midwife told her, “When the wave of pain hits, tis thy job to stay before it. Keep thy head above the wave, Millie!”
Twas amazing how that one image had kept her from giving up, given her a focus and a sense of control. She had used that knowledge in aiding many births since. Millie looked forward to the time when the castle again was filled with activity and life. By the time Adam came back to pack some food, it had been two hours and Sara was awake and cranky.
“Bring back plenty of water and, to be safe, boil it as Lord Sanders says. Sara is having the baby today.”
“Today!”
“Aye. Let us hope the babe is strong enough. She is not due for another three weeks at least.”
“Might she just put her feet up and wait longer?”
“I have tried that. Her labor still progresses. Get me some water. I will need one of thee around to fetch items for me.”
“Lord Sanders expects me to camp by the stream tonight, in case they attempt another assault.”
“I care not what ye do, once the babe is born. Until then, I will need some help.”
“Very well. I will fetch some water and tell the lord the news.”
Millie returned to the master chamber to see Sara again up and out of bed, leaning against the frame. “Do ye think walking around a bit would help?”
Sara’s moan was the only reply. Millie proceeded to the cedar chest and pulled out several old, moth-eaten blankets. She would cut up whatever was not stained later and use it for quilts and cleaning rags. The stained linen would work fine for lining Sara’s under layers while she recovered from her labor. Nothing would be wasted. Come to think of it, they would need more water for washing tomorrow. She would keep the men busy carrying water today. It had been days since the rain, and the barrel was running low. She would like to use the rain water for washing Sara’s hair after the birth. It would leave her hair feeling soft and be a nice treat for all of her hard work.
As Millie came up the stairs with soap and the baby blanket she had darned, Sara gasped out, “I fear there is something wrong with the babe, Millie. He is not moving, and I am in terrible pain.”
“Nonsense, child. He is not moving because he is resting. He is getting ready to enter this world and would be remiss if he did not keep thee up all night, once he arrives.”
“This-this is normal?”
“As far as I can tell. Why not crawl up in that bed and have me take a look? I can tell how close we are to having a bairn if thou wouldst let me see what’s going on down there.”
Millie worked as she talked, placing two folded blankets where Sara would lie, then helping her to climb back into the bed. Once her contraction passed, Millie examined her patient and determined, “We have a bit to wait, yet. Perhaps by dinner time he will come.” Hannah continued to sleep, stirring fretfully and wheezing, she felt warm to the touch.
“Hannah will have to move from our way-” Millie’s plans were interrupted by an insistent knock upon the chamber door. Sir Gavin strode in and glanced about. Finding Sara leaning over in the bed, he glanced at Millie for answers.
“She is in child bed, now remove yerself from the chamber, My Lord!”
Gavin did not immediately comply. “What can I do to help?”
“Ye can fetch a pallet for Hannah and lay it by the fire. Sara needs the bed for herself. Pull Hannah’s feather tick from her bed and her covers and bring them in here. Then bring up water. I will need several
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