Dr. Anderson takes an extra few minutes in the break room before heading over to Astrid’s labor room. She enters to find Astrid standing bent over, hands braced against the wall. She lets out low moans as she rocks from side to side. She has donned a light blue hospital gown, but her flower-patterned socks remain on her feet. As her moans fade and she straightens up again, she greets Dr. Anderson with a smile.
“Here’s what we’re going to do. I’m going to go ahead and break your waters with an amnihook, which should get your contractions to speed up and help you dilate faster.”
Astrid nods, not overtly enthusiastically but with no sign of apprehension. Dr. Anderson decides to continue in more detail.
“You’ll lie in bed on top of some absorbent pads, and I’ll put this hook in through your vagina to snag your bag of waters to pop it.”
A nurse has set down pads as Dr. Anderson was speaking, and Astrid is already lying down and planting her feet apart. She even pulls her gown up to her waist, exposing her vagina. Dr. Anderson begins to put on gloves as she continues.
“We’re going to wait until your next contraction because breaking your water is easiest when a contraction is squeezing it.”
Astrid nods again, smile still on her face. Her toes curl a few times. A nurse hands Dr. Anderson the hook, which she holds up conspicuously, seemingly inspecting it but really holding it aloft for Astrid to see, making sure she sees its full length. Yet Dr. Anderson can still detect no fear from her.
None of this is necessary. Her contractions are progressing nicely, as is her dilation. But Dr. Anderson thinks it might take a bit of intervention to break the morale of this girl. The pain of what she’s about to do as well as the more intense contractions that it promises will surely take their toll on her.
“Let me know when you feel a contraction.”
“I’ll make sure I groan extra loudly so you know.”
She’s spirited. Wry and humorous about her pain. Dr. Anderson laughs. She pulls Astrid’s gown up past her belly. She waits.
Astrid takes a deep breath. Her brow begins to furrow. She grimaces as her breath catches in her throat. She lets out a whimper.
The question is unnecessary; her struggles are as plain as day. Eyes closed, whimpering, she nods. Incredibly, even as she groans, her thighs obligingly pull apart wider to let Dr. Anderson do her work. Such obedience even through pain. Her feet shuffle apart while her toes curl and flex.
Dr. Anderson pauses, enjoying the sound of Astrid’s whimpers. They grow in pitch and she begins to moan louder. Dr. Anderson presses her thighs together as wetness returns between her legs, before she inserts her fingers.
Astrid cries out. Her hands instinctively grab at the bedspread. Her feet curl tight, remaining planted apart.
Her head begins to turn feverishly as her whimpers grow louder. Dr. Anderson finds her cervix and presses down; Astrid cries out again. And then Dr. Anderson introduces the hook.
She lets the thin hook grate against Astrid’s vaginal walls. Astrid’s whimpers shudder, threatening to break into sobs. Dr. Anderson watches her face as she probes inside her, deliberately jabbing her cervix as she pushes the hook in further. Tears are flowing from Astrid’s eyes, squeezed shut. Astrid lets out a shout, head thrashing. Dr. Anderson barely suppresses a moan of her own, though it’s unlikely anyone would have heard it over Astrid’s cries.
The water gives at the slightest touch. Dr. Anderson shifts her hand inside of Astrid, allowing water to dribble out past her hand as she withdraws the hook. Astrid whimpers again as Dr. Anderson pulls out her fingers. She continues to moan for a few more seconds before she quiets down. Tears have stained her pillow and continue to glisten on her face. She wipes her eyes. She smiles again, but much more weakly than before. Dr. Anderson’s smile in return is outwardly sympathetic but hiding sadistic triumph. Astrid’s spirit is flagging.
“Things should pick up from here, and you’ll be having this baby soon.” Dr. Anderson veils the promise of agony to come with the prospect of meeting her baby. Of course, it could be hours still to go.
Astrid chuckles weakly. “Thanks, doctor.”
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