Chapter Nine
Our eighth month approached. Dr. Helga began to include in her daily examination an inspection of our vulvas. As she did so she announced to Nurse Inga the slow increase in dilation, which was duly recorded.
Also included were Kegel exercises with the added twist that we had to perform them while the fingers of her gloved hand felt the contractions and counted out the cadence.
“Good strong pelvic platforms, girls. Squeeze again. Give me another set of 20.”
Then came Lamaze instruction. On the outdoor deck, naked in the warm tropical sun, our exercise period turned to instruction in the basics of childbirth.
And finally, after a brief over night stay at a desolate port in Guiana, the ninth month came for 3 stall. One by one, each of us experienced contractions and labor p
