Birth pains. (medical research scientist advocates high tech obstetrics)(Sounding Board) (Column)

My wife was writhing in pain on the examination couch in hospital and the midwife had lost her air of calm don't-worry-dear omniscience. She left the room, returned briefly, hurrying, and I heard the words "emergency section" thrown not in my direction but to a student midwife who was hanging about anxiously just outside could-you-please-tell-me-what-is-going-on distance.

The obstetrician visited briefly and I managed to extract from him that we had to await the arrival of the anaesthetist. Fine. From where? Home. Where's home? East Linton. East Linton? That's a lot of bloody miles for a tired registrar in a clapped out Morris Minor on a snowy November Saturday …