[asablehart]

The first twin progressed exceptionally slowly. Its large shoulders scraped against the tears lining the inside of Amanda's birth canal, sending waves of agony through her body. Her pelvis visibly distended when the fetus entered transition. Teirney worried that Amanda would dislocate the bones if she continued pushing at this rate, but that was a less serious condition than death.

"That's it, Amanda," the doctor urged. She pressed her hands against the woman's hips, supporting the weakest parts of her body. But, of course, it wouldn't be enough to stop the mindblowing pain.