privileges

So this weekend the first mom had her baby. The dad called at 3am, with contractions going for 15-20 minutes. I was halfway there when he paged again at 3:15, saying she had some rectal pressure. I told them to GO TO THE HOSPITAL NOW!!! (They were adamantly against a home birth, which I tried to encourage them to consider because she went so fast with her first, but they weren't comfortable with that option). I slowed down from 150km/hr and pulled over to assemble the cavalry. Called the backup midwife on her home phone: no answer. Cell phone: no answer. Paged. Five minutes later she called back saying she was in a city 1.5 hours away. Hung up. Called second backup, then third midwife as I cannot even second for the birth without privileges. Made it to hospital, walked in as baby's head is showing, and the room is going crazy with nurses, resident, then a midwife from another practice... then finally third midwife made it as head is crowning, and things calmed down a bit. Beautiful birth... I was a bit disappointed but not at all surprised that she delivered.