BIRTH
Short Question Answers:
1. What was the dilemma that Andrew faced after the baby was born?
Answer: After the baby was born, Andrew was faced with the dilemma whether to attend to the
baby which was still-born in order to try to resuscitate it or to turn his attention rather to the
mother, Susan Morgan, who was in a desperate state of health because of loss of blood and
labour pain. Susan’s strength was ebbing after the delivery and she was almost pulseless.
2. What did Andrew guess could be cause of the baby being still born?
Answer: Andrew found out that the baby had turned white and it could mean only one thing:
asphyxia which is suffocation or unconscious condition caused by lack of oxygen and excess of
carbon dioxide in the blood, accompanied by paleness of the skin, weak pulse, and loss of
reflexes.
3. What is your impression about Dr. Andrew as a doctor and a human being?
Answer: The story ‘Birth’ is a commentary on what a doctor should ideally be as a doctor and a
human being. Dr. Andrew is an exceptionally dutiful and kind and passionate human being. Not
only does he set aside mental and bodily fatigue to visit Joe Morgan’s house in the dead of the
night, but also he almost rebels against nature’s laws to keep trying to bring breath back to the
still born baby.
Long Questions with answer and hints
1. Describe the efforts that Andrew made in order to bring the still born baby back to life.
Answer: After pulling the still born baby out from beneath the bed, Andrew could guess why the
baby had lost its breath. The cause was asphyxia which is a condition in which insufficient or no
oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged on a ventilator basis caused by choking or drowning.
Therefore, he realized that there was point in trying to resuscitate the baby with the help of the
traditional resuscitation methods applied in such cases. So he first laid the baby upon a blanket
and began the special methods of respiration. Thus he poured hot and cold water in two basins
and frantically went on pushing the baby into the water of both the basins alternately for almost
half an hour. But no breath emerged from the baby and a sense of desperation and defeat set in
his mind. Still he wanted to put in another last effort. So this time, he rubbed the baby with a
rough towel and then he crushed and released the little chest with both his hands, trying to get
breath into that lax body. And after this, the miracle happened and the tiny chest of the baby gave
a heave and then another and then another and Andrew was victorious as the baby was finally
revived.
2. Why was Andrew so emotionally attached to his efforts to bring the lifeless baby back to life?
Answer: Hints:
-Joe Morgan and Susan Morgan were expecting the birth of their first child -They were married
for twenty years.
-It was Dr. Andrew who had been handling the case.
-Andrew had assured the couple of no complication and safe delivery of the baby.
-All others in Morgan’s family were anxious
-Susan Morgan feels labour pain before due date
-Susan’s mother informs Andrew about Susan’s wish to go through labour pain without
anesthesia in case the same would hurt the baby.
-Andrew goes on with anesthesia -A still baby is born
-Andrew has to do something to revive the baby because he had held a promise. 3.
3. Why does Andrew comment that he had done something ‘real at last’ in Blaenelly?
Answer: Value Points:
-Andrew Manson is a young doctor just out of medical school.
-The place where he works is a small mining town named Blaenelly.
-He had been handling the case of Joe and Susan Morgan who were expecting their
first child after twenty years of marriage.
-Andrew had assured the couple of no complication and safe delivery of the baby.
-He visits Joe Morgan’s house dead at night as Susan Morgan has premature labour pain
-In an atmosphere of anxiety and expectation, he works for the safe delivery of the baby
-A lifeless baby is born and Susan is on the verge of death too
-Andrew is crushed
-He first helps Susan’s condition improve-how
-Then he works massively for resuscitating the breathless baby
-After half an hour’s harsh struggle, the baby breaths
-At last Andrew can be true to the promise he had held.
-Saving the lives of two this way and guaranteeing joy to a whole family is thus ‘
something real’
Long Questions
1. Compare and contrast Dr. Andrew’s contrasting emotional status at the beginning of the
story and in the end.
2. What does the story highlight about the essence of true happiness and joy and sense of
fulfillment through Dr. Andrew’s experience.