On Friday, December 11, Martha Ballard attends Grace Sewell, a first-time mother in early labor above her husband David Sewell’s chandlery. Grace is frightened, poorly prepared for childbirth, and influenced by her status-conscious mother, Mrs. Hendricks, who complains about Hallowell and doubts Martha’s patient approach. Martha realizes Grace’s labor is still early but genuine, so she stays through the night, monitoring the contractions and waiting for the birth to progress normally.

While Martha briefly steps away, Mrs. Hendricks has David send for Dr. Benjamin Page. Page barges into the room and tries to dismiss Martha, claiming Grace is now his patient. Martha refuses to leave and challenges both his arrogance and his failure to learn Grace’s name. Page insists Grace is suffering only from false labor and flatters Mrs. Hendricks by claiming that refined, wealthy women suffer differently from childbirth than common women, a claim Martha calls absurd.

Despite Martha’s warning that Grace’s labor is real and that laudanum will endanger both mother and child, Mrs. Hendricks sides with Page because he is formally educated. Page gives Grace fifty drops of laudanum, enough to heavily sedate her, then leaves with instructions to summon him when the “real” labor begins. Martha remains behind, furious and afraid, because Grace’s slowed pulse and weakened contractions show the danger of Page’s intervention.

Grace sleeps for nine hours while Martha keeps watch, counting her pulse and fearing the labor may fail or turn deadly. The contractions continue, and eventually Grace enters transition while still emerging from the drug. When Grace begins to vomit, Martha quickly sits her up, preventing her from choking in her sleep. Mrs. Hendricks tries awkwardly to recover from her mistake, and Martha sharply tells her that the decision to call Page has made the labor worse and taught Grace nothing useful for future births.

Once Grace is fully awake, Martha explains what Page has revealed about himself and asks whether Grace will now trust her help. Grace agrees, and Martha resumes caring for her properly. Two hours later, Grace safely delivers a healthy son.

Afterward, Page returns and tries to enter as if the outcome vindicates him. Martha blocks him at the door, tells him plainly that Grace and the baby survived only because Martha stayed after he drugged and abandoned his patient, and reminds him again that Grace is a person, not merely “Mrs. David Sewell.” She closes the door in his face, having protected both mother and child and exposed Page’s incompetence once more.