Spoilers for series 6 episode 3. All credits go to Heidi Thomas McGann, Stephen McGann an Laura Main for these amazing characters.
Ever since leaving the Order Shelagh had longed for a child. She loved Timothy as if he was her own but she wanted that experience of carrying a child.
When she had been told she couldn't have children she had been devastated.
After adopting Angela everything just seemed to fall into place. She felt as though she couldn't love a child anymore even if she had carried her for nine months.
A couple of weeks after they had come back from South Africa, Shelagh had realised her period was late but she never thought anything of it. Her cycle had never been completely regular since the TB.
It wasn't until weeks later when other symptoms started to show themselves. Her breasts were tender, she had light cramping and she seemed to always be tired. Something else which was starting to become a problem was the nausea. Breakfasts had become impossible. She tried so hard to hide it from Patrick, there was no point in worrying him.
After being told all those years ago that it would be very unlikely that she would conceive because of scarring throughout her pelvic organs, she had let go of the dream to carry a child.
Being a midwife she knew what all these symptoms were telling her but she didn't want to get her hopes up.
She snuck a test in with the others at the surgery for them to be sent off to the London and got Patrick to sign the form without him even noticing.
When the test results came back a couple of weeks later she couldn't believe the result.
Shelagh Turner was pregnant!
She confided in Sister Julienne. The woman had been like a mother to her ever since she joined the Order and their relationship was still as strong as ever.
Shelagh was so scared. Being a Midwife and pregnant were two things that didn't go together very well. Shelagh's mind was constantly filled with everything that could possibly go wrong.
It took her a while to decide on how to tell Patrick. She never thought she would get to do this. Looking down at her engagement ring she came up with the perfect way to tell him.
They were alone in the surgery together when Shelagh had given him a note from her and someone else just like he had given to her only years previous.
He was just as shocked about the whole thing as she was, but he couldn't have been happier.
Their love for each other is so strong. They stayed in their bubble of happiness for a few weeks until it was suddenly popped when they got the news they were going to be inspected.
In the days leading up to inspection things were very stressful. Shelagh had spent that last few days alone in the maternity home ran off her feet, which Patrick was not happy about and soon made himself vocal to Sister Ursula.
Shelagh's uniform had become too tight as her bump was starting to make an appearance.
Both Shelagh and Patrick were sat in their living room while she let out her uniform and he typed up everything ready for the inspection.
Things were very tense.
"Oh hells bells" He shouted
"Patrick I told you I'll do that"
"No no you're busy ... Mending your dress" He said in a sarcastic voice
This made Shelagh angry "It is not a dress it is my uniform and I'm not mending it I'm letting it out at the seams so I can look cool, calm, collected and professional during the inspection.
They were staring into each other's eyes when they both just laughed realising they were arguing over nothing.
Patrick outstretched his arm towards his wife and she got up and went and sat on his knee putting her arm around his shoulder and him putting his arm around her waist.
"We could try being cool, calm, collected and professional now really"
"Yes we could but I'm not convinced that it would speed up my mending or your typing" She let out a sigh
"We'll pull through … We always do" He said looking lovingly into her eyes.
He leaned in kissing her forehead and moved his hand round so that it was resting on her bump.
"Anyway we have this little miracle to look forward to" Patrick said rubbing his hand over her belly
She placed her hand over the top of his "I know this will make everything worth it"
The next day all things were go as they waited for the man from the Board of Health to arrive. The Maternity home was busy as always and Shelagh was rushed of her feet. She had been having some light cramping but didn't want to worry Patrick, especially since Mr Greenwood from the Board of Health had arrived, so she just carried on with her day. Everything had been totally forgotten about during the emergency and they were just focusing on mother and child. It wasn't until they had got them into the ambulance and the ambulance pulled away that Shelagh realised the pains were getting worse.
Shelagh took herself off to the smallest room. She knew there was something wrong. As soon as she saw the blood on her knickers the tears started falling freely and she began to panic. Being a Midwife she had seen this happen time and time again so she knew what was happening.
She pulled herself together the best she could and went straight to the phone to ring Nonnatus House.
Nurse Crane answered the phone.
"Hi Nurse Crane it's Shelagh I need to get to St Cuthbert's … Could you please give me a lift?" Her voice was very shaky
"Off course I'll be right over"
Patrick had just popped back to his office to get something when he saw Shelagh.
"Shelagh, sweetheart what is the matter?"
"Patrick, Patrick" Her voice shaking as she started to cry again
"Take deep breaths for me darling and tell me what's wrong"
"I'm bleeding" Patrick instantly new what she meant. It was always a possibility when there had been such damage to her reproductive organs. It still didn't make things any easier.
He took hold of her hand and gave it a light squeeze "Right we'll go to St Cuthbert's now and we'll get this sorted"
"Patrick you can't we've got the inspection, Nurse Crane is going to take me"
Just then Nurse Crane walked in.
"Shelagh, right now nothing is more important than you and our baby … Nurse Crane can hold the fort" He said looking over to Nurse Crane
"Off course I can Dr Turner … Off you go everything will be fine here"
They made their way out of the door. Patrick put his arm around Shelagh's waist to help her to the car, she couldn't stop shaking.
The journey was silent. Patrick didn't know what to do. All his years of medical practice in obstetrics could not have prepared him for this.
Shelagh had her fists clenched on her lap. Patrick took his hand off the wheel and placed it on top of hers. He looked over to her with a worrying look on his face. He had always admired his wife's faith, but never really had one himself but right now all he could do was pray that everything was going to be alright.
Patrick pulled into a parking space and turned off the engine.
They were in silence just holding hands.
"Patrick I'm scared"
He turned to her and placed his fingers from his right hand under her chin gently lifting her head up to look at him.
"Hey … I am not going to leave you … I will do everything I can to make this better"
He got out of the car and went straight round to help his wife out before locking the door. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead.
She felt so safe and protected in his arms.
As soon as they got into St Cuthbert's Shelagh was taken away and they started running tests and carrying out checks.
Patrick was sent into an empty room to wait. This was the last thing he needed, to be sat alone with just his thoughts to keep him company. His heart was breaking seeing Shelagh so upset.
A little while later Shelagh was put onto the ward and Patrick could go and see her. When he went in he saw his poor Shelagh sat in the bed, she looked so small and fragile.
The doctor was stood by Shelagh's bed telling her they were going to run some more tests. The doctor then made his way over to Patrick.
"You did the right thing bringing your wife in … We're going to admit her … The bleeding has stopped for now but even with complete bed rest she may still abort spontaneously … You do know that don't you"
"Y-yes I'm a doctor"
"It never makes it any easier when family are concerned" The doctor said placing a comforting hand on Patrick's arm
"No it doesn't, but thank you doctor for what you've done"
The doctor walked off to see his next patient and Patrick turned to look at Shelagh. She was just cradling her bump with tears in her eyes. All he wanted to do was make everything better for her.
He walked over to her and sat on the chair by her bedside and placed his hand around hers resting on her small bump.
"I'm so sorry" She cried
"My darling you have nothing be sorry for"
"I have failed you"
"Shelagh, don't talk like that … We were happy before and we will be happy again no matter what happens"
Patrick got on the bed beside her and pulled her into his chest as she quietly sobbed.
"I love you so much Shelagh … We will get through this I promise"
She lifted her head up and looked into his eyes. "I love you Patrick"