"Patrick tell me!" Shelagh's eyes widened in horror as she sat up and and tuned on the light.
"Darling, first calm down. Second nothing is wrong, just that you need to take it easy." Patrick took her into his arms and reached for the light, he pulled her pack down carefully into the covers and kissed her softly.
"Julie says everything with little Turner here is tip top and tickety boo, the only thing that worries her is that your fluid is a bit lower than we want. You know how this goes Shelagh, my love it will all be fine. You know that it will, as long as you get enough rest." Shelagh sighed and kissed her husband before turning onto her side in attempts to get comfortable.
"Okay, I'll ask to not be put on rota Friday's that way I have 3 days rest in between. Deal?"
"Deal, I love you."
"I love you too, but if you ever do that again. So help me God." Patrick pulled her a little closer and left that conversation there. Smart, man.
Days on the ward grew longer and turned into months, Shelagh had refused to stop coming into work even with her due date 2 weeks away now. She was confined to work only on the computers and working up charts. Shelagh could feel the twinges in her back, but dismissed them knowing they were braxton hicks. The day went on and all the girls on shift were in what seemed like forever labors. Shelagh shot a text to Julie and got up from her desk, she took a deep breath and made her way across the ward.
*Patient in room #7, not urgent but settled in.* -Sx
*Thanks be there in 10* -Jx
Julie looked at the door chart which only had one letter on it, she stepped into the room and her jaw hit the floor. Shelagh was sat on the bed in a hospital gown, trying to put her own socks on.
"She-" Shelagh cut her off there, feeling the pain start again in her back.
"Waters went, thank God I could at least do that myself. Would you?" She smiled and nodded to her feet, which her now very cold from the floors.
"Alright, no need to get in a grussel hmm? Here let me sweetheart." She helped her put on her thick socks, and helped her to stand up so she could use the bed as support.
"Than-ks mu-um" Shelagh was coping about as well as someone being repeatedly stabbed would cope. Julie was using her palms to put lots of pressure and force to her lower back, feeling Shelagh relax as she did.
"Mum, baby is OP" Julie let out a sigh as she continued to knead Shelagh's lowerback.
"Are you sure?"
"Positive. Will you help me get into the right position?" She stood up and took Julie's hands in hers, blue fearful eyes met strong green ones and showed their true love to each other.
"Of course, on the bed then. Do you want the ball for later?" Shelagh nodded to her as another pain swept her words away. She knew she had aways to go, but Patrick was in a meeting and she would wait for him to be done before telling him; he would only be a nervous wreck.
Julie Helped her onto all fours and supported her as she swayed her hips, trying to encourage the baby to move. After a half-hour she let out a low quiet groan, and a gasp followed it.
"Oh! Baby turned" She whispered, completely out of breath and preparing for another pain.
Julie has checked her progress again and she was only at a three, as she said the words Shelagh burst into tears.
"Shelagh sweetheart" Julie's heart was breaking for her daughter, her contractions were still spaced out, but long and painful. She stood up and moved up on the bed, letting Shelagh rest her head on her chest, stroking her long honey hair.
"I know it's discouraging, love. But I called someone to come see you" Shelagh looked up at the figure standing in the doorway a newspaper of flowers in his hand, and ice chips in the other.
"Daddy! Oh you don't know how happy I am to see you!" He set down the flowers and ice and took a seat on the other side of her.
"Hello dear" He kissed her forehead and hugged her.
"And hello to you miss 'Never comes home anymore!' urg!" He tried his best to sound annoyed, but ended up laughing. At that moment Shelagh was taken back by another strong pain, reaching out and taking Julie's hand.
"Your choice love, Gas-n-air or mild sedative?"
"I'm so tired,haven't slept in days with Angela being poorly, can we go for option two so I can sleep for a bit?"
"Coming right up" Julie returned with a small bottle and injected it into her IV line, before giving her a kiss on the forehead.
Luck for Shelagh her contractions calmed a bit, little did she know Julie gave her something for the pain too. She could still remember how much it hurt when Angela was born, right in the middle of the sitting room!
*"Patrick! Ohh-is that you?" He had just walked in the door (thankfully with his house-call bag), to find her on her knees in front of settee.
"Shelagh! Good Lord, are you alright my love?" Patrick rushed to her side frantically just as she looked up at him.
"Baby's-coming Now Patrick!" A loud groan filled the sitting room and Patrick ran to grab his bag.
"Alright love, it's okay." He slid on a pair of gloves and knelt down to her level.
"Pressure" That was all he needed to know was ready to push, he forgot in that moment how to deliver a baby, nevertheless his baby; then skill kicked in and there was work to be done. Shelagh couldn't hold herself anymore and pushed as hard she could. Twenty minutes later Angela Julianne Turner was born and wrapped in a duck egg blue towel. Soon Julie arrived and the three decided there was no need for Shelagh to be transferred hospital.*
Shelagh let out a slight moan from her sleep and without hesitation Patrick's slipped hand in hers. She roused from her sleep to a strong contraction, only two hours had passed and Julie would be by in a minute.
"That's it my love breathe through it." After it passed Patrick sat on the bed with Shelagh in his arms, she was on her side relaxing into the circles that he was rubbing on her lower back.
"No time for any of this last time!" She let out of faint chuckle just before another pain hit her. Patrick pressed the call button on the remote when she wasn't looking, feeling a little too concerned about her wellbeing.
"Hello lovely why don't we check on the baby" Shelagh nodded as she regained her breath.
"Still a little while yet love, only 6 fingers." Shelagh let out a sobbing groan, she was tired and very frustrated and ready to hold her baby.
"Sweetheart let out, it's okay"
"No-ohh!" She gave a deep quiet breath trying to be quiet.
"I don't want the nurses to fuss ooh-ver me!"
"Alright enough of this" Patrick walked out of the room and proceed to tell Trixie to get the girls ASAP!" He walked back in with Trixie, Cynthia, and Jenny, all off them gasping.
"Shelagh!" Trixie yelped.
"Now girls she doesn't want fuss, but she's trying to be ridiculously quiet to not disturb you nurses"
"Shee, we will leave you be, but don't be quiet for us please?" Shelagh could only nod, grateful for the girls, but glaring at Patrick. Then another one off her 3 minute apart contractions came, she reached for Trixie's hand.(which she gladly gave) The pain was just too much for her this time to just breathe away, she let out a groan that would wake everyone within a Mile distance.
"That's it sweetie, we've got you" Patrick winked at Trixie and mouthed a silent Thank You to her. Trixie eventually retired from the room and left Shelagh and Patrick with the promise of coming back later.
