"Morning Ma, how is the baby?" Mia asked resting her hand on the older woman's bump. Surprisingly Shelagh's second pregnancy had been completely uncomplicated.
"Kicking me in the ribs all the time, and my back is aching!" Shelagh told Mia who smiled.
"You've got two weeks left and it'll be over and you'll have a new chapter beginning," Mia said.
"What about you. Are grandchildren expected in the forceable future!" Shelagh asked. Mia grinned but shook her head.
"Not quite yet. Maybe a year or two. Have you heard about Trixie though. My mum thinks she and Matthew are expecting a baby," Mia replied. Shelagh raised an eyebrow but didn't seem at all surprised. "You knew did you. Nobody tells me anything anymore!"
"MUM WE'RE HOME!" Angela shouted bounding up the stairs to her mum and sister in law. "Hi Mia, Mum you'll never guess what's happened!"
"Don't tell her Angie!" May exclaimed running up the stairs after her.
"May got asked out, by the smart boy in her class!" Angela laughed.
May burst into tears and rushed into her room locking her door.
"Angela that wasn't very nice!" Shelagh scolded.
"No it wasn't!" Mia reprimanded. "I'll check on her, you two go downstairs!"
The Shelagh and her eldest daughter wandered down the stairs whilst Mia gently knocked on May's door.
"May, love, it's Mia can I come in?" Mia asked. When she heard the door lock click she opened the door and went in closing the door behind her.
Mia sat down beside May on her bed and pulled her tightly into a hug.
"She was so mean about him liking me, it's not fair. All the boys like her!"May mutters obviously annoyed at her big sister. "It's not fair!"
"I know sweetie, I know," Mia soothed.
"Mia, mum's crying!" Angela shouted.
"Right May go and call and truce with Angie. Coming Angela!" Mia shouted back gesturing for her to follow. Mia rushed down the stairs and went into the lounge where she found Shelagh sobbing. "Girls would you mind taking Teddy to Violets for a while?"
Angela and May nodded grabbing Teddy and taking him out.
"Now what's the matter?" Mia asked slinging her arm around her mother in law and drawing her close like Shelagh had done many times to her before. "Shelagh?"
Shelagh gestured to a letter on the table which Mia took and scanned over swiftly.
"You are being invited to give a lecture with me and the University in London to talk about the importance of updating medical approach in regards to midwifery and it's practice. Why on earth are you upset? This is brilliant!" Mia exclaimed.
"What if I'm no good and make a fool of myself?" Shelagh asked nervously.
"You won't," Mia reassured.
The next morning the two women were driven into London by Tim who had a day off. Patrick however was at work till after the lecture so would pick them up.
Mia was dressed in her midwifery uniform as was Shelagh. Mia and Shelagh sat at the front of the hall waiting to be invited up to the podium.
"Here from Poplar are NurseMia Turner and her mother in law Nurse Shelagh Turnee here to talk about the amazing advancements made in Poplar in regards to midwifery practice!" The Dean announced.
"Morning everyone lovely to meet you, as Mr Richards has said I'm Nurse Mia Turner, I'm a senior midwife and Sister. Nurse Turner and I both belong to the Order of St Raymond Nonnatus. I have been a midwife for 10 years. Shelagh 20 years. But no number of years experience makes delivering a baby easier. There are sometimes unseen complications and some times it works like clockwork. Midwife's like us are prepared for everything. Now I'm going to eat Shelagh explain to you the changes we have made with medical advancements!" Mia said.
"At our Maternity home we are lucky to have an ultrasound machine and an incubator. Currently we are building a new birthing room which is based on an American idea where women will be able to deliver in a clinical setting if there have been predicted complications but have the home comforts. Our maternity home allows women to stay in the community they are used to and have friends and family close at hand," Shelagh said. Shelagh's eyes narrowed and she rested her hand on her back.
"We have a team of 19 midwives and 2 doctors. Soon we will have 3 doctors. So there is always a midwife or Doctor at hand. And if any of our patients have concerns we are always available for a phone call or a visit. Bring a midwife isn't about just delivering babies. It's about care and attention. Showing love and attention. Showing the mum that they have our support is one of the things we pride ourselves on!" Mia concluded helping her mother in law sit down in a chair. She leant over to her mother in law. "You alright. Is your back hurting?"
"Braxton hicks dear, nothing to worry about," Shelagh reassured her before she tended up. Mia looked at her watch and time two of the contractions.
"I don't think they are; come on let's go!" Mia exclaimed helping her mum and leading her out of the hall. She glanced around the carpark. Patrick waved at her to get her attention. She helped Shelagh into the car and informed Patrick about the contractions. "I'm going to phone Trixie when we get home whether you like it or not Ma Ma!"
Shelagh nodded and closed her eyes.
Half an hour later Mia had Shelagh settled in bed and Nonnatus was in standby until Mia rang them back.
"I don't remember it hurting this much," Shelagh moaned leaning into Mia who was sat slightly in front of her.
Mia had set her medical bag on the dresser and took out her stethoscope from her bag. Normally it was only the doctors that used stethoscopes but it had been a preset from Tim for there first wedding anniversary.
She gently pressed the head of the stethoscope to Shelagh's belly and smiled contently at the strong heartbeat of the baby.
"The heart beats strong, your still in the first stage yet. Let me just have a feel for baby see how it's lying then I'll ring Nonnatus and ask Trixie to come down. Although if our theory is correct I think we might ask for Val instead," Mia said.
Shelagh groaned again and Mia took that as a good sign to call Nonnatus.
"Nonnatus house midwife speaking!" The cheery voice of Sister Winifred answered.
"Hi Sister Winifred, it's Sister Mia,can I ask you to send Trixie and Val down to the Turner's. I think now would be a good time. And tell them we might need the gas and air!" Mia ordered before putting the phone back on the receiver. "I'm not going to gown up yet, but I think we need to get you into a nightgown, don't you?"
Mia helped Shelagh off the bed and into a fresh nightgown. She propped Shelagh up with some cushions and helped her turn onto her side.
"Try and get some sleep, it'll be a while before anything happens yet!" Mia whispered and made her way down into the kitchen to make herself a cup of coffee and a digestive biscuit.
Patrick walked through the front door and Mia smiled.
"Shelagh's asleep now. Nothings amiss. I've done all the basic checks. Trix should be arriving in 10 minutes or so with Val. Go lay with her for a while it will bring her comfort," Mia told him. Patrick nodded and made his way upstairs.
5 minutes later Mia heard Shelagh scream out in pain. Mia went rushing up the stairs and to Shelagh's side. Mia gently rubbed her back and helped her stand up.
"Lean on me Shelagh, that's it!" Mia encouraged as she rubbed the older woman's back.
There was a knock at the downstairs door followed by "Midwives calling!".
Trixie and Valerie came in.
"Hi Mia, Shelagh, Patrick would you mind getting us some warm towels?" Trixie suggested. Patrick nodded knowing that the nurses needed to carry out an internal examination to see how his wife's labour was progressing. "Shelagh sweetie how about we get you on the bed so we can examine you?"
Shelagh nods and Mia and Val hoist her onto the bed.
She's 6cm and progressing quickly. Mia wouldn't leave Shelagh's side.
Mia was absolutely furious when Patrick told her he had been called out. It broke her heart as she watched Shelagh's face break.
As Shelagh's labour progressed her pain worsened. Mia fetched a hot water bottle and put under her mother in laws back hoping to ease the pain even slightly.
"Oh god!" Shelagh exclaimed lifting herself up to reveal a wet patch. "I think my waters have gone!"
"Yes I think they have Shelagh. Let's get you into clean clothes and then the real work begins!" Valerie said pulling her friend to her feet and helping her put another nightie on. Mia dropped the other one in the laundry basket on the floor in the corner. Mia setter herself behind Shelagh and took her hands. "On the next contraction, give me a small push and we'll be able to see babies head!"
Mia helped Shelagh to sit comfortably so it was easier to bare down.
"Ready?" Mia asked. She felt Shelagh nod and Mia nodded and Trixie telling her a contraction was starting.
Trixie took Val's place at the end of the bed. Trixie rubbed Shelagh's leg encouraging her to bare down and push.
Shelagh pushes really hard squeezing Mia's hand.
"I can see baby's head sweetie. Give me a give push and we'll have the head!" Trixie exclaims. "That's it. Crowning! And the head is born!"
"Really?" Shelagh exclaims and reaches down to feel baby's head.
"You're doing splendidly sweetie. If you push really hard on the next contraction we'll have baby!" Trixie tells her dearest friend. "Push for me, good girl, push!"
Shelagh pushes hard and Mia encourages her.
"And we have baby!" Valerie announces. Shelagh holds her arms out but they drop to her sides when she notices that the child isn't crying. "Mia?"
Mia gently moves from behind Shelagh and takes the baby. She rubs its back to encourage to move. She flicks it foot but it doesn't respond to stimuli.
"Mucus extractor!" Mia says taking it off Valerie. She slots a little tub into the babies mouth and the other into hers. She sucks on it but the baby doesn't respond. Mia uses the last thing. She gently breath through the babies mouth. She continues to rub its back and finally it cry's.
"Praise the Lord," Mia says kissing her cross before making quick work of wrapping up the baby and handing it to itself mother. "Shelagh it's my pleasure to say you have a beautiful baby girl!"
"A girl!" Shelagh says joyously. "Hello little Rebecca Beatrix Turner!"