The doors of Maternity burst open as another trolley was wheeled in. She lay on the bed, still in complete agony as he ran beside her. She was taken into the nearest treatment room. Her hands still lay around her, clutching her bump in pain as people frantically ran in and out, finding the correct equipment they required. He felt completely hopeless, nothing he could do could help matters. He watched her lying there, crying in pain, desperate for help to rid the pain from her petite body. As the consultant approached her, prepared to examine her, her hand reached for his, clearly in need of his support. He held her hand, squeezing it, signifying to her that he was going to be here every step of the way for her. He glanced up at the obstetric consultant, who looked at him with slight disappointment. Closing his eyes, trying to calm himself deep down, but knowing this was going to end in tears. Connie was only in her 23rd week of her pregnancy. By the looks from the consultant, they had no choice but deliver the unborn baby. Without delivery, her life was at extreme risk and he didn't want anything so precious to him to be in such danger. He looked down at her, who was looking up at her in despair. He couldn't face telling her that they had to deliver. Ever since she told him she was expecting his child, she was over the moon. Telling her would shatter her heart to pieces, and he couldn't afford to do it again, but he had no choice. He paused for a moment, whilst she struggled for a breath.
"Connie, sweetheart…" he began, the tears threatening, but managing to refrain from falling. She was still holding his hand firmly, her dark eyes fixed with his, anticipating his answer. Trying to find the right words to explain the problem to her, he swallowed before continuing "…they need to deliver the baby…"
From outside the delivery suite, cries of sorrow could be heard. She knew that her unborn child would have next to no chance of survival if she were to give birth now. She didn't want it and knew he didn't either, but she knew it had to be done. Her tearful eyes broke from his, facing the wall, unwilling to confront him or be confronted. Feeling totally hopeless, he watched over her, "Connie…it's the only way…I don't want to lose you…" She turned back to face him, her eyes now all puffy and swollen. Sniffling and finding it difficult to speak as her sobs became stronger and more emotional, she nodded reluctantly. His other hand grasped hold of hers as the obstetric team wheeled her out and in the direction of theatre. He wanted to be there every step of the way, so as they prepared for the emergency caesarean, he found a surgical gown & cap and slipped them on hurriedly, before returning to her side. She was still conscious, the anaesthetist deciding to put her on a local, as she lay there wincing in agony.
Wiping away her tears, he smiled reassuringly at her, before kissing her softly on the forehead, "Everything's under control, you'll be fine…" She couldn't help but smile at his reassurance, knowing he was by her side calmed her slightly. The whole theatre was silent, apart from the monotonous bleeping of the heart monitor. Tension gathered as the couple entwined their fingers, waiting for the slightest improvement of anything. Before they knew it, they heard the waters being broken and the consultant announcing that they were the parents of a little baby girl. However no cries from their child's lungs could be heard. Sounds of the clamps cutting the umbilical cord were heard, before the paediatrician cradled her to the special unit, in an attempt to bring her to life. Two minutes past. Nothing. Connie looked up at him, the look she gave him, dreading the worst was about to happen.
From where she lay and where he stood, they could see a smile appear slightly across the paediatrician's face, as she slid the stethoscope around her neck, before announcing that they need to transfer her to the special care baby unit. A feeling of sheer relief between the two, knowing their child had been brought to the world alive. The couple watched on as their daughter was swiftly taken away from their view. Connie glanced up at him, the tears welling up in her eyes once more. Within seconds, rapid bleeps came the heart monitor hooked up to her. Her eyes slowly closing as she became drowsier, falling into an unconscious state.