A/N: Hated working out which months are what for season 3. Literally, you would look at the wiki pages for Sybil and her daughter on their death/birth and it would say between April and August or some episodes this season say they happened April, May or June. It's really confusing.
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Emma and Tom return to Dublin just as Sybil and Billy return to Southampton.
After a month Mary and Matthew return from their honeymoon. Spent a short time with Lady Rosamund before staying in the south of France.
Gemma tells her of the tension between Thomas and Miss O'Brien due to Thomas not being too kind to Alfred. Emma worries how far these two would take it, particularly the damage they could cause with how much dirt they have on each other.
Mary and Edith talk of Mrs Crawley having a new occupation, but one that the Dowager doesn't think appropriate as it's about helping prostitutes improve their lives. Finding different employment as many have had to do this to survive as their husbands, fathers, etc. died in the war.
She also hears from Mary about the plan to fleece her American grandmother more money to save Downton. Matthew is definitely the heir but refuses to accept the money so Mary has a new plan. The plan is to have an extremely grand dinner to show why Downton matters and cannot be allowed to fall apart. The problems, however, started when Matthew and Lord Grantham both appear in black ties and not in their tails with white ties. Then the range in the kitchen goes out completely and there's no dinner to serve to all the lords and ladies that have arrived. Mary laments the horror of what happened next. Martha declares they were going to have an indoor picnic, with everyone eating whatever they want, wherever they want, all over the house. Emma wonders if the servants had any food for themselves. In the end, Martha denies that she is able to help them as her late husband had tied up the money. Emma feels sorry that the family is losing their home though can't help but think they shouldn't really complain as they won't be destitute.
Anna talks of a lead she has that might help Mr Bates. She points out the oddity of the fact that Vera would write an incriminating letter instead of seeing her friend, a Mrs Bartlett, who lives just around the corner. Emma agrees with her on how odd it is and encourages Anna to go and visit the woman.
Emma is heavily pregnant and ready to burst any second when she receives news of Edith's wedding that will occur in late May. Baby will definitely be borne by then and they'll be up for travel. Emma is happy for Edith though unsure of the choice but if it's what she wants then good for her.
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At the beginning of May, it starts.
"TOM!" Emma yells. She thwacks her husband who lies asleep next to her. Her contractions are closer together than she realised so Emma must've been progressing through the early stages without realising while she was asleep.
"Is it time?" Tom asks blearily but Emma can see the adrenaline kicking in.
"Yes! Get the midwife, your mother and sisters." Tom leaves to do just that. Emma had picked a home birth because other than it still being in fashion to do so, she had heard too many horror stories of women facing infection in the early years of labour shifting from home to the hospital. Emma, among her pains, sets some hot water to boil and grabs many towels and pillows to their bedroom then flops onto the bed to wait for everyone.
Mrs Branson, Bridget and Ellen all arrive in a flurry with the midwife, a local woman, behind them. It takes hours, which Emma expected as this is her first, but after 10 hours after her labour began, Emma finally gives birth to a baby girl.
"She's so beautiful," Tom murmurs as he takes in the sight of his daughter in Emma's arms. "Oh, my darling, I do love you so much." He presses a watery kiss to Emma's forehead.
Emma gives out a laugh. "I'm just glad she's here."
"What will my granddaughter be called then?" Tom's mother calls from where she sits at the end of the bed.
"Ivy Caitríona," Emma replies. Ivy gives a slight wriggle, probably getting used to the less warm atmosphere and all the room she now has. Emma has always liked the name Ivy and it's handy that the name fits in this time period as well. Caitríona is a good Irish name that Emma felt drawn to though she needed Tom's help with the pronunciation.
"What a lovely name," Ellen says. Emma beams before looking down at her daughter. She can't believe that this is real.
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In the first week, Ivy is able to lift her head briefly when placed on her tummy. She focuses on objects that are within 8 to 12 inches away. The next week, Ivy seems to be able to follow them with her eyes. Emma is thrilled that by week three Ivy snuggles with both her and Tom when they hold her.
Emma is loving the happy baby bubble they have developed but knows that at the end of the month, they are to return to England for Edith's wedding.
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A/N: I'm not an expert on giving birth let alone what it was like as someone in the working class in the early 20th century.