"This is Kate Fleming," Paul informed the midwife in charge as they arrived on the delivery suite. They had phoned ahead to the hospital once they were en route and had been directed to the labour ward.
"Room two please," the midwife replied and directed them to the room in question.
Kate was still holding her daughter as Paul and Sarah wheeled her in to the room. The gentle rocking of the ambulance as it drove had lulled her back to sleep and she was still fast asleep in her mothers arms. "Can you take her, Steve?" Kate asked. It would be a lot easier to get on to the bed by herself.
Steve didn't have to be asked twice and quickly was by Kate's side taking his slumbering daughter in to his arms for another hold before Kate slid herself from the gurney on to the bed.
"We'll leave you guys to it," Paul said as they made sure they had everything before they departed. His call outs were usually quite depressing and it had been nice to get one with a happy ending for once.
"Thank you so much for everything," Kate said. She had been so glad they had arrived before Chloe and the gaffer had had to deliver her child.
"You're welcome," Paul said before leaving the new family alone.
"We need to decide on her name," Steve said as he kept looking at his daughter.
"I know," Kate agreed. "Do you think she suits the name we had picked out?".
"I think so," Steve said.
"And you still like it?" Kate prodded. They had had many a talk on what to name their child and had chosen their favourite girls and boys name after many long discussions and changes of minds.
"I think so," Steve said.
"You don't sound very sure," Kate noticed. Maybe they were going to have to choose another name after all.
"It's just such a big decision isn't it?" Steve realised. "She's going to be called this for the rest of her life,".
"So do you want to change your mind?".
"No. I like what we had picked out,".
They were interrupted from their talk by a midwife entering. "You've had an eventful morning by the sounds of it," she said as she entered the room. The paramedics had handed over to her what had happened.
"Just a bit," Kate replied.
"I've come to check you and your baby over," the midwife explained, "and the paediatricians need to see her as well. If everything is ok then we can let you home. This is your second isn't it?" Kate nodded.
The midwife cast a look at the sleeping baby. "Shall we start with you?" she said to Kate. "I don't want to disturb her until necessary,". Kate agreed. The nurse attached some stirrups to the bed. "If you can put your legs in here," she directed Kate, "and I'll take a look,".
"Child birth is so dignified," Kate said as she did as she was told. "Everyone's had a look down there today, including the gaffer,".
"Pardon?" Steve replied in surprise, not sure he liked that his boss had seen Kate's most intimate area.
"Don't worry. He was simply following instructions from the paramedics over the phone," Kate explained. "I think he was more embarrassed than I was,". Steve took the explanation on board and calmed down.
"Everything looks good," the midwife said from the end of the bed. "No tears and your uterus has contracted nicely. The paramedics gave me your placenta and I've checked it. It's all there which is good,". Kate smiled at the news as she removed herself from the stirrups and scooted up the bed. "So Mum is ok. Let's have a look at baby," the nurse said as she approached Steve.
Very unhappy cries filled the room as their daughter was lifted off Steve's chest and put in a resuscitare and unwrapped from the towels she had been placed in earlier. "I'm sorry," the midwife cooed as she checked the baby over. She measured the baby's head circumference and length. "Ten fingers and ten toes," she continued talking to the baby as she counted all the digits. The little girl would not be placated however and was still screaming loudly at having her sleep disturbed. She was so annoyed that she did a wee over the midwife as she held her up to run a hand along her spine. Kate and Steve cringed at what had happened but the nurse was used to it. "At least we know that bit is working," she said as she placed the baby back on to the warm crib.
She stepped away to wash herself and then disappeared from the room. Steve went over to his daughter to try and calm her. He put a finger against one of her outstretched hands and she clasped it tightly. "It's ok," Steve whispered but she still squawked loudly.
"She's really not happy is she," the midwife noted as she re-entered the room with some scales. "Don't worry, baby. I'm nearly done," she informed everyone. "Right let's see how heavy you are," the midwife declared as she picked the little girl up and placed her in the scales. More crying. "Dad do you want to take a photo?". Steve clicked away. "Three point two kilo's," the midwife informed the parents. "Just over seven pounds," she added, looking at a chart. It was a good weight especially as she was two weeks early. The baby was returned to the crib. "Last thing is Vitamin K. Do you want her to have it?".
"What's it for again?" Steve asked.
"To help her blood clot. Babies lack the vitamin at birth,".
Steve and Kate looked at each other. It seemed a good thing to do. "Ok," Steve said.
"It's best given as a small injection," the midwife explained as she produced a small needle and injected it into the baby's leg. "Right missus, you are done," the midwife said to the little girl as she put a nappy on her and a cute pink woolly hat on her head to keep her warm. "Do we have a name yet?". There was just the identity bracelet to put round the baby's leg for safety precautions.
Kate looked at Steve. "Ava," Steve announced. "Ava Arnott,".
"What a lovely name," the midwife said as she filled out the blank space before wrapping the bracelet around the baby's ankle. "How are you feeding her?".
"I'd like to try breast feeding," Kate replied. She'd done it for a bit with Josh but had switched to bottle when Mark had taken over the care and Kate had returned to work.
"Lovely," the midwife said. "Do you want to try now? It looks as though she is hungry,".
"Yes please," Kate said.
"Would you like a bit of skin to skin at the same time. Might calm her down," the nurse said. She helped Kate out of the maxi dress she still had on from the morning and removed her bra before putting the baby against Kate's chest and placing a towel over them both to keep the baby warm.
The baby appeared to like her new position and her cries softened. The nurse helped Kate rub a nipple over the baby's mouth to try to encourage her to latch on. It took a couple of attempts but soon the baby was feeding nicely.
"Peace," the midwife stated as the room was now quiet save for the odd suckling sound from the baby. "I'll leave you guys alone," she said. "I'll give the paediatrician a call to come and make sure she's happy with Ava and then we can think about getting you home to start to get know each other,".
"Great," Kate said. She was keen to get home.
"After you've fed her, would you like a shower?".
"I'd love one," Kate replied gratefully.
There was a little bathroom area in the room they were in and the midwife disappeared before returning with a towel and some wash things. "I'm afraid we've just got a gown for you to change in to,".
"That's ok," Steve said. "I'm going to have to pop back home and get the car seat before we leave and I'll get some stuff for Kate whilst I'm there,".
The midwife left them alone, putting the light switch down low before she went so it wasn't too bright for the newborn.
"It's been quite a day hasn't it," Kate said as she gazed at her daughter who was still feeding at her breast.
"You could say that," Steve agreed. "I can't believe she's actually here,". He sat and watched Kate feed their daughter, helping her switch sides at one point. They discussed in hushed tones how the rest of the afternoon would go. Steve would look after Ava whilst Kate had a shower. Steve would then get a taxi home before returning in their own car. The service car was out of the question as car seats weren't allowed in them. Hopefully by that point the paediatrician would have looked Ava over and declared her good to go home.
With the feeding done Kate handed Ava over to Steve. "Do you want to try skin to skin as well?" she asked her partner. "She seems to like it,". Steve took his waist coat and tie off before undoing his shirt and exposing his chest. Kate carefully placed their nappy clad daughter on to it so she was lying on her front before Steve wrapped his shirt over her to keep her warm and placed one hand under her bottom to keep her from slipping down.
Ava settled quickly on her father's chest, one tiny hand coming to rest in the small patch of dark hair present, in much the same way that Kate's hand did whenever she slept on Steve. With her tummy full of milk, it didn't take long for her to drift off to sleep.
"I'll go have my shower," Kate said as she gingerly got off the bed and headed to the bathroom.
Left alone with his precious sleeping bundle, the soft light calmed Steve as well. The momentous day caught up with him and soon he was snoozing in his chair.
He didn't know how long he had been sleeping for but his phone ringing awoke him. The sound of the shower running in the bathroom was still heard so it couldn't have been that long. The phone was out on the side and careful not to disturb his sleeping daughter he picked it up. It was his mother FaceTiming him.
Steve pressed the answer button and his mothers face filled the screen. "Sorry to disturb," his mother said. She rang regularly now that Kate was approaching her due date. "You look tired, dear," she told her son. "How are things?".
"Ok," Steve replied. "Had a bit of a surprise today,".
"Really?" His mum said, wondering what could have happened.
"Someone decided to put in an early appearance," he told his mother as he moved the phone screen so that she could see what he was talking about.
"Oh my goodness!" Steve's mum gasped when she saw the sleeping baby on her son's chest.
"You have a grand daughter. Ava. Born unexpectedly in AC-12 at 12:22. Just over seven pounds,".
"She's absolutely gorgeous, darling," his mother congratulated him. "Where's Kate?".
"Having a shower. We're just in the hospital waiting for the paediatrician to check her over before going home,".
"Everything went well,".
"Yes," Steve informed her.
"Pete!" his mum shrieked to her husband. Steve placed his hand over Ava's ear to protect her from the loud noise. "Come see this!".
Soon Steve's dad appeared on screen as he saw his first grand daughter for the first time.
"Can we come and visit?" his mother asked excitedly. "I need a cuddle,".
"I'll speak to Kate. Do you have any plans for tomorrow?".