Having finally discovered the maternity department on the first floor and worked out how to get inside, via an intercom, a set of double doors, and a hand-sanitiser station, Lisa and Nathan joined the back of the already formed tour group. Following largely in silence, they were led to the delivery suite, comprising of nine rooms, each with en-suite facilities and two withbirthing pools. There was a lot to take in, especially when the midwife spoke about the different types of pain relief they could administer, but that the preference was always for a “normal”, by which Lisa took to mean “painful”, labour, in which “mum” was “up and moving”. The birthing ball the midwife seemed very keen on, and even demonstrated, reminded Lisa of the orange bouncy hopper she’d hadtoo briefly as a child, and fallen off of.And that one had handles!
Before they moved on to the postnatal ward, the midwife attempted to raise a smile and to reassure everyone with her don’t-worry-we’ve-seen-it-all-before speech that did little for Lisa’s confidence. She hadn’t thought to be worried about being sick or, worse, pooing during labour until the well-meaning woman mentioned it.Lisa did, however, appreciate hearing about Braxton Hicks, or false contractions as the midwife had described them, and wondered if that was what she had experienced earlier. The cramping sensation the midwife mentioned was certainly an apt way to describe what Lisa had felt while reaching for the pillow.
The postnatal ward was less private than Lisa had expected, having six beds to a room.Lisa didn’t take in what was said as she found herself drawn to looking at the new mums with their babies, hardly daring to believe that would be her in sixteen weeks’ time. When Nathan nudged her with the words, ‘you’ll never manage that’, she didn’t know what he was referring to, until the midwife looked at them and reiterated that the two-small-bags policy was for everyone’s benefit, as spacewas tight. Lisa felt herself blush before responding, ‘Of course.’ And then wondered how she would fit all she needed for herself and the baby in anything less than a very large suitcase, or two.
When the tour was finally over, Lisa welcomed the cool evening air that contrasted to the warm, stale air of the hospital. ‘Will you still love me when I’m huge and waddling?’
‘Of course I will.’
As they walked towards the car park pay station, Lisa remained in a contemplative mood. She was very happy to be pregnant; to be with Nathan and carrying his baby was more than she dared to hope for when she moved home from London. But as the pregnancy progressed and the things happening to her body increasingly seemed beyond her control, the more it dawned on her how quickly her relationshipwith Nathan was changing. The period of getting reacquainted, after being apart for eleven years, was moving at a rapid speed. Pregnancy, and especially birth, left little mystery between a couple – it really was a bare-all situation, at least for the woman. ‘What about if I’m sick or poo during labour?’
‘Well, that will be pushing it,’ Nathan teased before noticing Lisa’s unsmiling expression.‘Of course I will,’ he added more reassuringly with a squeeze of her hand.
‘Good because, technically, as you got me pregnant, it will all be your fault.’
Nathan raised his eyebrows. ‘Oh really?’
Lisa liked the amusement she saw in his eyes as they glinted in what was left of the evening sun. ‘Yes!’
‘Well, I think you helped me on that front, but I can take it. You can blame mefor everything.’
‘Oh, I will.’ Lisa giggled as Nathan pulled her into a kiss.
‘That’ll be what got you both here in the first place!’
Lisa and Nathan turned to see Dom standing next to them. In greeting, Lisa hugged and kissed him, while Nathan said hello.
‘We’ve been on a tour of the maternity ward. It’s all getting a bit real now.’ Lisa blew out a breath.
‘I should hope it’sreal; if not, you need to cut back on the roast dinners!’
Nathan’s eyes went wide; a probably-best-not-to-go-there gesture.
Dom grinned as Lisa swiped playfully at his arm.
‘Cheeky bugger! So why are you here? You don’t look like you’re working.’ Lisa motioned to Dom’s jeans and T-shirt.
‘I brought Gran over.’
‘Is Winnie all right?’ Lisa had seen Winnie just the day before,but she hadn’t mentioned going to hospital.
‘Yes, she’s visiting a friend. Maureen, I think she said.’
‘Maureen with the Yorkshire terrier, that Maureen?’ Lisa asked, remembering meeting Maureen when she had accompanied Winnie on a visit to her local church.
‘Yes, that must be her. She tripped over the dog.’
‘Oh no! Poor Tubby, was he OK?’
‘I think you’re meant to check onthe person before the dog.’ Nathan laughed.
‘Ha, I’ve met Maureen. But from what I remember, she and Winnie weren’t exactly friendly towards each other.’
Dom shrugged. ‘You know Gran, she likes to help an injured soul.’
Lisa blushed, remembering how Winnie had entrusted Jack to her when she first moved back to Littlehampton, not because she had proven pet-sitting skills but becauseWinnie had recognised how lost and lonely Lisa had been back then. ‘Yes, she’s good at that. I hope Maureen appreciates the visit.’
‘I hope so too. Though I think Gran has plans to recommend your pet-sitting services while she’s got a captive audience.’
