Page 86 of Heartbreak for the Irish Midwife

‘They did. About four hours ago. I was called in.’

‘Right.’ The team would not have done that lightly.

‘So far she’s doing all right, but I want you to stay with her. I have a theatre list this morning. Send for me if there are any signs of a placental abruption.’

‘Of course.’ As he made his way to the labour ward, he went over the signs in his mind. Continuous pain in the mother’s abdomen or lower back. Vaginal bleeding. Rigid, ‘woody’ uterus. Maternal tachycardia or other signs of medical shock. Foetal distress. Bracing himself, he spoke to Sister Higgins, who told him Maggie-Ann was in room 1 – the room that was closest to the theatres. They all knew the risk.

‘Midwife Canavan is with her, and has decided to stay on after her shift ends.’

‘I see.’ That suggested Maisie thought there wasn’t long to go – it wouldn’t make sense for her to stay too long, as she would be on night duty again tonight. It also meant that he and Maisie would be caring for Maggie-Ann together. They loved it when that happened, and this was an important case. Between himself and Maisie, he hoped they could help Maggie-Ann through what would undoubtedly be a very challenging day.

He entered room 1 as quietly and discreetly as he could manage. Maggie-Ann was standing by the bed with her back to him, Maisie by her side. Turning her head, Maisie gave him a welcoming smile, but didn’t speak to him. Instead she said soothingly, ‘Maggie-Ann, the doctor is here. Just so you know. You don’t have to change anything. Just keep breathing like you have been. You’re doing so, so well.’ After waiting for another moment to make sure Maggie-Ann was still calm and trance-like, she walked quietly towards Alex. ‘Mother’s observations all normal so far,’ she told him quietly. ‘No bleeding, dizziness, or steady pain.’

He nodded. ‘Heart rate?’

She told him, and he relaxed somewhat. ‘Good. Foetal observations?’

‘Baby is head down, not much movement.’

‘Heart heard?’

‘Aye, but . . .’ She grimaced. ‘A bit slow at times.’

‘How far along do you reckon she is?’

‘Good contractions with not much time between them. Shouldn’t be too long until she’s pushing.’

‘Aaaagh!’ As if to prove Maisie right, Maggie-Ann gave a strangled sound, and Maisie hurried to her side. ‘What’s happening, Maisie? What’s going on?’ The girl sounded terrified, but Maisie spoke calmly.

‘It’s all right, Maggie-Ann. This is normal. It’s part of it. Your body is ready to push the baby out soon.’

‘I want my mammy!’ she wailed, and Maisie put an arm around her.

‘Your mammy will be here soon. She said she’d come about nine, once she gets the wee ones to school.’

‘Is it nine yet?’

Alex glanced at the clock on the wall. Eight fifteen.

‘Nearly. Now when the next pain comes, just you let your body push away. You’re doing great, Maggie-Ann. You’re so strong. You can do this.’

Maggie-Ann was struggling to stand, so after the next contraction Alex and Maisie helped her onto the bed where she knelt, leaning on the bars of the headboard. He took the opportunity to try to locate the foetal heartbeat, but couldn’t find it. Another contraction came while he was still searching, so he respectfully stepped back. There was no point in persisting, anyway. The baby might be still alive, but if so, it wouldn’t live long past birth.

Half an hour later the child was born, its head flat and misshapen, the rest of its body perfectly formed. A wee boy. A wee boy who didn’t take a breath. Sadness arced through him. The baby’s origins were not its fault, and a wee life had been lost today.

Swiftly, Maisie wrapped him up in a hospital towel, handling him with great care and respect as she brought him out and passed him to Sister. Maggie-Ann had been adamant that she didn’t want to see the baby, which, given the history and the child’s abnormalities, was probably for the best.

Alex stayed with Maggie-Ann, still worried about placental bleeding. Thankfully, the placenta came away in the usual manner, with no significant bleeding. Maggie-Ann had been lucky.

Half an hour later, Maisie had tended to Maggie-Ann’s personal care, and her mother – who had just arrived – was ushered in.

‘Ah, Mammy!’ Maggie-Ann was crying. ‘Thank God it’s out of me. It didn’t live, you know. Died before it was born.’

‘Aye, they’re after telling me.’ She hugged her daughter. ‘You’ll be all right now. Good girl.’

Alex glanced at Maisie, who gave him a meaningful nod, and they slipped out quietly.

‘Thanks, Midwife Canavan,’ said Sister Higgins crisply, when she saw them emerge from the room. ‘It was good of you to stay with her.’