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‘The husband is getting really tense and it’s upsetting Kathy,’ Angela said.
‘I can see that.’ Freya nodded.
‘He’s a great guy—he’s just terrified. But Kathy has still got a good way to go. I’ve called down to Casualty but two of their patients are currently being transferred to ICU, so they’re very tied up. The anaesthetist in our theatre is aware, though he’s probably half an hour or so away.’
‘Okay...’
‘You could try calling Switch and asking—’
‘No need.’
A voice she recognised, though she hadn’t heard it since her orientation day, caused Freya to turn around.
‘Oh, Richard!’ Angela sighed in relief. ‘Am I pleased to see you.’
‘Not as pleased as your patients will be. What room?’
‘D5 is first,’ Angela said. ‘It’s all set up for you.’
‘Thanks, Angela,’ he said. ‘Freya.’
She gave him a smile. ‘Richard.’
Finally she knew his name.
And, more than that, he was still stunning.
He had been wearing scrubs when they’d met, but this morning he wore a dark suit and a crisp white shirt with a silver-grey tie. His straight hair was damp, and rather more in need of a cut than the last time she’d seen him, and he was unshaven.
In seconds she took in every delicious detail, and the last few didn’t quite fit. He was so well turned out that the unshaven jaw stood out for Freya.
Instead of heading to the suite, he took the patient’s notes and walked over to the desk. The sharp, fresh scent of his cologne lingered. Freya saw him removing his jacket as she followed Angela back into D5.
‘Good news,’ Angela said. ‘The anaesthetist is here.’
‘Well, where is he, then?’ Ben demanded.
‘Dr Lewis is just reading up on the notes.’ Angela gave Kathy a lovely smile. ‘I shall leave you in Freya’s hands. You’ve been amazing, Kathy.’
Kathy nodded and tried to say goodbye, but was overwhelmed by another contraction. Freya took over, rubbing Kathy’s back and trying to establish a rapid bond with the woman, and also with her husband.
‘Would you like to come and rub her back?’ Freya suggested, but Ben stood against the wall and gave a tense shake of his head.
Yes, it was all terribly different from anything she was used to. Usually Freya would have seen her patients at antenatal clinic, and often their partners too.
‘Well done, Kathy,’ Freya said as the contraction faded. Knowing that the anaesthetist was here, Freya suggested that Kathy empty her bladder and walked with her, pushing the IV pole, to the en suite bathroom attached to the delivery room.
‘He’s nervous,’ Kathy said, explaining Ben’s behaviour.
‘Of course he is,’ Freya said. ‘It’s hard work for the women but it’s hell on the men.’
That made Kathy laugh a little.
Freya waited outside, and when Kathy came out after washing her hands, she asked Freya a question. ‘Do you have children?’
‘No.’ Freya said. ‘I’ve got nieces and nephews, and my best friend’s expecting, but I’d definitely like my own someday.’
She was actually enjoying getting to know the women here, and opening up to people who didn’t know her at all, Freya realised. At home, had she said that, it would have been all around town that she and Malcolm were trying for a baby.
‘We tried for ages...’ Kathy sighed. ‘I thought it would never happen.’
‘Well, it clearly is.’
‘Thanks, Freya,’ Kathy said as Freya pushed the IV pole. But as they got to the door she paused. ‘Please...’ she said. ‘Don’t mind Ben. His bark is far worse than his bite.’
‘I know that. You’ll be feeling a lot more comfortable soon, and I’m sure he will too.’
She was just helping Kathy back onto the delivery bed when the door opened and she saw the beautiful man she now knew was called Richard come in.
‘Where the hell have you been?’ Ben said by way of greeting.
‘I’m Dr Lewis,’ he responded. ‘Consultant anaesthetist.’ Then he smiled at his patient. ‘Hello, Mrs Hudson.’
But Ben wasn’t finished yet. ‘She was booked to have an epidural hours ago, but she’s been left screaming in pain.’
‘I’m aware of that, Mr Hudson, and I agree that it’s unfortunate, but I’m here now.’
‘It’s more than unfortunate, it’s not good enough,’ he retorted.
‘Ben, please...’ Kathy pleaded, but her husband still wasn’t done.
‘Where were you?’
‘Actually,’ Richard said as he rolled up his sleeves, ‘I was in bed when I was called to see if I could come in. I’m not supposed to be here until eight.’
It was only just after seven. And Freya understood now why he hadn’t shaved.
‘Now...’ He looked over to his patient as he tied on a plastic apron. ‘Would you prefer me to call you Mrs Hudson or Kathy?’
‘Kathy.’
‘Well, Kathy, we’ll have you feeling a lot more comfortable soon.’
He was very meticulous. As Freya helped Kathy to sit on the edge of the bed for the procedure Richard Lewis went through all that had been set up. He made no small talk as he checked and rechecked everything.
‘Right,’ he said, as if to himself, and then he addressed Kathy. ‘You’re going to feel a sting from the local anaesthetic and then a bit of pressure. I’ll need you to stay as still as you can—do you understand that?’
‘I do—but what if I get a contraction.’
‘It’s fine. I’m used to them. I’ll work around it.’
He went through everything that she could expect to feel, and as the next contraction came he put on gloves, waiting for the pain to diminish before the procedure commenced.
‘I’m sorry,’ Ben said suddenly.
‘It’s fine,’ Richard responded. ‘It’s awful to see someone you love in pain. However, by all accounts your partner has been doing marvellously. Let’s try and make this last bit a whole lot easier for her, shall we?’
Whoa! Freya thought as she held on to Kathy. He had somehow accepted the apology while reminding the husband just who this day was about.
‘Why don’t you come this side?’ Freya suggested to Ben. She knew he was really just terribly anxious. ‘You can hold Kathy’s hand.’
This time he didn’t shake his head and came and took his wife’s hand.
Richard worked quietly and soon the epidural was in. Kathy lay back on the delivery bed.
‘You’ll need to stay in bed now,’ Richard reminded her as he disposed of his sharps and then removed his gloves. ‘Thank you, Freya. Can I leave my mess to you? I believe I’m wanted in D3.’
‘Sure.’
Freya checked Kathy’s obs, and those of the baby, and by the time she had tidied up Kathy was indeed starting to feel the benefits of the epidural.
‘You should try and get a little rest now,’ Freya suggested. ‘I’ll be in and out, and there’s the call bell if you have any concerns at all.’
‘Freya!’
Her name was called the second she stepped out of the room. ‘Can you go and take the baby in D7?’
Freya nodded and headed to delivery suite number seven. ‘Taking’ a baby was wonderful indeed. It combined all the joy with barely a hint of the pain.
Stepping in to the delivery suite, she found the atmosphere was lovely and peaceful. Kelly, one of the other midwives was there, along with the soon-to-be father, who had his arms wrapped around his wife’s shoulders.
In fact Kelly was so calm that even when she told Freya that Dr Mina and the anaesthetist had been paged she did it in such an open way that there was no jolt of alarm from the mother.
‘The baby is small for the dates and the head is smaller than expected,’ she said, and Freya checked all the equipment was ready.
Despite the unexpectedly small head, everything seemed to be under control.
‘Try not to push, Sita,’ Kelly said. ‘Just pant.’
‘Okay,’ Sita said, and fought against the urge.
‘Good girl,’ said Kelly. Her focus was totally on the delivery, and she didn’t look over when the door opened.
‘Hello, there,’ Richard said quietly, and Kelly calmly told him the reason for him being paged.
‘Thirty-seven weeks and small for dates,’ Kelly explained.
The room was getting crowded. Stella had come in after Richard, followed by Dr Mina just as the head was delivered. And now there was Guy Masters, the paediatrician on call, whom Freya had already met.
‘Well done, Sita,’ Dr Mina said. ‘Just breathe and do as Kelly says. Dr Masters is a paediatrician and he’s here to check your baby.’
The head really was tiny, and Freya found she was holding her breath as the body slithered out. But even as she accepted him he started to cry. His huge eyes were blinking at the light and his little face was wrinkled.
He was utterly gorgeous, Freya thought as she held this tiny piece of the future in her hands. Tiny, but perfect. And as she rubbed him down Guy was already examining him.
‘One that is better out than in,’ Guy said.
The baby had clearly not been getting sufficient nutrition in-utero, but he was angry and defiant and utterly perfect.
‘I don’t think we need you, Richard,’ he said as loud cries pierced the room and the baby pinked up beautifully.
‘Not with those lungs,’ Richard agreed. And it was just as well he wasn’t needed because his pager was going off.
He left unnoticed by all, Freya thought. All except her.
‘I think he’s ready to meet his mum,’ Guy said, and Freya popped a little hat on the baby to keep him warm, wrapped him, then carried him over to his waiting parents.
She smiled as she watched a family being born. Freya loved delivering babies, but taking them was special too. They always tried to deliver them straight to the mother, but sometimes, as with this unexpected small size, the baby needed a proper examination. Apart from his size this one was doing just fine. Another perfect new life.
* * *
The day seemed to be running away from her. Busy, a bit crazy, and after her hectic morning she could only take a coffee break on the run at the desk.
There, Dr Mina was speaking with Richard and Kelly was chatting with Stella about a film they were going to see at the weekend.
‘It’s supposed to be really good,’ Freya commented, subtly fishing to be asked to go with them, but Kelly just nodded her head.
Freya took her lunch in the staff room, and just as she returned she was told that Kathy was ready to push.
When she got to the delivery room Ben was white with fear and Freya gave him a smile.
‘I thought you’d gone home,’ Ben said.
‘And miss out on this?’ Freya asked.
Ben proved to be a champion when it came to coaxing Kathy to push. It was clearly an excellent epidural, because she could feel the sensation and some pressure but had no pain.
‘Another big push,’ Freya encouraged. ‘Come on—a really big one, right down into your bottom.’
This time it was Kelly who arrived to take the baby and soon Freya delivered a chunky baby boy. He was gorgeous, and there were tears from both Ben and Kathy as he lay on her stomach, blinking at the world.
‘Are you going to cut the cord, Dad?’ Kelly asked, and Ben came over with tears in his eyes to have that special moment with his son.
Baby Hudson didn’t have a name yet, but by the time Freya was ready for home he’d had his first feed and Kathy had had a well-earned cup of tea.
It hadn’t been a particularly busy day, or so Freya had been told, and yet she was exhausted.
The high of Baby Hudson’s birth lasted right through the Tube journey, but faded as she began the walk for home.
