Baby for the Midwife. Fiona McArthur
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These trays save everyone from running to find different things, too.’
Flo nodded enthusiastically. ‘Boy, do I know what you mean. Every emergency I’ve ever been in I seem to be hunting for things other people want.’
Georgia smiled. ‘The most important thing to get is help. Even the kitchen lady to write down what you gave and when and what steps you’ve taken can be good if you are short-staffed. That’s why the pad and pen are here.’
She held up a pen with a long cord attaching it to the pad. ‘We all find it difficult to get the time drugs were given exactly right even if we record an event immediately afterwards.
‘The beauty of recording events at the time is that we can make fine adjustments when we go over our treatment and actions and review later.’
Gerry snapped her fingers in enlightenment. ‘Is that what a critical review is? I thought it was when you were critical of what people did or when they’d done something wrong.’
‘No. It’s feedback to make the next situation run even more smoothly. Max is going to sit down with us later today and we’ll go over it together and see if we missed anything.’
‘I don’t think there was anything anyone could have done better,’ Gerry said dryly. ‘I thought you guys were amazing.’
‘We were a team and you and Flo were an important part of that. I think you both were pretty wonderful, too.’
On Thursday Max was called into Maternity just as he was about to go home for the evening meal and he didn’t return until after Georgia had gone to bed. They’d had a sick baby with congenital heart problems and Max had waited for MIRA to arrive to stabilise and take the baby to Newcastle Hospital with her mother.
He’d rung and let Georgia know he’d be very late and she’d sat in the dining room by herself and had then gone to bed early. She couldn’t believe how much she’d missed his company for that one evening.
She had geared her day off to when Max came home. Things she’d planned to tell him. An article she’d thought he might be interested in. And the extra time she’d taken with her appearance.
These were all warning signs that Max was assuming a larger part of her life than she’d promised herself she’d let him be.
ON GEORGIA’S third morning shift the day dawned cold and damp, with thick fog that engulfed the mountain and the road on the way to work. Georgia had left fifteen minutes early to be on the safe side and still only arrived as the clock hit seven.
Minutes after the night staff had departed a young woman hobbled miserably into the ward with her friend. She stood at the nurses’ desk with her hand cupped protectively around her small belly and her lips pressed tightly together.
Georgia came back from the medical end of the hospital at the sound of the buzzer and something about the young woman’s stance sent alarm bells ringing.
‘Can I help you?’ The young woman nodded but didn’t speak.
‘She’s having contractions,’ Her friend said, ‘and you need to stop them.’
Georgia blinked. OK. This was different. ‘I’m Georgia, the midwife. Would you both like to come through to the observation room and we’ll see what’s going on? Then I can ring the doctor.’
The spokeswoman nodded. ‘I’m Shannon and this is my friend, Del. She’s got eight weeks to go.’
Georgia glanced at the silent Del and her heart rate picked up. They’d have to fly her out if she was in labour—they couldn’t handle a baby that size here. Even the base hospital wouldn’t take her at that gestation.
Shannon went on. ‘She’s having twins.’
Georgia’s eyebrows rose. They’d have to fly her out urgently, which would be interesting with the fog. A twin pregnancy was even more likely to progress to a premature delivery.
Del froze as she went to sit on the bed and she grabbed Georgia’s hand and squeezed it as her contraction mounted. Georgia slid her other hand down to gently feel Del’s belly through her shirt, and it felt rock hard against her fingers.
Georgia reached for the buzzer and pressed for assistance. She glanced at Shannon and although Shannon looked scared, at least she could talk. Del certainly wouldn’t be talking for a minute. ‘How long has Del been having contractions?’
‘It took us an hour to get here and an hour before that.’
Two hours shouldn’t be too advanced in labour for a first baby, Georgia thought hopefully. ‘Is this your first pregnancy, Del?’
Shannon came to the rescue when all Del did was shake her head. ‘Her third. The last one took two hours.’
Georgia smiled at Shannon. ‘I’m glad you came with her.’ She looked at Del. ‘You’re not much of a talker, then, Del?’
Before Del could answer, if she was going to, a slightly breathless Flo arrived.
Georgia smiled at her. ‘Today we’re going to study the premature labour tray.’
Flo grinned and headed for the cupboard. She reached in and put the tray on the bench. ‘I hope it comes with instructions.’
‘You’d better ring Doctor, first, on his mobile. Tell him thirty-two-week twins in labour. He’ll come straight in.’
Flo’s mouth formed her favourite ‘O’ and she pulled the phone book across.
Georgia helped Del to lie on the bed and connected the monitors to her stomach. ‘These belts hold on the listeners that hear your babies’ heart rates and record your contractions at the same time. In your case we have two listeners for two babies’ hearts.’
Del nodded and winced as the next contraction started. Georgia could hear Flo’s brief conversation with Max.
She looked up. ‘Ask him if I can give the first dose of nifedipine as her contractions are three minutes apart.’
Flo nodded back. ‘He heard you and said give the first dose. He’ll be here before the next one is due.’ She hung up and came back across to Georgia. ‘You want some observations done?’
‘Please. I need to check Del’s antenatal records as well.’
Shannon was the only one with a shoulder-bag and Georgia directed her next enquiry to her.
‘Have you got Del’s antenatal card?’
‘She doesn’t have one. She’s only been the once because the doctor said she’d have to go to Brisbane to have her babies. She didn’t want to do that so she never went back to him.’
Georgia’s heart sank at the lack of antenatal care and information now available. ‘Where were you going to have your babies, Del?’
Del looked at Shannon. Shannon answered. ‘Here.’
Thirty-two-week twins here and no antenatal care. Meeandah was good but not that good.
Georgia rummaged through the tray and removed a strip of tablets and two spoons. ‘We want to stop your labour Del. I’ll crush this tablet between two teaspoons and you have to put it under your tongue until it dissolves. It’s actually a blood-pressure tablet that works on the muscles of the blood vessels but it relaxes uterine muscles as well.
‘The plan is that you have fewer contractions the more tablets you have.’And the doctor arrives soon after, Georgia thought hopefully. ‘Do you understand?’
Del nodded. Georgia looked at Shannon and lowered her voice. ‘Does Del talk at all?’
‘Sometimes if she has to, but she finds it hard.’
‘That’s