Reach out for me - TNN Story

Chapter 34 - Stepping Up

A/N - Sorry this one's going to be short possibly!
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They wouldn't let her move a muscle, unless it was to go to the toilet. They had phoned in giving the excuse to Marjorie and Autumn that they all came down with a stomach bug again.

Mia and Charlotte had become so weary of every pain, ache, wince or anything that Maeve did. They really all hoped they could shake the fear that their baby Mabel, may be dying. It felt so impossible for them to believe that their life could be drastically ruined in a matter of seconds. Maeve was again sound asleep in their bed, Charlotte refused to leave her side as she watched Mia move all the baby things around in the room. "I think Mabel will have you wrapped around your finger..." Charlotte looks up to Mia, who's breaking a sweat moving the parcels. "Mmm and what about you? We both know how much Maeve has you roped too" Mia smiles.

"Is she any cooler with that flannel?" Mia looked over Maeve, her face contorted more as she held tightly onto Charlotte's hand as the other soothed over her stomach. Charlotte pointed out how swollen Maeve's stomach had become bigger than what is normally expected at this stage.

However they couldn't do anything about it because it was a Thursday..all things were shut at the clinic..

"A little cooler now she is yeah.. Mia I'm worried about her..." Charlotte stopped talking as a slow trickle pushed on her thighs and she pulled the cover back. "Amelia.. Maeve's waters... have just broke..." she looked over to Mia and Mia looked back at her, "...it's too early, she'll..." "Amelia. Let's go... now" Charlotte stopped her and gestured to Maeve for her to help lift her.

Maeve's POV:
I woke up and I felt wet soak through my trousers, looking around Mia and Charlotte looked panicked... yet still trying to remain calm. "Did my?.... Did my waters just?" I looked down puzzled as a sharp pain ripped through my body.

I let out a sob as I clung onto Charlotte, tears rolling down my cheeks, "It's.. all going.... Wrong.." I sob more and my head drops into Charlotte as she tries to pick me up. The baby had been kicking a lot over the few months... but over last week they started to slow, I'm new to this part of the stage so I thought it was normal.. but there was no sign from Mabel of a move. My chest tightened in fear as Charlotte and Mia tried their best to calm me, "breathe sweetheart... look at Charlotte.... It'll be okay...." Mia looked back as we moved quickly to the car, the bag in the front and me and Charlotte sat in the back of the car. "I-It hurts..." I groan gripping Charlotte's hand tightly sobbing roughly.

"Breathe baby... come on you can do it..." Charlotte rubs my back and I groan as another wave of pain hits me. It was getting harder to breathe by the second and I couldn't speak or breathe, "Amelia hurry!..." Charlotte calls out and the rest was a slow blur as we drove to the hospital.
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As they were admitted into hospital many doctors rushed in and out of the room fidgeting with wires and monitors.

Mia and Charlotte were stood either side of Maeve's bed, in the car Maeve had passed out from the amount of pain she was suffering. They were concerned looking between them as their girlfriend led in bed with monitors all over her stomach. As more doctors flooded through their room they were brought back to reality.

"We're just going to take a quick ultrasound to see what sort of situation we're dealing with" a different midwife approaches and puts the Doppler on Maeve's stomach, which she slowly stirs to the cold gel, "Maeve do you know where you are?" Another doctor asked, "well I'm in the hospital.. because my waters broke-" "Now if I can get a little look...." The midwife's voice hushed and her eyes darted around the monitor.

The three looked at each other, "what is it? What's wrong?" Mia calls out to the midwife. No answer as the midwife calls over more doctors and pulls the curtain across that they had in their private room. There was muffled voices being raised and what they heard of them clicking the keyboards. "I knew something was wrong.." Maeve mealy said as her face scrunched in pain.

"Baby just look at me..." Charlotte holds out her hand, "Breathe... 1..2...3...4...5 Good job...you're doing great alright..." she kissed her head and looks up to Mia, slowly shaking her head. The curtain opened and was moved as a doctor stepped out and took a phone call... "I don't know how your midwife didn't see this..." the midwife called out, "Didn't see what?" Mia looked directly at her rubbing the tops of Maeve's hands as she shifted uncomfortably.

The midwife breathes, "Have you noticed decreased movements with the fetus Maeve?.." "They were strong a few months ago but now and then they seem to... slow" she replied shifting again in the bed. The midwife looks at both Mia and Charlotte, "Unfortunately...the baby has suffered what is deemed as a perinatal death in the case of a cord prolapse." Maeve's eyes scanned across the midwife's and back across to Mia and Charlotte. Which they both looked down to Maeve kissing her head as they sat one on a chair and the other perched on the bed.

"....what?.." Maeve's voice caved in on itself as she looked up to the midwife with tears running tracks on her cheeks, "Maeve, your baby has sadly died." The midwife looks at her with sympathy, "But I did everything right.... I took the supplements....i followed that diet.." more tears streamed down her face now. "I'm so sorry... I'll let you have a moment before we come in to discuss the options" she walked out.

Silence filled the room, how could you bear the news of telling a mother that the baby they had grown was now all of a sudden dead?
Though it may not have been the way she wanted, Maeve had become so attached to Mabel her the months and enjoyed those moments.

The silence still simmered and Mia broke it slowly.., "Baby we'll get through this okay?... it'll be alright.." Mia softly spoke resting her forehead against Maeve's. "We'll be here every step of the way okay baby?..." Charlotte softly smiles.. "We could even make some memories with her before we part too... photos...footprints.." how could this happen to her? Why is all Maeve thought at that moment, after all she went through to get Mabel.... The world took her out of her heart and left a Mabel shaped void in her heart.

"I...have to give birth to my daughter...who I won't hear cry?.." Maeve quietly mutters just staring at the hospital bassinet in the corner of the room, "She won't be able to see us...., she won't be able....to grow up.... I-I always dreamed of going prom dress shopping when we found out we are... were having." She sniffles as Charlotte and Mia slowly sit on the bed giving comfort to Maeve, "We will make memories okay..." Mia says wrapping an arm around her, "Whatever happens we'll get photos and hopefully we can hold her yeah baby?..." Charlotte wraps her arm around her holding Maeve's hand.

"I failed our daughter...I killed her.." she mumbled, "no you didn't baby...you're the best mummy ever~" Charlotte tries to comfort her.
She sucks a breath in, "Her birthday.....will be her death day too.." Maeve chokes on her words as she stares focused on the baby bassinet.