Great Expectations. - Now Complete

Chapter 13.

George opened the front door. "Hi Mary," he welcomed the midwife, "Thanks for coming."

"How is she?"

"She's really out of sorts. You know Alice, she keeps saying it's the heat but I thought getting her checked just to be on the safe side."

"That's very sensible," the midwife told him, "Where is she?"

George pushed open the bedroom door. "Alice love?"

She turned to him immediately. She was wide awake but enjoying the comfort lying down was giving her.

"Morning Alice!"

"Oh, hello Mary," she looked at George, "Were you meant to be coming today?"

George shook his head. "Cyn said she was worried about you yesterday. She told me to get you checked out this morning. So here we are!"

Alice shuffled round to face them. "I keep telling you to stop fussing! I'm fine. It's the heat!"

"Then there's no harm in checking then is there." said George loftily. "Right, I'll leave you two ladies alone. I'm putting the kettle on. Mary? Alice?" He took drink orders then vanished.

"Right Alice Matthews," said the Midwife, removing her hat and sitting on the bed next to her, "You look shocking. None of this you're OK, how are you really feeling?"

"Exhausted! I feel sick all the time. It's like having morning sickness all over again! And I've got the worst backache I've ever known!" To her horror, tears sprung into her eyes.

"All the joys of the final days of pregnancy then!"

"Final day? If only! I've got five weeks yet!"

"Let's have a look at you shall we. See how junior is and then decide what's best."

Alice submitted to a range of examinations. Then, her bump was felt, checking position of the baby.

"Still feeling movements as usual Alice?"

She nodded. "Football on my bladder constantly!"

"Show me where your back pain is mainly."

Again she shuffled and showed. Mary placed her hand on the area and then back on to her bump. "Don't panic, but I'm certain you're in labour Alice."

"Am I?"Alice's eyes widened in surprise.

"The sickness is caused by the drop in hormones as labour begins. The back pain is actually contractions because I can feel them around the front too and baby," she explained, feeling her bump once more, "is well and truely head down and ready to say hello to you both!"

She smiled at Alice's face. "I think you have the unfortunate situation of a slow labour. Horrible and painful I'm afraid, made worse becuase this is your first baby. Hence the backpain you've been struggling with."

"That's what my friend Cynthia said." Alice looked worried, "So do I need to go to hospital or anything?"

Mary checked her blood pressure. "That's a little bit raised but considering I've just shocked you, it's nothing unusual. Can I examine you down below please?"

She grinned as Alice grimmaced at the thought. "You're about to give birth Alice. You'll have this kind of examination a million times during and after baby arrives, get used to it!"

Alice lay still. Mary was always as quick and as gentle as possible, she knew that. Once over, she washed her hands and then sat down with her once more.

"Right," she said softly, "Do you want me to explain what's going on just to you or to the both of you. Some women find their other halves panic."

"No George too." As if on cue, the door opened. George came in with three cups on a tray.

"Perfect timing George," said Mary. "I've just finished all my checks. So if you sit down and I'll explain to you both what I've found."

George climbed onto the bed next to Alice. She automatically snuggled to him. They waited.

"Firstly, baby is fine. Good heart beat. Plenty of movements. Nothing of concern. Alice is naturally very tired. That is the heat mainly ...just try to keep as cool as you can and rest when you can. However, there have been some developments."

"Such as?" George looked alarmed.

"Alice now knows that she is actually in labour. She has what we call Slow labour...as the name suggests...and that's the cause of the backpain. Baby is in the position we would expect for delivery and you are already starting to dialate Alice. George, I'm guessing you know what that mean?"

He nodded. "That Alice's body is opening up to give baby room to emerge. How far dialated?

"Just over an inch an a half, so not far off half way."

"So how much longer will it be?" asked Alice.

"That's the million pound question Alice love," she said, "but one I can't answer. It could be a few days or it could be a few hours. Walking around will speed things up but will increase the pain. Your waters could break and then you'd have to come into hospital. What you will need to do is just be very aware of how you are feeling. Rest when you can. Keep as cool as you can. Move around when the pain is bad. Sounds mad but if you move during the pains it makes them more useful to you."

Alice nodded.

"If you feel unwell, or the pain increases to a point where you can't cope or your waters break, then it's straight to hospital. Any bleeding, which may happen because I've just examined you, again, go to hospital." She  looked at the couple. She could see the fear in Alice's face, a total contrast the George's excited one. "Any questions?"

"The baby is early. Will it be alright if it's born this early?"

"I know there's been a mix up over dates all the way through Alice so I wouldn't be too concerned." She smiled reassuringly. "Baby isn't small so I don't think you're early. I think you may have conceived sooner than you realised. Since you're still wanting a hospital delivery then that isn't too much of an issue anyway. And, if you have a home delivery, again, as midwives, we can recognise and deal with any problems. How does that sound?"

"OK." Alice sounded nervous.

"Hopefully, the next time I see you, we'll be waiting to meet him or her!"

After thanking her, George led Mary to the front door. She turned to him. "It's nice to see a father to be so calm and relaxed," she told him, "Keep an eye on Alice George. I know she's scared but my instinct tells me that we won't be waiting too long before baby arrives."

"Seriously?"

She smiled at his excitement. She nodded. "Today is Friday, if she's not had baby by Sunday evening, I'd be very surprised!"

Grinning at the prospect, George said good bye and, after locking up, went back to Alice. He found her, both his and her own tea drunk, and fast asleep once more. He opened the window to let more of the soft breeze in and sat in the chair by the bed.

He thought about the fact that he was likely to be a father by the end of the weekend. He wondered how Alice would be with him then? He knew there would be a time where they would have to adjust to the changes to their relationship a baby would cause. He smiled to himself. He was so looking forward to meeting this little person and taking care of it. It seemed so very long ago now that he had been sat in Alice's flat when she had told him about being pregnant by another man. The thought of Tom worried him. Would he come after them once the baby was born? He knew Alice was still frightened about him. He made a mental note to step up security but discretely just in case.

"What are you sitting there for, so deep in thought?" Alice's voice brought him back into the room.

"Hello baby," he smiled, "I was just watching you. Thinking about what we've just been told. I'm so looking forward to meeting baby that's all."

She smiled at him. "Come here you!" He leaned over as she gestured for a hug. They kissed. "I love you George Harrison." she whispered, "Thank you for loving me."