Ive been a midwife for years now, so Ive seen my fair share of both heartwarming and heartbreaking moments. Nurses and midwives dont usually get involved in the personal affairs of the mums and their families, but just recently I found myself stepping in to help a young woman a university student who gave birth to a beautiful baby girl and immediately wanted to put her up for adoption.
The girls name was Charlotte, and she arrived quietly at our hospital in London. Shed carried her baby for the full nine months without ever seeing a doctor. I tried to ask why, but she kept evading my questions, and before I knew it, she was in labour no time for explanations.
Against all odds, Charlottes labour was textbook perfect, better even than some of the mums who had attended all the antenatal classes. She was so quiet, barely a whisper here and there, followed every instruction without a fuss, and the delivery went off without a hitch. When I held her little girl for the first time and she let out a good loud cry, announcing herself to the world, Charlotte cried as well. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and I told her how lucky she was to have such a healthy little girl.
But once they were settled into the ward, Charlotte said she was going to give her daughter up for adoption. She asked me to let the appropriate authorities know.
We tried to talk to her, to persuade her not to make such a hasty decision, but Charlotte refused even to breastfeed her baby and kept asking to be left alone.
Her little girl, unlike the other babies, didnt want the formula shed turn her head at the scent of milk, searching for the breast shed never known.
She began losing weight, and when my next shift came round, I decided to pick her up and take her back to her mum, even though everyone advised against it. I explained to Charlotte that her babys health was at risk, and pretty much insisted she try to feed her. As soon as Charlotte brought her daughter to her breast, the baby latched on with such eagerness. I made up an excuse and left the room, hoping theyd find a moment together.
When I came back half an hour later, both were fast asleep, and Charlotte was cradling her daughter so gently. A little while later, Charlotte brought her baby to the corridor, sat next to my desk, and started talking.
It turned out her babys father was a well-known businessman in town. He was married, of course, and when she fell pregnant, he wasnt happy about it at all. He offered her money for an abortion, but Charlotte had made up her mind. Once she refused, he confessed everything to his wife, who forgave him but turned her anger on poor Charlotte, demanding she get rid of the baby. Neither bribery nor threats changed Charlottes mind. Eventually, the businessman disappeared from London for an unspecified time, and his wife kept pressing Charlotte to put the baby up for adoption.
After telling me all this, Charlotte looked me straight in the eye and said, I want to keep her, but Ive no idea how Ill manage in halls with no money.
I told her how brave she was and assured her wed figure something out. Luckily, our head consultant had plenty of contacts across London. It wasnt hard to get in touch with the babys father and ask him to come in. Much to our surprise, he didnt even try to avoid it he turned up within a few hours, and together they talked through everything about Charlottes and her daughters future. I have to admit, he behaved far more decently than any of us expected.
When Charlotte was discharged, she managed to rent a flat for herself, with the babys father paying a full years rent in advance and giving her enough money pounds sterling to see her comfortably for the foreseeable future. He promised to support his daughter and be there for her in the future. I think somewhere along the way he realised he had to take responsibility for what hed done.
As for Charlotte and her little girl, I dont know exactly whats ahead for them, but I hope with all my heart that shell be able to build a little family and raise her wonderful daughter in a warm and loving home.
