Page 32 of The Village Midwife
‘Thanks for fitting me in anyway.’
‘Again, not a problem. So what’s worrying you?’
‘I don’t know. I mean, I’m knackered all the time. All I seem to do is sleep, and I was never this bad with either of my others. I’m older, I suppose. Is that normal?’
‘It’s not unexpected.’
‘I feel different. I can’t say what it is. I don’t feel well at all. I know it’s been eighteen years since my last one, but I don’t remember feeling like this. I wasn’t exactly bouncing around last time, but I didn’t feel this exhausted. All I want to do is stay in bed, but I can’t because I have to work and there’s stuff to do in the house.’
‘Can’t you get help with the house? I’m sure if you explain to your family?—’
‘I have, but I don’t think they get it.’
‘Perhaps it would do you some good to take time off work? I could see about a note for you, to give you a couple of weeks’ rest.’
Tegan nodded. ‘That would be good.’
‘And while you’re here, I’ll do some checks to make sure there’s nothing going on undetected that we need to deal with. I expect it’s all perfectly normal. Perhaps a little bit of it is your age – you’re an older mum now, which I know you know all about – but it wouldn’t hurt to cover all the bases.’ Zoe got out her blood pressure reader. ‘Any headaches? Blurred vision? Dizziness or nausea? Anything like that, or are you just tired?’
‘Not just tired, absolutely exhausted. All the time. If I could take to my bed now I’d sleep for the rest of my life.’
‘But nothing else?’
‘I have had some headaches.’
‘Do you think you could get a urine sample to me?’
‘Already done it.’ Tegan got a tiny bottle from her handbag and held it up. ‘It’s not my first time around the block, you know.’
‘I see that,’ Zoe said, taking the sample with a smile. ‘I’ll get it checked. I don’t suppose you’ve managed to take your own blood pressure too?’
‘Sorry, I’m not that good.’
‘Not to worry; let’s do that now. Baby seems all right? Any movement?’
‘I haven’t felt any kicking yet; it’s hard to tell.’
‘That’s OK. I only ask because it’s not your first and so I thought you might have noticed a bit of fluttering, but you’re right, it’s early. No bleeding?’
Tegan shook her head as Zoe wrapped the cuff around her arm and read her blood pressure. After a moment, she frowned but then immediately smoothed her expression into a bright smile. She didn’t want to alarm Tegan, who had already proved to be nervous, despite the fact it was her third pregnancy. ‘A bit on the high side,’ she said. ‘Higher than I’d like. But don’t worry,’ she added, aware that worrying was likely to drive Tegan’s blood pressure higher still. ‘I’m sure some rest and calm will bring it down.’
‘Are you?’ Tegan’s eyes were wide.
‘Absolutely. I’ll want to keep a close eye on things, and so I’m going to ask that you come to see me a bit more often until I’m happy with it. And of course, I’ll check your sample to make sure there’s nothing else. I want you to take it easy until I see you again. Will you be able to do that if I give you a note for time off work?’
‘I think so, as long as I have something official.’
‘It will be. I think, to be on the safe side, you should stay at home for the next week at least. I’ll see you again after that to check things, but if there’s anything bothering you, phone me. Don’t hesitate to call, no matter if you think it’s silly. But the most important thing – and I can’t stress this enough – is try not to worry. I know that’s easier said than done, but if you can relax, that will help. Take advantage of some well-earned rest. I’m going to check a few other things while you’re here, but I don’t want you to think any of it is bad news.’
‘OK.’ Tegan nodded, her eyes still trained on Zoe as if her life depended on her. Zoe tried not to think about that. Instead, she got on with the task in hand and put her own fears to one side.
After work, Zoe changed quickly out of her uniform and freshened up before heading to Daffodil Farm. At the farmhouse back door, she shook out her umbrella, marvelling at how, only the previous weekend, she’d managed to get sunburned on the boat across Ullswater.
‘Here.’ Corrine pointed to a bucket with two other umbrellas already in there. ‘Pop it in here, my love. It’s coming down in stair rods out there, isn’t it? Victor picks his moments to go out to the paddock to see to the girls.’
‘The girls?’ Zoe blinked.
‘Oh, you know, his herd.’
