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This book is a work of non-fiction based on the author’s experiences. In order to protect privacy, names, identifying characteristics, dialogue and details have been changed or reconstructed. HarperElement An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street London SE1 9GF and HarperElement are trademarks of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd First published by HarperElement 2012 FIRST EDITION © Linda Fairley with Rachel Murphy 2012 All images and material © the author, except where stated. Associated Press extract and Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust article reproduced with permission. While every effort has been made to trace the owners of the material produced herein and secure permission to use it, the publishers would like to apologise for any omissions and will be pleased to incorporate missing acknowledgements in any future edition of this book. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Linda Fairley asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this ebook on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins. Find out about HarperCollins and the environment at www.harpercollins.co.uk/green Source ISBN 9780007457144 Ebook Edition © October 2012 ISBN: 9780007457151 Version 2016-10-21 The Midwife’s Here! For Peter, who told me I could do this. He would be very proud. Contents Copyright Chapter One
‘I’d love to hear some good news’
Chapter Two
‘Please God, look after Mrs Sully this time’
Chapter Three Chapter Four
‘I think I’ve eaten far too much turkey’
Chapter Five
‘Help me! I’m boiling me ’ead off!’
Chapter Six
‘Mind if I have a ciggie, only I’m really nervous?’
Chapter Seven
‘What an impatient little boy you are!’
Chapter Eight
‘Oh Christ, the head is coming out!’
Chapter Nine
‘The bigger the medallion, the harder they fall’
Chapter Ten
‘I haven’t felt the baby move’
Chapter Eleven
‘I was hoping to apply for a community post’
Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen
‘Honestly, you could have been killed!’
Chapter Fourteen
‘Linda, I’ve got some terrible news’
Chapter Fifteen
‘It wasn’t how I’d envisaged the birth at all!’
Chapter Sixteen Epilogue Picture Section Acknowledgements
‘Go, and do thou likewise.’
‘She’s on the bathroom floor!’ Sarah’s husband puffed as he flung open the front door and ushered me inside the house. ‘Come in,’ he said urgently, giving me a
