Читать книгу The Baby Diaries - Sam Binnie - Страница 12

I got a letter today from the local team of midwives. Ah, the things you never thought you’d find out: who even knew there was a local team of midwives? A team sounds good, though. Like a team of crime-fighters. I hope they have cool uniforms, at least. The letter said that I had an appointment with them next week at the local hospital, and came wrapped around six different leaflets – what I should be eating, how I should be feeling, what’s going to be taken from me (blood and urine) and what’s going to be given (more information). I find it’s most helpful to write the appointment in my diary, tuck the whole thing safe at the back of my drawer, and just not think about it again. Note: this may not work when the actual baby is born.

Mum came over tonight to drop off some photos from our wedding (oh, how recent that seemed) and I thought she’d guess instantly when I was lying on the sofa, grey-faced and sipping water with a lemon in.

Mum: Hello darling, are you ill?

Me: My stomach. I think it’s a bug.

Mum: Oh, that’s awful. Have you had some plain toast?

Me: [trying not to retch at the thought] No, I don’t really …

Mum: Well, it’s the best thing for you.

Me: I know, but it’s not what my stomach wants right now.

Mum: Kiki, I think you’re being very silly; a nice piece of dry toast is exactly the kind of thing you should be eating if you want to feel any better. Is it something going round?

Me: [burping, a precursor to vomiting]

Thom: She’s been a bit sick all day, it might be better if we let her rest for a while.

Mum: [voice almost cracking] You’re being ridiculous! If you don’t want to feel better –

Thom: I’ll get her some toast later. I think she’s just a bit tired at the moment.

Mum: [grumpily] Well I shan’t kiss you, in case it’s catching and I give it to your father.

Thom: [sniggering]

Me: [faintly] Alright Mum. Thanks for the photos.

Mum: That’s perfectly alright. See you soon!

And she was gone. We both felt such relief, even though she is incredibly kind (sometimes) and did do a huge amount towards saving our wedding from disaster: but her attentions can be a little much, and if she’d kept saying the word toast I would definitely have been sick in front of her. And she seemed even more tense than usual – surely she wouldn’t care that much about my toast intake normally? Plus, we definitely don’t want to tell anyone until we’ve had the first scan. It still doesn’t seem real.