Please Don’t Take My Baby and I Miss Mummy 2-in-1 Collection

Presently Jackie said to me: ‘Ty phoned me. I think he might be coming over later.’

‘That’ll be nice,’ I said to Jade. ‘Was he with you during the birth? I saw him arrive as I was leaving the hospital.’

Jade shrugged. ‘I guess so. Sort of. I was out of it with that gas and air.’

‘He was in the room, some of the time,’ Jackie said. ‘Although he wasn’t much use. Just as well you can rely on your mother,’ she added, turning to Jade.

Jade didn’t reply or look at her mother and again I sensed an atmosphere. There was a small silence as Jade drank her orange juice and then Jackie stood. ‘Well, I best be off, then. The bus takes ages.’

‘I’m sorry I can’t offer you a lift,’ I said, also standing. ‘But I wouldn’t be back in time to collect Paula.’

‘No worries,’ Jackie said. ‘I’m used to the buses.’ Then to Jade: ‘See you soon. You know where I live.’

Jade frowned and looked annoyed. ‘I can’t go on the bus yet, can I?’ Which was a fair comment.

‘I could take you to see your mum in the car one afternoon,’ I suggested.

‘Or I’ll get a cab,’ Jade said.

‘We’ll sort something out,’ I said to Jackie.

Jackie said goodbye, kissed Courtney’s forehead but didn’t hug or kiss her daughter. I saw Jackie out and then returned to the sitting room, where I sat on the sofa next to Jade. Courtney gave a little yawn and my heart melted.

‘She’s certainly a lovely baby,’ I said. ‘Do you think she looks like you or Tyler?’

‘Dunno. Can’t really tell,’ Jade said.

‘No,’ I agreed, smiling. ‘People often see a family likeness in a newborn baby but it’s very difficult to tell. I couldn’t see any likeness in Adrian or Paula until they were about three months old.’ Courtney yawned again and then stretched as though she might be waking and I wondered if she was due for a feed. ‘When did you last feed her?’ I asked.

‘Just before we left the hospital,’ Jade said. ‘I’m using bottles. I’m not breastfeeding.’

‘I know.’ I glanced at the clock. ‘Courtney shouldn’t need feeding again until after I’ve returned from collecting Paula from school,’ I said. ‘But if she does, everything you need is ready in the kitchen. If you come with me I’ll show you. I’ve made up some bottles ready, and then later, when we have more time, I’ll show you how to prepare the formula.’

‘All right,’ Jade said without moving, and then suddenly burst into tears.

‘Oh, love,’ I said. ‘What’s the matter?’ I instinctively put my arm around her shoulders to comfort her.

‘It’s her!’ Jade said, nodding towards the sitting-room door her mother had gone out of.

‘Your mum?’

‘Yes. D’you know what she’s done? She’s packed away all my things and given the boys my room. I’m homeless now.’

‘You’re not homeless, love,’ I said, hugging her. ‘Try not to upset yourself. Your mother mentioned to me your brothers were sleeping in your old room. I think she was desperate for the space.’

‘I know but I haven’t got anywhere to go now,’ Jade cried. ‘I bet they’re all a lot happier without me. I always caused them problems.’

‘That’s not true,’ I said, holding her close as she cried. ‘Your mum loves you. And you have a home here with me for now.’ But of course I could appreciate how Jade felt. I’d thought Jackie had acted prematurely and insensitively in packing up Jade’s bedroom so quickly, and having just had a baby Jade would be more emotional than normal and would feel the rejection more deeply.

I comforted Jade and reassured her as best I could, while Courtney, bless her, slept on. I also told Jade that now she and her mother were living separately they would probably get along a lot better, and Jade agreed. After a while Jade wiped her eyes and blew her nose. Then, mindful that I needed to leave soon to collect Paula from school, I took Jade into the kitchen, where I showed her where the made-up bottles were in the fridge and explained how to heat one and test it was at the right temperature.

‘If Courtney needs changing while I’m out, everything you need is ready in your bedroom,’ I said. ‘But she’s fast asleep now, so hopefully she’ll wait until I come home. I’ll be as quick as I can.’

‘Thanks, Cathy,’ Jade said, and gave a small, sad smile. I felt sorry for her; she looked so lost and out of her depth. I knew she was going to need a lot of help and support during the first few weeks.

I was away from the house for only half an hour but as soon as Paula and I stepped into the hall we heard Courtney screaming upstairs, together with Jade crying. Then to my surprise Tyler suddenly appeared on the landing.

‘I’m glad you’re back!’ he cried. ‘Come and help, quick! We need your help.’

Without taking off my coat or shoes I ran upstairs and into Jade’s room.

‘She won’t stop crying,’ Tyler said anxiously. ‘Jade’s tried to feed and change her but she can’t. We don’t know what to do.’

Courtney was lying on her back on the changing mat with her little face screwed up and her mouth wide open in an almost continuous cry. Her nappy was off and Jade was standing at the foot of the changing mat with a nappy in one hand and a full bottle of milk in the other, also in tears.

‘Dear me, what a noise,’ I said gently, going over and stroking Courtney’s cheek. ‘What’s the matter, little one?’

‘She won’t stop crying,’ Jade blurted. ‘She began just after you left and she hasn’t stopped.’

‘Don’t worry. She’s probably hungry,’ I said calmly.

‘I tried feeding her,’ Jade said. ‘But she wouldn’t suck, so I thought she needed changing, but I can’t do the nappy. She won’t stop screaming.’

Clearly Jade (and Tyler) had panicked, which was understandable given the noise Courtney was making and that they were inexperienced parents. My instinct was to pick up Courtney but I didn’t want to take over, as that could have undermined Jade’s confidence even more. ‘Let’s get her nappy on first,’ I said to Jade, as I stroked Courtney’s forehead to soothe her. ‘Open the nappy so it’s completely flat and slide it under her bottom.’

I held up Courtney’s legs to make it easier for Jade, and she slid the nappy into place and then secured it with the sticky fastening tabs, while Tyler stood watching.

‘It’ll be your turn to change a nappy next,’ I said with a smile. Jade sniffed and managed a smile too.

‘Now put her babygro back on,’ I said to Jade. ‘Newborn babies often cry when you change their nappies or take off their clothes. It’s nothing to worry about; they just don’t like the feeling. They soon get used to the routine.’

Courtney whimpered a little but didn’t cry as Jade finished dressing her.

‘Excellent,’ I said. ‘Now let’s wrap her in the shawl so she’s nice and warm.’ I placed the shawl in Jade’s arms and then lifted Courtney off the changing mat and laid her in the shawl; then I helped Jade wrap the shawl around Courtney. ‘Good,’ I said. ‘Well done. Now sit on the bed with Courtney in the crook of your arm so you are both comfortable and you can feed her.’

Jade did as I suggested and I picked up the bottle, checked the milk was still warm and that it was flowing through the teat by shaking a little on to the back of my hand, and then passed the bottle to Jade. She put the teat to Courtney’s mouth but Courtney didn’t take the teat – or latch on, as it’s known – and, frustrated, screwed up her face as though she was about to cry again.

‘See!’ Jade said, immediately losing confidence. ‘That’s what she does!’

I sat beside Jade on the bed and placed my hand over hers and the bottle, as Courtney reddened with frustration at not being able to feed. ‘Try this,’ I said, and I guided the bottle so that the teat brushed against the side of Courtney’s mouth rather than trying to push it between her lips. Feeling the teat Courtney instinctively opened her mouth, searched for the teat and latched on.

‘Success,’ I said as she suckled and Jade finally relaxed. ‘A nurse showed me that trick when I had Adrian. Brushing the corner of the baby’s mouth with the teat, or nipple if you are breastfeeding, seems to stimulate a reflex action.’ I smiled at Jade. ‘Now enjoy feeding her. Hold her close so she can feel the warmth of your body and you can feel hers. I’ll be back in a minute to show you how to wind her. All right?’

Jade nodded and I left her feeding Courtney with Tyler looking on, while I went downstairs, took off my shoes and coat and went to find Paula. She was in the sitting room, kneeling on the floor and stroking Toscha. ‘It’s OK,’ Paula was saying soothingly to our cat. ‘Mummy knows what to do. Baby has stopped crying now.’ I thought that Courtney’s screaming, together with Jade’s crying, Tyler’s panicked shouting and me rushing upstairs, had frightened Paula.

‘Jade and Courtney are all right now,’ I confirmed. ‘Would you like to come up and see Courtney?’

Paula nodded and, leaving Toscha, slipped her hand into mine and we went upstairs. Tyler was sitting on the bed next to Jade as she fed Courtney. They both looked up and smiled at Paula.