BEFORE THE POSTNATAL EXAMINATION – CASE

April 7th, 2009

Linda’s flat was on the seventh floor. As usual the lift was broken. The health visitor, out of breath and struggling to be heard against the loud barking of the Alsatian that greeted her arrival, turned off the television herself. Linda was nursing the new baby born four weeks before. One-year-old Gavin tottered unsteadily among the debris of plastic toys holding a feeding bottle in his mouth by the teat. Three-year-old Tracey had opened the door; ‘Couldn’t get her to nursery,’ said Linda. Paul, Linda’s husband, appeared briefly in the doorway. ‘I’m off then.’ The health visitor groaned inwardly: so he was still here! Away from home for long periods doing ‘a bit of this and that’ she had assumed he was away for a while, long enough perhaps to get Linda down to the doctor’s for her postnatal check. She would have to raise the subject of contraception. Had Linda thought about it? Linda’s eyes glazed as she rocked the baby to and fro. ‘He likes kids, anyway they make you feel special don’t they?’ The health visitor understood how she felt. What was there to feel special about in Linda’s life except for having children; what choices did she have? Her stepfather had thrown her out when she found she was pregnant the first time, even though she had lost that baby. Getting pregnant again and marrying Paul was the only bit of security she knew, but Paul only seemed to care when there was a new baby around. But Linda could barely cope as things were. ‘Couldn’t you do with a break, Linda? Get to meet the other mums here, and make a bit of life for yourself?’ Linda looked doubtful. ‘I don’t want no injections, they make you sterile. I’ve seen the leaflet.’ ‘Not permanently,’ said the health visitor. ‘And I can’t take the Pill, never could remember anyhow, and he won’t use nothing.’ ‘What about a coil? If I took you down to the clinic you could have one put in straight away and then when you want another baby, have it taken out again.’ ‘You mean it doesn’t have to stay in five years? But I’m not sure I want something inside me all the time.’ ‘You had the baby inside. The coil’s just there until the next baby.’ Linda looked interested. Here was someone saying she could have another baby if she wanted to. ‘I wouldn’t mind for a bit . . . we could do with a bit of peace around here.’

*169/197/1*

Share and Enjoy: