‘It is a lifetime ago, when you think of all the changes you’ve undergone,’ Ada pointed out.

‘I don’t think I’ve ever been happier than I am now,’ Theresa smiled, then stopped short as Ada’s nails bit into her hand.

‘They’re getting stronger,’ Ada gasped, as she panted through the pain.

‘I’m going to get help,’ Theresa announced.

Five minutes later she returned with Dora, who was reassuringly calm.

‘Come on, sweetheart. Let’s see how dilated you are.’

Once Dora established that Ada was well dilated, things happened fast and in no time at all Ada was bearing down hard.

‘You know the routine, lovie,’ Dora said to Ada. ‘When you get the urge, tuck your chin under your chest and give the biggest push you can.’

Ada nodded. ‘I know, I’ve seen it done often enough.’

Dora gave a rueful chuckle. ‘That’s as may be, but you’ve never experienced it before. Remember, you must stop pushing on my instruction. If I think you’re going too fast and you might tear, I’ll get you to pant. Okay?’

‘Okay,’ Ada gasped, as her body heaved and the urge to push consumed her. Grasping Dora’s hand, she pushed so hard she thought her ears would pop.

‘Good work, nearly there,’ cried Dora. ‘Rest now while you can – one more like that and you should see your baby born.’

Suddenly excited, Ada gripped Dora’s hand once more. ‘I can’t wait for that moment,’ she cried.

‘You won’t have to wait long, love. Ready?’ Dora, the completely unflappable midwifery nurse, enquired.

Ada nodded, then groaned as another spasm took hold, and, gritting her teeth, she once again tucked in her chin and with one final mighty push she delivered her baby into the world. Dora with practised skill deftly caught the child in her hands.

‘A little girl,’ she cried. ‘A gorgeous little girl!’

Ada wept with joy when Dora placed the tiny, pink squirming body in her arms.

‘Hello, darling,’ she whispered. ‘Welcome to the world.’

Through a curtain of tears Ada watched her daughter blink up at the light, then turn to follow the sound of her voice, gazing up at Ada with new-born filmy-blue baby eyes. Ada thought her heart would burst with love.

‘I have a daughter, Dora,’ she exclaimed through her sobs. ‘A lovely daughter.’

‘She’s that indeed,’ Dora agreed, as she cleaned up the new arrival, then hurried away to make her tired patient some tea. When she returned with a plate of bread and butter and some strong hot tea, Dora found Matron at Ada’s bedside.

‘Congratulations, dear,’ Matron beamed as she examined the baby now snuggled in a cotton sheet. ‘How are you feeling?’

Ada held out her arms for her daughter. ‘Never happier,’ she exclaimed. ‘Sore, exhausted, but so happy.’