The plan

I was reminded today of something said to me just before my c-section, which was two days ahead of the plan. I won’t trouble you with what happened to me today, suffice it to say it was all about the plan, and the change(s) in the plan. And who was driving the change(s). Let me share what was said to me seven years ago.

I was experiencing light contractions two days ahead of the planned c-section. So I went into hospital and was told that the whole and the best team were on shift and that we could do the c-section that afternoon.

This was not the plan and I was not ready.

Three midwives came in and I said hello, but reassured them they weren’t to worry because the c-section was in two days. That was the plan.

A junior doctor came in and asked if I minded her watching the c-section for training purposes. I was so grateful for her asking, but apologies that the unless she was working in two days time, she wouldn’t get to watch. The c-section was in two days. That was the plan.

The head of department and designated surgeon came in. She told me it had made her day to hear that she would deliver triplets today. I expressed surprise at the coincidence that there was another mum on the ward expecting triplets, because my c-section was in two days. That was the plan.

The catering woman came in offering me the evening menu, concerned I should not miss dinner if I was still in theatre. I said I didn’t need to order anything because the c-section was in two days. That was the plan.

The anaesthetist came in. She spent twenty minutes with me going through her questionnaire, filling in all the forms. Blood type. Blood pressure. Medical history. I remarked how efficient she was to do the paperwork now, given that the c-section was in two days. That was the plan.

When she finished she turned to me. She was a kind woman and she smiled. And then she said, “This is not the last time those three babies will scupper your plans. You may as well get used to it. I’ll see you in theatre in an hour.”