Page 20 of Prognosis Temporary

Ginny stopped abruptly at his deep calm voice. ‘What...what do you mean?’ She hiccoughed.

‘You’re already thinking like a mum. Worrying about your baby. Putting its needs first. That’s what the best mums do.’ Ginny rallied a little at his words and he pressed gently on. ‘How far along are you, do you think?’

Ginny sniffled and shook her head. ‘My periods are always so erratic. I just don’t know.’ Her fingers scratched at the rim of the mug as she grew worried again. ‘If I go off my meds they might even...take my baby away from me.’

Callie reached over and squeezed Ginny’s hand. ‘That’s not going to happen, Ginny. It’s not. That’s why you have us, right, Sebastian?’

She flicked a glance at him and Sebastian got their message loud and clear. ‘Right,’ he said with a nod, smiling reassuringly at a distressed Ginny.

‘Remember how we always talk about taking one day at a time? That’s what we’re going to do here. Nothing will change with that. Now...where’s Brad? Does he know?’

‘At work. He didn’t know I was taking the test.’

‘Right.’ Callie stood. ‘I’m going to make a phone call and we’ll get you in for an ultrasound right now.’ She checked her phone. ‘Reception is terrible. I’ll go outside. While I’m doing that, Sebastian’s going to talk to you about pregnancy and managing your condition.’

She looked straight at him all businesslike and Sebastian nodded imperceptibly. No wonder Callie was spoken of so highly. She clearly cared effortlessly for both the emotional and practical needs of her clients.

‘I’m so sorry,’ Ginny murmured as Callie strode out of the house. ‘You must think I’m stupid.’

Sebastian shook his head. ‘Not at all,’ he said with a kind smile. ‘Okay,’ he drained his tea. ‘Let’s talk facts, yes?’

Ginny had visibly responded to Callie’s practical approach so why reinvent the wheel? Every client and their needs were different and it took time and an experienced practitioner to know those needs.

‘Yes please.’

‘Okay, generally there’s not a lot of data about drugs in pregnancy because obviously no pregnant woman would volunteer for clinical trials. But for the type of medication you’re on, we actually know quite a bit.’

He paused to make sure she was following him. ‘There is one drug in particular that’s been linked with minor heart defects in babies but - ’ He tapped her chart. ‘You’re not on that. On the other things — the premature birth and low birth weights, there is some evidence around these in a couple of studies but usually only in women who also drink and smoke while on their medication.’

Sebastian paused again to give it time to sink in. The internet was a wonderful tool and he had no doubt that patients were more informed these days because of it — which was a good thing. But there was a maze of information out there that could be very confusing too.

‘Your chart says you don’t drink or smoke.’

‘Never touch either of them.’

Sebastian smiled. ‘Good, then.’

‘But what about breastfeeding? Will I be able to do that on my meds?’

‘Yes.’ Sebastian nodded. ‘Quite safely. Only a very small percentage of the drug crosses into the breast milk and there are numerous studies reporting no ill effects from the medication you’re currently taking.’

‘Okay.’ Ginny sounded much more confident now and she sent him a tentative smile as Callie traipsed back into the house.

‘Right, then,’ she announced. ‘I have an appointment for you in half an hour.’ She strode to Ginny’s fridge and pulled out a two-litre bottle of water from the door.

‘Wow! That was quick.’

Plonking the water on the table, Callie tapped her nose twice on the side. ‘I have my sources.’ Then she winked. ‘Now, drink up. You need a full bladder. We’ll take you and you can ring Brad from the car.’ Her gaze skittered towards him and she asked, ‘You ready to go?’

Sebastian stood. “Yep.”

‘Okay.’ She turned to Ginny, who was drinking from the bottle. ‘Let’s go.’

It was only about a ten-minute drive from Ginny’s to the local hospital but they were heading into peak hour so heavy traffic made the going slower. Callie drove while Sebastian talked some more to Ginny about managing her condition and the pregnancy. He explained it might be possible to reduce Ginny’s medication and that they would see her more frequently during the following months to monitor the situation.

By the time they arrived, Ginny was actually smiling. She was a little anxious that her calls to her husband kept going to his message bank but obviously feeling much more positive about the unexpected twist her life had taken and with her ability to provide as a mother.

Callie, on the other hand, was not doing so well. She’d tried to concentrate on the services and strategies she could put in place to support Ginny — child health clinic, community midwives, a lactation consultant. She’d made a mental note to take Sebastian to the psych unit at the hospital to introduce him around. She’d even recited the twelve times table.

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