Page 14 of Ms. Patti
“Good. Got your mind off the labor pains too, didn’t I?” Tessa grinned as she pulled up to the front door of the emergency clinic. “Hang tight, I’m going inside to get help.”
“Nonsense.” Beth’s hand fumbled with the handle, and she opened the door, then clicked the seatbelt release before swinging her feet out onto the blacktop. “I’m perfectly capable of walking inside. Get a grip, Sis, for both our sakes.”
Tessa hurried around the front of the car in time to slide an arm around Beth’s waist. Beth rolled her eyes but allowed her sister to grab the clinic’s front door and swing it open before waddling through and heading for the receptionist’s desk. She felt guilty taking up the doctor’s time when it wasn’t an emergency, but Tessa hadn’t even given her a chance to call her obstetrician. Oh, well, she’d humor her and talk to the doctor, who’d tell them everything was fine, the baby was just being acrobatic, and to go and see her personal doc if she had any more pains.
“My sister started having pains and needs to see the doctor right away. The baby isn’t due for another couple of weeks, so something might be wrong.” Tessa spoke so fast Beth had trouble understanding her. The receptionist nodded her head and picked up the phone, relaying the info to whoever was on the other end of the line. Beth shook her head and placed her hands at the small of her back, trying to decide if she wanted to stay standing or park her backside onto one of the chairs. The decision was taken away from her when Dr. Stevens stepped through the door leading back to the exam rooms. She knew where they were because Jamie had been here before when she’d fallen at school and needed a couple of stitches in her arm.
“Good afternoon, ladies. How about we head back to exam room number two, and see what’s going on with the little one, shall we?” Beth appreciated it when Dr. Stevens gently took her arm and assisted her through the open doorway. She might have stopped having contraction-type pains, but that didn’t mean she felt one hundred percent her normal self. For some reason her back was spasming, the muscles seeming to contract every few minutes. Maybe Tessa was right, she was overdoing things, but she wanted everything perfect for Ms. Patti. And maybe she was a touch OCD about making sure things were done exactly the way she envisioned them.
Climbing up on the table, Beth placed a hand low down against her stomach, smiling when she felt Junior push his tiny foot against her hand. He sure was active today, and she knew it wouldn’t be long before he came out to meet his brand-new family.
“How long have you been having pain, Beth?” Dr. Stevens gently wrapped the blood pressure cuff around her arm and started the portable vital signs machine. She watched the numbers climb as the cuff inflated, squeezing her arm tight. The numbers kept climbing upward, and she started to get a little scared.
“She started having pains, contractions, whatever, about thirty minutes ago, give or take. As soon as I realized, I got her into the car and headed straight here.” Tessa answered Dr. Stevens’ question before Beth had a chance.
“Well, not exactly.” Beth shot a guilty look toward her sister. “I had one pain earlier at breakfast time. Didn’t think much about it; I thought maybe it was gas. I had another couple earlier at the church while I was decorating, before Tessa came in. Then a few more, closer together. But once we got in the car to come here, they stopped. I haven’t had any since.”
Dr. Stevens placed his hand gently on her lower abdomen, then moved it to the right side and then the left. He smiled when Junior gave a hard kick.
“He’s pretty active. I noticed when you were standing at the reception desk you had your hands on her back. Has it been bothering you?”
Beth nodded. “The muscles have been spasming for the last couple of hours. Too much bending over decorating church pews. I’ll head home and get the heating pad out, and they’ll clear up.”
“Beth, I’m going to send the nurse back. Let’s get you undressed, so I can take a look at your cervix, make sure everything’s how it should be. When’s the last time you saw your OB?”
“Two weeks ago. Junior’s not due for another three weeks, Doctor.”
He smiled what Beth assumed was supposed to be a reassuring smile, but inside her emotions were suddenly on a rollercoaster. Worry, anxiety, and a healthy dose of fear all fought for dominance, and she drew in a deep breath, breathing out slowly between her lips, looking for a moment of calm. Everything was alright. Nothing was wrong with her baby. If she kept repeating the mantra in her head, surely it would be true?
Between Tessa and the nurse, they had her changed and lying on the exam table in no time. Tessa held her hand with one of hers, while the other smoothed up and down her forearm in a soothing fashion. She noted Tessa was biting her lower lip, a sure sign she was worried. She’d always done that, even as a little girl.
Dr. Stevens came back into the room, pushing a portable sonogram machine. He quickly plugged it in and moved to stand beside Beth.
“I’d like to take a quick look at the baby, make sure everything’s okay. Have you had any more pains?” She shook her head. “What about your back, are the muscles still giving you a problem or has it eased up?
Beth had to think about it for a second. “They’re still hurting. I’m sure it’s nothing.”
“We’ll see.” He waited while the nurse helped reposition her gown and lowered the sheet covering the lower half of her body, exposing her distended pregnant belly. “I know you’ve probably had a sonogram before, since you know you’re having a boy. Just want to remind you this gel is going to be a little cold.”
She nodded, remembering the previous sonogram. Brody had been there for that one, when they’d found out he was having a son. Dr. Stevens spread the cool gel across her stomach and began moving the wand around. She heard the heartbeat, strong and steady, and fast. So fast. It always surprised her how rapid the baby’s rhythm was, but her OB assured her it was normal. Jamie’s heart rate had always run a little slow, but Junior’s always zoomed along around a hundred and fifty beats per minute.
“Everything looks good, Beth. He’s definitely moving around quite a bit. Guess he’s anxious to come out and join the rest of the family.” Dr. Stevens’ calm voice reassured Beth, especially since he had a good view of the ultrasound.
Beth laughed. “That’s what I keep telling Brody. Junior keeps poking and kicking me, because he can’t wait to come out. I think he’s going to be a soccer player—” Beth broke off as a sharp pain seized her, and she bit back a yell.
“Beth?” Tessa winced as Beth squeezed her hand tight. “Sis, was that a contraction?”
Beth lay back against the pillow and closed her eyes, shutting out the bright overhead light. “Sure felt like one.”
Dr. Stevens nodded. “I thought you might be having labor pains when you mentioned your back hurting. Some women have labor pains that start as pain in their back. You’ve probably been in labor for several hours.”
“What? No. It’s too soon!” Beth felt panic rising with each word. She couldn’t be having the baby now. She wasn’t in a hospital. Brody wasn’t here. Jamie was with a sitter, who’d take care of her?
“Stay calm, Beth. You’ve probably got hours before you deliver. I’m going to check and see how dilated your cervix is, okay? Take a deep breath—good—now another. Everything’s going to be fine.”
Beth lay back against the pillow and closed her eyes, then blinked them open again. Brody. She needed to call Brody.
“I’m on it, Beth.” Tessa let go of her hand and held up her phone. “I’ll let him know to meet us here. Everything’s going to be alright, Sis. Remember, deep breaths. Calm. Go to your happy place.”
