Chapter 51 : Sympathetic pregnancy :

Today was the big day. Maura and Jane had schedule an appointment for the 20th week's ultrasound that will hopefully reveal the sex of their baby.

"Oh God, I think I'm going to be sick again." Jane burped running towards the bathroom.

"Are you alright?" Maura asked following her wife in the bathroom.

"I'm fine. I have been puking all week though. I'm probably nervous about the ultrasound you know, but I promise I won't pass out on you this time." Jane said cleaning up herself.

"I noticed that. I'm the pregnant one but you're the one vomiting on daily basis." Maura pointed out.

"Yeah, how fair is that?"

"Are you feeling nauseous? Do you have headaches? Have you noticed a change in your appetite?" Maura demanded.

"Well yeah, I know I gained a few pounds but it's all your fault you spend your days eating. If I don't play along, you feel like you're overeating and then you complain that you can't see your feet. I'm just trying to be supportive."

"I know, don't worry about it. You barely gained 5 pounds, do you trust me as a doctor?"

"You know I do."

"Good because think I know what your problem is…" Maura replied biting her lower lip.

"So do I, it may be stress because of the ultrasound or maybe stomach flew."

"No,it's not. Would you trust me and pee on this please?" Maura said handing a pregnancy

test to her.

"You want me to take a pregnancy test?" Jane replied rising her eye brows.

"Yes, I will explain afterwards alright, just do it please."

"Alright, but I would like some privacy please." Jane demanded.

A few moment later, Jane and Maura find themselves in the same position where they were 5 months ago.

"It's been almost 5 minutes so I think we can look." Maura impatiently said.

"I really don't see the point, but yeah, let's take a look." Jane agreed as she turned the test over.

"It's positive." Maura quietly stated.

"What the fuck? Oh baby, I swear I didn't…" Jane mumbled.

"I know babe. I know, I think you might suffer from sympathetic pregnancy." Maura explained cupping Jane's face in her hands to try to reassure her.

"What the hell is that?" Jane hissed.

"Well it's actually it's quite a common phenomenon. It happens to men whose wives are pregnant or to women who have a high desire of having a child. In the first case, the father would suffer the same symptoms as the mother." Maura explained.

"That fucked up. Why does that happen?"

"Well actually we don't really know. Some specialists argue that it's an expression of the anxiety, stress and fear associated with impending fatherhood, feelings of ambivalence about fatherhood, pseudo-sibling rivalry, or identification with the fetus. While still others believe that it is a display of guilt for having impregnated a partner, an assertion of paternity, jealousy of the mother's ability to carry a child and her birth experience, or empathy with the mother's discomfort."

"And in my case?"

"I think you love me and our baby so much and you're invested that your body reacted that way. You told me yourself you felt like you weren't doing as much as I did for this baby because you weren't carrying it."

"Yeah I think understand the term sympathetic pregnancy."

"I think it's wonderful because you're so invested in my pregnancy and you want to share this experience with me as much as possible…It's adorable."

"I feel terrible… If I agreed that you carried our child, it is because I didn't want to get pregnant and feel like crap like that…how do I end this?" Jane implored admiring how Maura could handle all this. She had only been experiencing the symptoms for a week but she already wanted to get rid of them.

"Well the symptoms usually disappear after the birth."

"It's another 4 months."

"Yes, there is something you should know, there is a chance that you might have contractions."

"What?" Jane frowned about to pass out again.

"Yes, the men with that condition often experience abdominal pain while their partners are in labor…"

"That is terrific. Do you hear that little monster what I'm going through for you?"

"Maybe you should stop worrying so much about not being able to handle everything. You might be a super cop but you're not Superwoman. You can not do everything or being there each second of my pregnancy."

"I know and I'm actually thankful that I was there when she kicked you for the first time. I just want to be here with you two so I don't want to miss anything."

"I'm sorry to say that but you will. You might miss her first step or her first word, or maybe I will, you know."

"I know, I can only do my best to be here but I also have to accept my limits."

"Exactly, we are grateful and we love you very much, you have to know that."

"I love you two, both of you, now let's go your appointment in an half hour." Jane said kissing Maura's belly before standing up.

Later that day in Dr. Montgomery's office.

"Alright Jane, how are your feeling today?" Dr. Montgomery asked noticing the worried look on Jane's face.

"I'm good. I ate before coming here so I won't pass out."

"Maura, how about you lay down on that examination table so we can see how the baby is doing."

"Alright." Maura agreed helping herself on the examination table.

"So do you want to know the sex of the baby?" Dr. Montgomery asked while spreading the cold gel on Maura's belly.

"Yes we do, Maura, you can open your eyes. Don't you want to see the baby?" Jane asked.

"If I open my eyes, I will immediately see if it's boy or a girl." Maura squirmed her eyes closed.

"And you don't want to know?" Jane replied gently rubbing the top of her hand with her thumb.

" I do, alright alright." Maura said peeking at the screen.

"Do you want to tell her?" Dr. Montgomery offered seeing the smile on Maura's face.

"Yes, thank you ,we're having a girl." Maura said looking straight and deep into her wife's big brown eyes.

"We are?" Jane mumbled squeezing Maura's hand.

"Yes…"

"I told you so. Since the first day, I knew we would have a little girl." Jane joked kissing the top of Maura's head.

"Do you want a 3D ultrasound? It will allow you to see the baby in more details." Dr. Montgomery said.

"You bet, I'm sure she already looks like me. Thank you Doctor."

"Alright give me just a few minutes."

"I love you so much and I never thought I could be happier than the day we got married but I'm now . Today is officially the best day of my life, thank you." Jane mumbled.

"I'm happier and happier every day too."

"Here we go, here is your baby girl."

"Holy molly, it's so clear it looks like a picture." Jane said her face almost stuck to the screen.

"I will burn you a few DVDs for you and your parents." Dr. Montgomery said.

"She has my nose, right?" Jane asked looking at Maura.

"Yes she does, look at her, she's gorgeous." Maura agreed marveling at the beauty they both created.

"Do you have a name in mind?" Dr. Montgomery asked not wanting to interrupt this precious moment.

"Yes, her name is Jane Rizzoli-Isles." Maura replied without even thinking about it.

"Maura…" Jane objected.

"Do not fight with a pregnant woman, babe." Maura advised Jane rising her eyes brows.

"Alright, we'll talk about this later." Jane agreed unable to move away from the screen.

The two parents spent a few minutes admiring their daughter.

"Doctor, can I talk to you for a minute?" Jane shyly asked.

"Sure."

"I will be in the waiting room. Take your time." Maura said leaning over to kiss her forehead.

Maura knew exactly why Jane needed to talk to Dr. Montgomery and it was ok. She didn't feel bad because she needed another medical opinion and actually she was proud of her for seeking help.

"Jane, how are you feeling today? I can tell there is something bugging you" Dr. Montgomery seeing the preoccupied look on Jane's face.

"Well, emotionally I'm great. I'm so happy that we're having a girl, not that I would have mind having a boy, you know. My problem is actually physical."

"Alright, you know what ever you tell me is confidential even from Maura."

"I know, she's aware of the problem. How I can say this? About a week ago, I started to have nausea and headaches. Actually I started to have all the symptoms Maura had at the beginning of her pregnancy, including weight gain, well not much just 3 lbs."

"I see. Maura made you take a pregnancy test?"

"Yes she did, and it turned out positive. Well since last time I had sex with a man was years ago. You can understand that I freaked out a bit. But Maura told me that I was suffering from sympathetic pregnancy . She told me sometimes actually very often future dads experience various pregnancy symptoms during their wives' pregnancies."

"Absolutely it's also called couvade syndrome. It can also happen to any woman whose female partner being pregnant or who just really want a baby."

"So you saw this before in a lesbian couple?"

"Yes, absolutely I saw it several times. Scientists can't really explain but I think it's a mix of anxiety, true desire to bond with the child and desire to understand the mother better. I personally think it's a sign that you truly invested in that pregnancy."

"Well I try to be. I try to come to every single appointment Maura has with you, I go to all these parenting classes and I bring her to the acupuncturist."

"Maura told me you talk to the baby a lot."

"Well yes, you know Maura is with her all day long and God knows she talks a lot. So when I'm home, I like to talk to my daughter. She can hear us right?"

"Yes, she can and it's important that she knows both of your voices. You can be sure she will recognize them when she comes out and will feel more comfortable."

"I know, that's why I'm talking to her but sometimes I just feel like I'm missing things you know. I would like to be here for each kick she gives Maura. I try to come down to the morgue as much as I can but sometimes I don't see them for an entire day."

"Well, you feel that you're not doing enough and having this desire to be more invested in this pregnancy. It can certainly explain why you develop that syndrome. But Jane, let me tell you that I see different couples every day. I see straight, gay, old, young, interracial couples and I rarely see a partner as invested as you are. Well actually you're more into this pregnancy than most pregnant women I see."

"Thank you Doctor. I'm just trying to make things easier for Maura and I want this baby to feel that I'm here. I mean before I met Maura, I was lost. I found myself again when she found me. Yes she saved me and I just want to make her happy and to take care of her and our baby. I just want to give her as much as she gives me. I can't wait for that little girl to come out." Jane confessed.

"Is Maura considering going on maternity leave soon?"

"Actually no, people actually think she's going to give birth at the morgue."

"Well she would be surrounded by the doctors." Dr. Montgomery joked.

"That will not happen. I won't let someone who touches dead people all day touch my daughter with the same hands."

"Have you tried to convince her to stop working?"

"I have but I think that she would be bored being at home all day, alone. Besides, you're right if she goes into labor, at least she will be surrounded by the doctors. I don't want her water to break when she's at home alone you know."

"Well as long as she takes it easy, she should be fine."

"Trust me she does. She hasn't opened a body in 3 weeks. Thank God it makes her sick. She mainly does the administrative work and labs. I go to see her as much as I can and I'm prepared if her water breaks."

"Well you seemed to be well prepared. You went to all the classes and you talked to your wife. The communication is very important and things are going to be ok. But you have to accept that you can't be with them 24/7 and that you can't control everything."

"I know, but I'm anxious. I mean I know you're one of the top gynecologists in the country and I'm sure you're going to do everything as you can do by delivering this baby safely, but you know there are so many things that can go wrong.."

"I'm sure you wished that Maura was everything but you need a doctor right now."

"Yes, she has this almost pathological needs of compiling data, that reassures her, but it has

the opposite effect on me. However I'm sure everything is going to be ok. I'm more worried about what's going to happen after the baby is born."

"You have nothing to worry about. You obviously love that child and your wife, as soon as you hold her in your arms you will know what to do."

"And if I don't?"

"Babies are quite simple, don't worry she will tell you what she needs. It's perfectly normal to feel a little overwhelmed at first but you two have obviously a very strong relationship and a great mother instinct. You're going to be fine."

"Thank you Doctor. I should go now. Maura doesn't do well with waiting these days." Jane mocked as she shook Dr. Montgomery's hand.

Later that day, the two women were home watching the DVD of the ultrasound Dr. Montgomery had burned them.

"Can you believe that's our daughter?" Jane asked her eyes fixating the screen.

"Actually I don't, it's a little surreal to me. I feel her growing inside of me and moving. I see her on the screen but it feels so unreal." Maura replied.

"Well, in about 4 months its going to be a reality. Are you scared of giving birth?"

"Actually I am. I've seen a lot of women giving birth during my OB rotation, but it's different when you're the one experiencing it."

"Well don't worry about a thing. I will be there holding your hand and help you breath alright?"

"I know and that makes me feel better. Thank you."

The two women spent about an hour looking at the ultrasound and admiring their daughter moving. Jane was still a bit embarrassed about what was happening to her but she decided not to worry about it and to try to accept the fact that she couldn't control everything.

So guys what did you think?Of course this syndrome I'm talking about is actually real..

If you want me to continue as always review, it took me a while to write it and to candace to correct it so review it only takes 30 seconds!