Chapter Eight: Complications.
Immediately following the NICU visit, Constance was looking paler than usual. Mildred was concerned, so she posed the question to her Aunt.
"Are you feeling all right, Aunt Constance? You're rather pale…" She asked.
"I'm fine…" Constance started to stay, but she was overcome with dizziness and pain. She knew from experience that this could be disastrous. "G…Get Dr. LeCoeur." She said through gritted teeth.
Mildred did as told and the doctor came quickly. She checked Constance to see if there was a tear somewhere.
"Constance…stay with me. You've got a tear in your uterus and are beginning to hemorrhage. I have to repair it." Dr. LeCoeur told Constance as she wheeled her out of the room.
"May I go visit Star?" Mildred asked the doctor.
"Yes, just make sure you wash up and do everything that I had told you to do." Dr. LeCoeur said as she rushed Constance to the Operating Room.
Mildred went to the NICU. She scrubbed up and put on sterile garments, and went over to Star's isolette.
"Hello, little one. I'm your cousin, Mildred. Your Mummy is indisposed at the moment. She had some problems. I'm very worried about her. If something were to happen to her, I don't know what I would do." Mildred said as she placed her hand in the isolette. Star grabbed her finger.
"You are so beautiful." Mildred murmured.
Meanwhile, Dr. LeCoeur worked to repair the tear in Constance's uterus. Constance had been put under. Using dissolvable stitches, the doctor worked quickly. Soon after, the tear had been repaired successfully and she sewed up the incision made at the bikini line, much like a Caesarean incision. She'd also given Constance a transfusion. After she dressed the wound, she wheeled Constance to the recovery room. A nasal cannulae had been placed in her nostrils while she recovered and came to.
Mildred finished with Star and was by her Aunt's side when the anesthetic wore off. Dr. LeCoeur was on the other side. Constance groaned softly, her eyes still shut.
"Aunt Constance? Mildred asked, worried. "What's the matter with her, Doctor?"
"She's coming round after having been put under for the surgery. She'll be all right, Mil." Dr. LeCoeur replied. "Constance, can you hear me?"
Constance opened her eyes groggily, a little woozy.
"The surgery was a success. I was able to repair the tear with no problems. You've also been given a transfusion to boost your platelet count." Said the doctor. Constance turned her head, beginning to get nauseous. The doctor quickly sat her up and placed a kidney pan by her lips. Constance retched up the anesthetic with a small groan.
"Take it easy, Constance." Said the doctor. She helped her lay back down. Constance came to fully after the anesthetic had worn off. The nasal cannulae was removed.
"May I go back to my room?" She asked.
"I don't see why not." The doctor replied.
Constance was wheeled back to her hospital room in the Maternity ward. Mildred stayed by her Aunt's side.
"Will this hinder my discharge and Star's as well?" Constance asked.
"It might. We will see how you are doing tomorrow. The outer stitches will be removed in two weeks. I will make a house call to the Academy at that time." Said the doctor. "You should still be able to hold Star tomorrow. Having her be discharged from the NICU tomorrow morning should make your recovery quicker."
Constance smiled. She was happy that the doctor was considering her baby's discharge.
"You should be able to shower once your dressing has been changed to dressing strips. The nurse will be along later to change the dressing." Dr. LeCoeur told her. "If all goes well, and there are no more complications, you and Star should be discharged tomorrow night."
Constance's smile grew even wider.
"But when you return to the Academy, you need to take it easy. It will be good for you that your Maternity Leave will be starting. " You need to relax." The doctor told her.
"Yes, ." Constance nodded. She knew better than to disobey her doctor's orders. She'd done that once with rather disastrous results.