Exam
The gynecologist took off his gloves, binned them and then washed his hands. "The physical exam and the pregnancy test confirms your husband's findings, Mrs. Ellingham. You are pregnant. You can sit up now."
Louisa smiled when she heard the words. Nice to have confirmation. She managed to get scheduled for this visit on Wednesday and had driven her Ford over. She had wanted Martin to come along, but he had patients to see, of course.
"However," he cleared his throat, "It is not usual or recommended that a family member treat his, or her, patients. I am very sure that your husband knows this."
Louisa held the paper gown closed as she rose to a sitting position. "I was quite sick, and he was ruling out some GI bug."
Dr. Roberts smiled as she said it. He'd only been practicing in Truro for a few months, but he had heard, of course, about the famous, or rather infamous, Dr. Martin Ellingham. The man was arrogant, rude and obnoxious, but legend said he was always right in his medical diagnoses. "I'd have done the same thing for my wife," he replied, but added a frown. "If I was married, that is." He took another look at the stunning woman he'd just examined. What a beauty! He swallowed hard. Ellingham was one lucky but rude bugger. "I… mean…" his voice went before he said something he ought not.
"I see," she answered.
"Right. Now, any questions? I estimate you are eight weeks pregnant, and the nurse will give you a packet of pamphlets and a starter pack of vitamins, after you have dressed." He stood. "Thank you for coming in when you did. Some women, well, they let things go too long."
Like my old co-worker Deirdre who presented to A&E with 'stomach pains' and found she was in labor; a huge surprise, recalled Louisa. "Best to know these things," she said. Thank God she had gotten married, or she'd have wound up like her friend. "Anything else? Middle of June?"
Roberts smiled. "Yes." He held up his Pregnancy Slide Chart, which was a circular rule to determine the expected date of delivery based on the patient's history. "These things can be off by a few days, and with a first pregnancy, unless there is an issue, mums can go overdue by a week or so. But June 14 is a good planning date. Right? I think we're done here. Please stop at the desk on the way out to make an appointment for your next visit in four weeks? At the end of the first trimester. We'll do an ultrasound on that visit. Perhaps your husband will wish to attend with you? Seeing your baby on the screen can be… uhm, powerful. I'll see you then." He opened the door and slipped out.
"Well, now it is a matter of record," Louisa said aloud as she pulled her trousers on. She had worn easy to slip out of top and trousers for this visit. She didn't need maternity clothing just yet, but her bras did need upsizing. She had a little belly now, and that went along with her swollen baps. Louisa slid her hand down her front stopping over her belly button, thinking of the reproduction biology cooking in there. "Changes; of course." She bit her lip. "Have to let my teachers know in a while, before they whisper too much." So far Sally Chadwick had kept her word and Joan Norton as well, but it only would take a slip of the tongue for the village to know. Oh how the gossips will chatter! The Doc and Louisa actually had sex, they'll say. She giggled at the mental image.
She heard a knock at the door and a nurse came in with the 'new mum' packet and proceeded to run through the information; all of which Martin had already given her. But Louisa dutifully listened to the recitation. Then taking her bag of 'parting gifts' in hand, she walked down the corridor to reception. She got in line behind a very pregnant lady – who looked like she'd deliver at any moment – poor thing. Ready to pop.
There was a ginger-haired woman, a doctor from the look of her, standing behind the desk, instructing the patient. her hair was short and little flyaway at the ends. She seemed to Louisa to be dressed a little too fancy for an OB-GYN office, especially her shoes. "Now, Mrs. Chambers," she said, "when the pains start, or if you start leaking fluid down there, call this number. Someone is always on call, even in the wee hours."
"Been through the drill before," the very pregnant woman said gruffly. "Told you that."
The doctor blinked her gray eyes rapidly, startling in contrast to her hair and pale face. "Right. Well, all the same, best to remind you of these things."
The pregnant lady turned, almost bumping her belly into Louisa, who just stepped out of the way. "Sorry."
"No matter, luv." Mrs. Chambers looked at Louisa, scanning her from head to toe. "Expectin'?"
Louisa grinned and ducked her head. "Yes, I am."
The woman smiled. "And aren't you a pretty one too." She put a hand with swollen fingers on her huge belly. "First 'un?"
"Why yes."
The woman nodded. "This is my fourth," she moaned. "So you be careful, you here? Those men… well… seems like as soon as one pops out they want to go at it again!" she leered.
A little taken back at this procreative and too public advice Louisa replied, "Yes. Good to remember."
The lady tipped her head. "Do I know you?"
Louisa shrugged. "Don't think so."
The woman nodded. "All the same, you be careful."
"I'll take that as good advice."
The woman grunted, putting both hands on her belly. "This one's kicking like the devil!"
"As I told you, Mrs. Chambers," the ginger doctor called out to her. "All perfectly normal. I told you that."
The woman turned and cast an unpleasant look at the doctor. "Well, when they're kickin' yer ribs, it don't feel normal at all!" She turned back to Louisa. "Bye, luv."
Louisa gave her an encouraging smile as she stepped up to the desk. "I need to make my next appointment," she announced.
The ginger woman said to her with ice in her voice, "Dearie, I am not the receptionist, she's stepped away for a moment."
"Louisa Ellingham," she said to the doctor who had just turned away.
The ginger woman seemed to miss a step, but her head cranked around to stare at Louisa. "You said... Ell...ing…ham?" she stammered.
Louisa nodded. "Yes. Mrs."
The doctor tipped her head, looked away, and then back to Louisa. "From just where exactly?"
"Portwenn," Louisa answered.
The doctor stared at her wide-eyed for a full minute. Then she muttered, "Portwenn."
"Yes," Louisa told her. "Over on the coast."
The doctor still gaped back at her.
"Is there a problem?" Louisa asked nervously for she did not like the woman gazing at her so hard.
The doctor shook her head. "No, no. It's only… just…uhm, I… do… know…"
Suddenly there was a yelp behind Louisa, a scuffling sound and a cry of "Help! My baby's coming!"
Louisa turned around and saw Mrs. Chambers, standing at the exit door, bent over in obvious distress, while down her legs ran with a clear fluid, puddling on the floor.
The ginger doctor came flying from behind the desk, while a nurse running after her. "Now, Mrs. Chambers…" the doctor was saying.
Mrs. Chambers was shouting and oh how an uproar began of cries for assistance, the clattering of a wheelchair and so on. People came running, while the doctor barked orders.
Louisa stepped into the background, watching, along with all the other mums in reception, while Mrs. Chambers was helped into a wheelchair and whisked away, attended by the doctor and two nurses.
All the women in the room shook their heads in sympathy and wonder, as bystanders to an almost delivery. Muttered conversation picked up about their own delivery experiences, if any, and some sounded quite frightening, so Louisa mentally shut them out.
After the hustle and bustle died down, a harried looking receptionist appeared. "Sorry," she told Louisa. "That woman just delivered in the elevator going to Labor and Delivery."
"Gosh," Louisa mused. "Well could be worse I suppose."
"Oh, my yes. Cars, laybys, even pubs – you never know," the woman grinned. "Mother nature has her ways and her time."
Louisa winced. "That would be…" The memory of Isobel delivering her little girl on Lobber's Point above the village came to mind. Thank God that Martin was there when he was needed.
The receptionist nodded her blonde head. "Yes, awkward. Very. But as long as baby and mum are fine. Now, how can I help you?"
Louisa made her next appointment and then left the OB to go to a maternity store for a little shopping.
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