“I don’t know.I haven’t been timing them.They haven’t been consistent, but off and on all morning, and getting pretty painful.”
She studied my face but said nothing as she waited for it to stop before putting the blood pressure cuff on.I tried to relax the best I could as it squeezed my arm, reminding me of the contraction I just went through.If it wasn’t one thing getting squeezed, it was another.
Once it was done, she undid the cuff and set it on the bed beside me as she wrote the information down on the paper attached to a clipboard.I leaned back and rested on my hands as I tried to take some of the pressure off my back.
Right as Dr.Foster opened the door to come in, another contraction hit.
“Good morning,” she said softly, closing the door behind her as she observed me.
I gripped the bed sheets below me as the pain radiated through my body.
“Contractions started this morning and have been coming fifteen to twenty minutes apart, but not consistently.Axel said she was able to talk through them and they didn’t seem to be causing her too much discomfort when they first started,” Jo reported to Dr.Foster as I breathed through the rest of the contraction.
“He’s been reporting my contractions to you?”I asked, the words having a hard time getting out as my body trembled from the pain and exhaustion.
“He was worried about you.I was on standby in case you needed me before your appointment this morning,” Jo said flatly to me before turning to look at Dr.Foster.“That was the first contraction I was able to monitor.It lasted about fifteen seconds.”
Dr.Foster nodded as she took the information in and looked at my vitals on the clipboard Jo handed to her.
“Charlie, I think it would be beneficial to do a pelvic exam to determine if you’re in early labor.Given that you are thirty-six weeks with frequent contractions this morning, the exam will assist me in assessing dilation, effacement, and determining the baby’s position in your pelvis.The exam is optional, so you can decline if you’re not comfortable with doing it.”
“Will it hurt the baby?”I asked, rubbing a hand over my stomach now that it had finally relaxed.
“Not at all.The baby is well protected, and the exam is only to help give us information on whether labor is starting so we can better prepare for it.”
I nodded as I blew out a shaky breath.
“Okay.Let’s do the exam.”
Dr.Foster gave me a reassuring smile before turning to Jo and letting her know what she needed.
Sixteen
Axel
“Is she okay?”I asked, pressing the phone as close to my ear as possible so I didn’t miss a word Jo said.
