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But this time the screen was kept turned away from him and Saskia as the checks were carried out, and when Saskia slid her hand back into his all he could do was hold on tightly.
He had no idea what to do with this ball of emotion churning inside him. So he just sat there and stared at the back of the screen, as if he could make everything all right just by sheer force of will.
When the consultant finally glanced up, the faintest smile on her lips, and clicked the sound on so that the baby’s rapid constant heartbeat filled the room, it was as if a weight had been lifted.
Still, it felt like an age whilst the rest of the checks were conducted, and he had to sit there, feeling powerless and furious, whilst she prodded Saskia and asked her to move position several times. It felt like another eternity while they took measurements and checked organs.
He’d spent half his life learning to read people, honing the skill to perfection. But right now he couldn’t read the consultant’s neutral expression, and a part of him didn’t even want to. The fact that there wasn’t another smile, or any moment of engagement, told him everything.
All he could do was keep Saskia’s cold hand nestled in his. The impending news was almost suffocating him, and nightmare scenarios were racing through his mind. He could only imagine the plethora of things that Saskia—a medical professional herself—could be imagining.
‘So, the baby looks generally healthy, and it’s growing,’ the consultant began, showing them a couple of images she’d saved. ‘However, there are a couple of areas of concern. The scan shows a potential clubbed foot—but, more concerning, it seems there is a mass on your baby’s left foot and another smaller one on the left hand. Your baby’s movements seemed to be a little restricted, however, I’d like to do some more rigorous scans before I draw any conclusions—’
‘But it’s consistent with ABS?’ Saskia cut in. ‘One professional to another?’
‘I’m sorry, Saskia, but it’s a working theory, yes.’
Malachi waited for them to elaborate, and when they didn’t he spoke.
‘ABS?’
‘Amniotic Band Syndrome,’ Saskia answered dully.
The consultant chimed in quickly. ‘But we won’t know for sure until we can get some clearer scans.’
‘When will that be?’ he demanded.
‘There’s another machine, a better one, but it’s in use now. We could try in about half an hour,’ she suggested. ‘I just need you to keep drinking water, Saskia. That should help, too.’
Saskia grunted in what might have passed as acknowledgement. It only made him feel all the more helpless. There was nothing he could say or do to help right now, and he wasn’t used to not being the person in the room people looked to in order to solve a problem.
Hell, he didn’t know if anyone could solve this one.
CHAPTER NINE
‘SO IT’S DEFINITELY this Amniotic Band Syndrome?’ Malachi gritted out, and Saskia turned to face him.
If she was feeling this numb, this out of her own body, then how must Malachi be feeling right now?
‘Can you see those weblike lines on the image?’ she managed jerkily.
‘I’m the only non-doctor in this room,’ he said pointedly.
‘Right. Sorry. Yes...’ her consultant cut in. ‘Because it’s Saskia, I forgot that you might not be following. So, ABS is caused by thin strands of the amniotic sac which have separated and are wrapping around parts of the baby.’
‘But it’s a fluid?’ he frowned. ‘Amniotic fluid. It’s meant to protect the baby.’
Saskia shook her head, unable to speak. She’d had to pass bad news on to parents and guardians countless times, keeping level-headed in some incredibly high-pressure situations. But this time she was on the other side of the fence. She couldn’t even begin to think straight, let alone make her voice form the words to explain.
‘Think of it this way,’ the consultant interjected gently. ‘Two membranes form around the embryo to protect it during gestation, the amnion and the chorion—almost like one balloon being blown up inside another. In between the two is a sticky substance which allows these two membranes to fuse together, usually by week fourteen.’
‘But in this case they haven’t,’ he stated flatly.
‘Right—and sections of the amnion have broken away in long, fine strands. These strands can wrap around the foetus, entangling digits, limbs or other parts of the developing baby.’
‘We’re at seventeen weeks. Why wasn’t this spotted earlier?’ he demanded, and Saskia could read the fear and frustration in his voice.
It echoed her own.
