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‘Hurts.’ Meg bent over and clutched her stomach.
Gerry jumped out of bed and set her arms around Meg’s shoulders. ‘Come outside.’ Gerry grabbed her dressing gown and led Meg from the hut, down to the shaded single light in the mess. Sitting Meg on a bench, her friend hunkered down in front of her and gripped her hands. ‘Now talk to me. Tell me what you’re feeling. Is the pain sharp or niggling?’
‘Heavy, like pressure building. Oh God, am I losing my baby?’
Gerry frowned, stood and reached towards Meg’s stomach, stopping short as she made eye contact. ‘May I?’
Meg nodded and Gerry helped her lie back on the bench then felt her stomach. Stretched out, the pain seemed to settle in one area, easing a little with Gerry’s gentle probing.
‘Did you eat a big meal tonight?’
‘Bigger than normal, yes. It was the first time I’ve actually felt like eating since early on.’
‘And you haven’t had any bleeding?’ Gerry’s fingers settled around her wrist, checking her pulse.
At Meg’s shake of her head Gerry sat beside her. ‘Gas. Most likely the unfamiliar big meal has put pressure on the surrounding organs, including your stomach. It feels a bit bloated. Big meals can give you constipation and gas, especially during the middle and late stages of your pregnancy. I saw women come in with similar symptoms often enough during my time on the maternity ward. The solution is easy. Instead of three regular meals, try eating smaller and more frequent meals. And drink plenty of water.’
‘You’re sure my baby’s fine?’ But the question was moot. Gerry’s explanation made sense now Meg had stopped panicking and listened to her body.
‘I’m as sure as I can be. I’ll get you some water. Wait there.’
Meg released a long shuddery breath and closed her eyes. Hands splayed over her baby bump, she wondered about the other changes in her body. As a nurse she’d thought she knew a lot about most areas of medicine, but her own pregnancy had revealed gaps in her training. What else didn’t she know about having a baby? What else should she have known that, if she were home—and married—her mother might have shared with her?
Gerry was back quickly with water. ‘I don’t want to assume here but you said your training was mostly in theatre and general ward work before that. Anything I can help with, in your pregnancy I mean, just ask.’
Meg sat up and accepted the mug. ‘That’s part of my problem; I don’t know what I don’t know. Maybe when I’m in Brisbane I should find some pamphlets on what to do and how to prepare for my baby’s birth.’ She drank half the contents, surprised at how thirsty she was. ‘I’ve been feeling pretty good since the morning sickness disappeared. This—gas—it threw me. I wish I’d done a stint in maternity like you so I knew more.’
‘You’ve done really well so far. But Maggie, it might be time to consider taking leave. Have you seen your ankles lately?’
‘Ugh. My ankles have let me know they’re not happy with me, but yes, I will be leaving soon. I spoke with Doc tonight about my departure.’
‘Good.’ Gerry slid her a sideways look. Nonchalant, it wasn’t, and given what Gerry thought she knew about Doc, Meg knew what was coming.
‘How did Doc take it?’
‘He asked if I’d heard from Seamus and I reacted badly. It’s been way too long since I had a letter. I hadn’t realised just how long. We’ve been so busy and time slips by faster than the blink of an eye and—’
‘I know we’re busy. Get back to Doc. How did he take it when you told him you were expecting?’
Meg sucked in a deep breath. ‘Please don’t be cross. He figured it out the night of the Oonoonba bombing when we deserted the jeep and flung ourselves to the ground. I slipped and he grabbed me and—well, I might not be very big yet but he’s a doctor.’
Gerry’s eyes widened and she gave a long drawn-out hmmm that clearly meant I told you so. ‘So, Doc said nothing and let you keep working. Here. With him.’
‘He’s been keeping an eye on me since then.’
‘Since I first met you, you mean. I swear if you weren’t engaged, Doc would have asked you out.’
‘He kind of did last night.’
‘Oh. My. Goodness.’
‘That sounds really odd. You probably think I’ve encouraged him. I haven’t, not at all. But we were talking about me leaving and why Seamus might not have replied to my letter about the baby. I thought Seamus may have realised he didn’t love me and didn’t want to get married. Doc suggested he may not be able to write if he was wounded.’
‘That makes sense. You would have heard if he was KIA.’
‘In a selfish way, I hope a wound is the reason why I haven’t heard from him.’
‘I’ll wound him myself if he’s changed his mind.’ Gerry squeezed her hand. ‘You’re in love with him though, so why would you think he doesn’t want to marry you?’
