If I Should Fall by Susan Elliot Wright

Author:Susan Elliot Wright [Wright, Susan Elliot]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781471134555
Goodreads: 36581663
Publisher: Simon Schuster UK
Published: 2019-01-24T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

THEN

Adrian held my hand as the blood pressure cuff tightened around my upper arm.

‘Perfect,’ Dr Mason said, unwrapping the cuff. ‘Now hop up onto the bed so we can see how things are doing.’ She placed the stethoscope over my bump, and as she did so, we could all see an area of flesh rising up as a hand or foot glided under the skin. She laughed. ‘Well, I certainly don’t need to ask you about movement.’ A second later, I felt that strange, intimate shift within me and another little mound appeared. ‘My goodness, he’s lively today. Or she.’ She stretched the tape measure over my enormous stomach and down to my pubic bone. ‘Spot on.’ She smiled. ‘All is exactly as it should be. I’m very happy with the way things are progressing. Come and sit down when you’re ready.’ The extreme cheeriness made me slightly nervous, but I could see she was trying to keep us positive.

Adrian helped me up off the examining table and once I’d straightened my clothes, I sat down next to him. Dr Mason scribbled something on her notes, then put her pen down and turned her attention to me. ‘How are you feeling about the birth, as we’re getting nearer to the date?’

‘Nervous, obviously. But not too bad, I suppose. I’m glad to be past the thirty-six-week point.’

‘Understandably.’ She looked from me to Adrian and back again. ‘Is there anything at all that you’re concerned about, either of you?’

‘Apart from the obvious,’ Adrian said, ‘no. I think we’re both feeling optimistic, aren’t we?’ He squeezed my hand. I smiled, but I knew that my optimism was as fragile as a bird’s wing.

‘Leah? Anything worrying you specifically?’

‘No, not specifically. At least, not while I can feel the baby moving around.’

‘Good. Let us know if there’s anything you’re worried about, okay?’

‘Thanks,’ Adrian said, and I could feel the appointment coming to a conclusion. I should have been getting to my feet, but I hesitated. Sod it, I know what we said, but I had to ask. ‘I was wondering whether there’s any chance of bringing it forward at all.’

‘Leah,’ Adrian said, ‘we talked to Rhona about this, and she said—’

‘I know, but I just want to check . . .’ Rhona was the mid-wife. She said they don’t like doing caesareans early unless it’s an emergency, but she wasn’t a doctor, after all. I looked hopefully at Dr Mason. ‘The waiting, you know, after last time. It’s so hard.’

‘I understand your anxiety, of course I do.’ She was looking at the notes. ‘You’re thirty-seven and a half weeks,’ she said. ‘And as I think the midwife explained when you raised the issue before, we don’t like to deliver before thirty-nine weeks, not unless there’s a sound medical reason.’ She took her glasses off and arranged her face into a sympathetic expression. ‘I know this must be a difficult time for you both, but I hope I can reassure you that there is no cause for concern with this pregnancy.

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