“Doctor, what’s going on? Why am I bleeding?”
Preston was holding my hand tightly as my obstetrician sat beside my body.
“You have what’s called ‘placenta previa’. It just means your placenta is lying so low that it’s partially covering your cervix opening. It’s very common in women who are carrying multiple children like you are.”
“What do we need to do?” Preston asked.
“She only has a partial previa, which means about half of her cervix opening is covered. The bleeding isn’t much, but she is going to have to go on bedrest. If she moves around too much and the placenta breaches the cervix opening, it could swing her into preterm labor.”
“Bedrest?” I asked. “I-I-I can’t go on bedrest. I have a job. I have to work. Accounts that have to be settled.”
“Delilah, relax. We’ll take care of that,” Preston said.
“Don’t you tell me to relax. You might be my boss in work, but outside of work I’m the woman carrying your children. You don’t get to tell me to shut up,” I said.
“That’s another thing you have to control,” the doctor said. “Your heart rate can make this worse. Here’s the course of action we’re going to take. I’m going to see you for tests every two weeks. I want to check and make sure these babies are doing fine despite the stress they’re putting on your body. I’ll also schedule someone to come to your home and administer regular steroid shots.”
“Steroid shots? What are those for?” Preston asked.
“To mature the baby’s lungs. If she goes into preterm labor and her placenta fully detaches from the wall of her uterus, we can’t stop things from progressing. Making sure these babies lungs are as strong as they can be readies them for their NICU visit.”
“Oh my gosh,” I said breathlessly.
“Just relax,” Preston said. “We’ve got this. I can move you into my place, you can cash in the rest of your vacation time for the duration of your pregnancy, and I can hire someone to look after you while I’m at work.”
“I’m not moving anywhere with you,” I said. “I have a perfectly fine apartment we just got me into a month ago. The baby’s things are there. That’s where these kids are going after I have them. That’s where I’m staying.”
“Delilah, this isn’t a time to be independent. Someone has to be there to watch over you.”
“Actually, if you stress her system even more with dramatic changes, it’ll make her condition worse,” the doctor said.
“You couldn't have sided with me on this?” he asked.
“While I respect you, Mr. Walker, you’re not my patient. Delilah is. And right now, what her body needs is rest and relaxation.”
“Thank you,” I said. “Finally. A voice of reason.”
“But bedrest doesn’t mean walking around your apartment and not going anywhere. It means in the bed, resting. You don’t go anywhere and you don’t do anything. It’s the hardest thing for women to comprehend. If your placenta pulls away from your uterus, that’s it. Game over.”
“I hear you,” I said with a grumble.
“I’m going to give you your first steroid shot now, then in two weeks when you come back for your appointment I’ll give you another one,” the doctor said.
“I thought you said someone was coming by to administer it?” Preston asked.
“That’s if she has to miss her appointment for some reason. Which you shouldn’t, so get it on your calendar. But if something happens and she has to reschedule, someone will come out to at least give her the shot. Those are just as important, if not more important, than these appointments.”
“Thank you, doctor,” Preston said. “We appreciate it.”
Preston help me off the bed and escorted me to the car. He got on the phone with someone and started rattling off instructions. Something about packing bags and picking them up and keeping the lease on his apartment. I had no idea what he was talking about, but then there was a phrase that clued me in to what was happening.
“Yes, just drop those bags off at Delilah’s place. I’ll be there to receive them.”
“Excuse me?” I asked.
“Yes,” Preston said as he held up his finger to me. “Uh huh. Yep. That’s right. Keep the lease, yes. Tell the maid to come only once a month. Just a good dusting should do.”
“A good dusting? Preston, you’re not moving in with me,” I said.