Mr. Big Love (Mr. Big 2)
Luke left the bathroom and brought his iPad over, searching on Google for the drug information.
“It says here that there have been no studies showing any danger to the mother or developing fetus from use of the active ingredient. You can take it.”
I reached for the package, which was sitting on the bathroom counter, making a face at the prospect of actually chewing it and swallowing.
“Can you get me the water?”
Luke brought me the bottle of water and I popped the tablet in my mouth and chewed, making a face as I did from the sickly-sweet taste. I washed it down with some water and sat for a moment, recovering.
“How long does morning sickness last?” I asked.
“Usually over at twelve to fourteen weeks,” Luke said, showing me the page on the internet he’d found.
“Oh,” I said and frowned. “Another six to eight weeks of this? How will I survive?” I stood and walked back to bed, lying down and pulling the covers up around me.
Luke sat on the bed beside me, still searching the internet.
“It says here that you should eat dry toast or crackers in the morning,” he said and pointed to a website. “You should eat in bed first thing, so you have something in your stomach to absorb the stomach acid. You’re supposed to eat frequent meals that are smaller rather than three squares. Drink plenty of water. Eat fruits and vegetables that are easy to digest. Avoid pungent or unpleasant smells. Use peppermint aromatherapy. Drink ginger tea. Take Vitamin B6.”
“Okay,” I said listlessly. “Can you get me some crackers and ginger tea?”
“Coming right up,” he said and jumped up like he was excited to be my nurse. “I’ll go right down to the restaurant and get it now, rather than wait for room service. Be right back.”
“Okay,” I said and closed my eyes. The wave of nausea had passed and now I was just tired. Incredibly tired.
I dozed while Luke went on his mission to get me crackers and ginger tea. When he arrived back about fifteen minutes later, I opened my eyes when he came into the bedroom, a tray in hand.
“I got this from the people at the restaurant downstairs. They were nice enough to fix you a tray. Here,” he said while I sat up in bed and put pillows behind my back. “This is a special tray for use in bed.” He folded down the legs and placed it over my lap.
“Thanks,” I said and looked at the piece of dry whole wheat toast, the package of honey and the cup with an herbal ginger tea bag and pot of hot water.
I actually felt somewhat better when I smelled the ginger tea after I’d poured the hot water over the bag.
“This actually smells good,” I said and put some honey into the cup.
“Put some of the honey on your toast to make it go down more easily,” he said. “The manager of room service said honey gives you instant blood sugar and will make you feel better.”
I smiled at the expression on Luke’s face. He seemed to like looking after me.
“You like this,” I said while I spread some honey on the toast, which was pretty much cold by then. “Being my nursemaid.”
“It’s a new look I’m trying out. It might just come in handy over the next few weeks.”
He grinned at me.
“Ugh…” I took a bite and made a face, for the toast was dry and even the honey didn’t appeal to me. “If I have to deal with this for six weeks, I’ll lose weight.”
“Apparently, some women do during the first eight to twelve weeks. Remember, the embryo is pretty tiny right now. Not much happens in terms of size until about sixteen weeks, when it’s between four and six inches in length. You don’t get to claim you’re eating for two until it’s about six months along.”
“Aww, shucks. I was hoping to start pigging out as soon as my morning sickness is over.”
I shoved a piece of toast in my mouth and bit, chewing with effort, then chasing it down with a gulp of ginger tea. After I finished, I laid back in my bed and closed my eyes.
“How are you feeling?” Luke asked, taking my hand.
“I feel like I could sleep for twenty-four hours. Can you bring me my phone? I’ll have to call Professor Gibson and let her know that I’m going to miss class.”
“Sure.”