“So I’ll leave you with this: your chart looks strong; All the lab work is perfect, and while you are technically overweight, and could technically reach obesity during this pregnancy, depending on total weight gain, you don’t have gestational diabetes, your cholesterol and other lab values are well within range, and frankly, Laura, you’re healthier than many average-weight women I see.” Picking Sherri had been smart.
“Does this mean I can still birth in the hospital with a midwife?”
“For now, yes. We can’t predict what will come next, but given the information we have now, you’re not risked out of a midwife birth.”
Pleased as punch, Laura simply said, “Thank you!” Josie appeared suitably impressed. The feel of the paper in her hands gave her a happiness she hadn’t felt in months. Not since her last night with the guys.
“This does, though, explain some of your added weight gain, some of it excess fluid. At this point, we’ll have you come back in three to four weeks and do another measurement to check fluid. You may find that as you expand, your mobility is a bit limited; if the polyhydramnios continues, it makes you look and feel as if you are further along than you are.”
“Is that why I look seven months pregnant but I’m barely at five?”
Sherri nodded. “It explains some of it. So call if you feel like anything is off, or if you have any fluid leakage or spotting. Right now, in the second trimester, measurements can change, so for this month we wait and see. If it persists, we’ll do some tests to see if we can find an underlying cause.”
Each word made sense. Understanding the basics of this polywhatever wasn’t hard. But the screaming voice in her head that kept shouting wrong wrong wrong wrong made it hard to fully digest what Sherri was saying.
“I don’t feel well,” Laura blurted. Josie and Sherri closed in.
“Go empty your bladder. We’ll help you.”
“The day I need help peeing is the day I—”
“Give birth,” Josie interrupted.
Nasty glare. “Go find another woman. I’m so done with you. And you’re not my type, either.” Sherri seemed more amused now by their banter as she and Josie followed Laura down the hall to the single-stall toilet.
“I don’t need help,” Laura announced, opening the door and stepping into the same room she’d peed in for months now. Tears filled her eyes in the silent little tile-filled space. Something was wrong. Too much fluid? Sheri’s explanation made sense, and the baby was otherwise healthy. She. She was otherwise healthy.
A little girl.
Daddy’s little girl.
Which daddy? Her bladder groaned in ecstasy as she released its contents, the entire process taking about four times longer than usual. Ah, what pregnancy did to the body. Never before had she considered how nearly-orgasmic going pee could feel.
Thoughts of Mike and Dylan flooded her as she allowed that tiny little sexual thought to creep in. The pregnancy books talked about the magic second trimester, morning sickness gone and hormones aplenty making the mother horny. Laura got too much amniotic fluid and—bonus!—too much libido. Overdrive libido.#p#分页标题#e#
The kind that can only be satisfied by two men.
Leaving the bathroom, she was greeted by Josie. “Sherri had another patient. Said to schedule a follow-up in three weeks and not to worry.”
“Yeah, right.”
“Easier said than done, I know. Let’s check out and get some lunch. How about Jeddy’s?” Josie asked as Laura approached the desk.
“Pfft.”
“What? It’s good food?”
“First I’m not your type, and now you want to drag me back there?”
The receptionist interrupted them, quickly scheduling Laura’s next appointment. Josie held the door open as Laura exited. “Good food! Peanut butter cake...”
Any other day and Laura would have been all over it, memories of Mike and Dylan there be damned. The weight of the appointment’s news felt like a lead burden spread through her body. Sleep was what she needed now, much more than good food.
“I’m really tired,” she said, handing her car keys to Josie. “Can you drive?” Josie grabbed the keys, climbed in the front seat, and moved the seat forward a good foot. Laura carefully twisted to settle into the passenger seat, moving it back a foot or so.
Deep breath. As Josie maneuvered the car from Wellesley to Somerville, she perked up, energy came back. Suddenly, Jeddy’s sounded really good. Besides, if she went home it would be her and the cats, and they just hid and wanted food. Josie was a marginally better conversationalist than Miss Daisy, anyhow.