described and the edema, I’m concerned enough that I’m recommending a combination of bed rest and minimal activity. You can spend a little time each day up and about, very light walking, but absolutely nothing even remotely strenuous or stressful.”
Nicole licked her lips. “So the baby is fine, though.”
“Yes. And we aim to keep it that way.”
“So what’s next?” Red asked.
“We’re going to get that urine test and have a look at the protein levels to make sure, but I suspect we’ll find that there’s significant protein in your urine.” Dr. Rosen looked at them both and smiled, her face relaxing. “Now, I’m not trying to alarm you.
This is a fairly common condition. However, it does need to be monitored carefully and if there’s any progression in symptoms, we may have to deliver early.”
“Really?” Red asked, startled.
“Let’s cross that bridge when we come to it,” Dr. Rosen said. “Right now, I don’t see that as a very likely possibility. What I want you to do is pick up a blood pressure monitor at the pharmacy—you can get them for fifty bucks. Take Nicole’s blood pressure a few times a day, once in the morning, once at night, and another time in between. I’d like you to email me the results at the end of the week so I can see how she’s doing, and tell me any other notable symptoms or concerns.”
“We really appreciate you taking that extra step,” Red told her.
“That’s my job,” Dr. Rosen said. “We’ll set up another appointment for the next couple of weeks to get you back in here and check on your progress.”
Nicole nodded and felt her eyes fill with tears. Dr. Rosen put a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry. We’ve got a good handle on this, Nicole. Just try and relax, rest, let Red do the heavy lifting. Okay?”
“Okay,” she whispered, trying to smile.
The doctor had Nicole go to the nearby bathroom and give a urine sample. When she came back, Dr. Rosen once again went over the plan and told them not to worry too much, how typical this was, yada yada.
Finally, Nicole and Red left the office together, holding hands. They walked very slowly together, heading to the elevators to go home.
***
When they got home, Red immediately set about making Nicole as comfortable as possible. When Kallie came downstairs, they explained to her what had occurred and she immediately offered to help with everything and anything they needed.
Red told her that wasn’t necessary, but Nicole was heartened to see that Kallie was already making it her personal mission to pick up the slack around the house.
Nicole retired to her room and slept for a while. When she woke, Kallie came in and asked if she was hungry, which she was. Nicole told her that a grilled cheese sounded good, and a few minutes later, Kallie came back with a perfectly toasted sandwich. The cheese was gooey and the bread was buttery and Nicole remarked that it was probably the best one she’d ever had.
Not long after that, Red came and took her blood pressure. “One forty over ninety-five,” he said.
“That’s high,” Nicole responded. “Don’t let me see the numbers anymore. The more nervous I get, the higher it’s probably going to go.”
He nodded. “What else do you need right now?”
“Nothing. Just you. You’re helping a lot by taking care of me.”
He stroked her hair. “I know everything’s going to be fine,” he said.
She nodded but couldn’t meet his eyes. For some reason, Nicole didn’t share his convictions.
For the rest of the day, she stayed in bed and watched a series of awful reality TV
shows, talk shows like Jerry Springer and Doctor Oz, and then a terrible movie that was so bad she didn’t even bother to find out what it was called. Nicole drifted in and out of sleep, having restless semi-nightmares where she was being poked and prodded by the doctor and one where she delivered the baby under water and couldn’t fight her way to the surface.
She woke up
Nicole licked her lips. “So the baby is fine, though.”
“Yes. And we aim to keep it that way.”
“So what’s next?” Red asked.
“We’re going to get that urine test and have a look at the protein levels to make sure, but I suspect we’ll find that there’s significant protein in your urine.” Dr. Rosen looked at them both and smiled, her face relaxing. “Now, I’m not trying to alarm you.
This is a fairly common condition. However, it does need to be monitored carefully and if there’s any progression in symptoms, we may have to deliver early.”
“Really?” Red asked, startled.
“Let’s cross that bridge when we come to it,” Dr. Rosen said. “Right now, I don’t see that as a very likely possibility. What I want you to do is pick up a blood pressure monitor at the pharmacy—you can get them for fifty bucks. Take Nicole’s blood pressure a few times a day, once in the morning, once at night, and another time in between. I’d like you to email me the results at the end of the week so I can see how she’s doing, and tell me any other notable symptoms or concerns.”
“We really appreciate you taking that extra step,” Red told her.
“That’s my job,” Dr. Rosen said. “We’ll set up another appointment for the next couple of weeks to get you back in here and check on your progress.”
Nicole nodded and felt her eyes fill with tears. Dr. Rosen put a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry. We’ve got a good handle on this, Nicole. Just try and relax, rest, let Red do the heavy lifting. Okay?”
“Okay,” she whispered, trying to smile.
The doctor had Nicole go to the nearby bathroom and give a urine sample. When she came back, Dr. Rosen once again went over the plan and told them not to worry too much, how typical this was, yada yada.
Finally, Nicole and Red left the office together, holding hands. They walked very slowly together, heading to the elevators to go home.
***
When they got home, Red immediately set about making Nicole as comfortable as possible. When Kallie came downstairs, they explained to her what had occurred and she immediately offered to help with everything and anything they needed.
Red told her that wasn’t necessary, but Nicole was heartened to see that Kallie was already making it her personal mission to pick up the slack around the house.
Nicole retired to her room and slept for a while. When she woke, Kallie came in and asked if she was hungry, which she was. Nicole told her that a grilled cheese sounded good, and a few minutes later, Kallie came back with a perfectly toasted sandwich. The cheese was gooey and the bread was buttery and Nicole remarked that it was probably the best one she’d ever had.
Not long after that, Red came and took her blood pressure. “One forty over ninety-five,” he said.
“That’s high,” Nicole responded. “Don’t let me see the numbers anymore. The more nervous I get, the higher it’s probably going to go.”
He nodded. “What else do you need right now?”
“Nothing. Just you. You’re helping a lot by taking care of me.”
He stroked her hair. “I know everything’s going to be fine,” he said.
She nodded but couldn’t meet his eyes. For some reason, Nicole didn’t share his convictions.
For the rest of the day, she stayed in bed and watched a series of awful reality TV
shows, talk shows like Jerry Springer and Doctor Oz, and then a terrible movie that was so bad she didn’t even bother to find out what it was called. Nicole drifted in and out of sleep, having restless semi-nightmares where she was being poked and prodded by the doctor and one where she delivered the baby under water and couldn’t fight her way to the surface.
She woke up
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