Page 82 of This Love
“We’ve already labeled the pregnancy high risk due to her condition,” Dr. Chancellor said. “We can easily justify a C-section in her case.”
I looked at Ava lying on the exam table with a big strap over her belly. Tad’s heart rate squiggled across the screen. “What do you think?”
“I didn’t feel great practicing the breathing in birthing class,” Ava said. “I’m nervous about it.”
“But you’ve never had a seizure from huffing, right?” Dr. Chancellor asked.
“No. And they made me do it back when I was seventeen. It didn’t cause one.”
Dr. Chancellor tugged on his stethoscope with both hands. “I wouldn’t say you’re high risk, but yours is a case where the consequences of a seizure are catastrophic.”
We all frowned, imagining a scene where Ava lost her memory mid-labor.
Dr. Chancellor reviewed the screen, then switched off the machine. “Let’s schedule it to be safe. Of course, Cesareans have to be performed two weeks ahead of the due date. Once the baby drops into the birth canal, it’s much harder to perform one.”
“So, the baby would come in two weeks?”
“Or so. The nurse will work on scheduling the surgery. She’ll also go over the procedure. I assume you’ve never had an epidural.”
“No,” Ava said.
“That shouldn’t trigger a seizure either.” He patted her arm. “We’ll see you through.”
“Do you have other pregnant patients with epilepsy?” I asked.
“Yes,” he said. “I’ve had several.”
“Did any of them have seizures during labor?”
He hesitated, and at that moment, Ava and I glanced at each other. “Yes. But that was two out of dozens.”
I didn’t like those odds.
“We’ll get it scheduled,” Ava said. “We’ll be ready.”
“Good. I’ll see you for one more checkup in a week, then it will be go-time!” He tapped a few things on his iPad as he left the room.
I squeezed Ava’s hand. “Two weeks and then he’s here.”
“I’ll have to call Dad once we have a date. I guess we’ll know his birthday ahead of time.”
“We will.”
The nurse popped in. “Let’s get you unhooked, and then we will schedule that C-section!”
I held Ava’s hand as the nurse worked.
We had made the right decision. Maybe I could worry less about coming home each day.
Chapter 32
Ava
The day before the C-section started out in a blur.
I needed to wash the rest of the burp cloths. Clean and air dry the breast pump parts. Fill Rosie’s feeder.
Since we had decided Rosie didn’t need to go to the hospital, I needed to call Isadora and confirm she had all the instructions for Rosie while we were gone. It would be three days minimum and possibly four because of the surgery.
