The Crying Bridge

The Crying Bridge--Chapter 40

 Del and Evan waited expectantly as the ultrasound technician squirted warm jelly onto Del's abdomen. They had called Dr. Parson's emergency exchange and she had gotten back to them within moments, listened to what was happening and sent them directly to the emergency room. When Del had gone to get ready for bed she had noticed blood on her underwear and had found more in the toilet after she used it. What she felt was a lot more.

The technician was all business and seemed unconcerned with Del's tears or Evan's worried face. "Okay, let's see here," she said. "Yes, here's one sac. One heartbeat. A strong normal heartbeat." She moved the wand over Del's stomach, clicked some buttons on the machine, furrowed her brow. "Hmm...," she said.

"Hmm what?" Evan demanded. "Can you please talk to us?"

"Give me a sec," she told him, totally nonplussed. She moved the probe again and pressed a bit more firmly against Del's abdomen. "Ahh, okay, here we go. Yes, baby number two. Strong heartbeat." She turned on the audio and the small exam room was suddenly filled with the sound of the baby's heartbeat. She moved the probe again and the other baby's heartbeat could be heard.

Del was sobbing with relief. Both babies were still alive, their hearts beating.

Evan sank into a chair with relief. "So what about the bleeding?" he asked.

"Most likely, it was a bit of one of the placenta's detaching. It happens sometimes," she informed them, still all business. "If there's no cramping to accompany the bleeding, it's usually nothing to be concerned about."

"Have you ever been pregnant?" Del snapped at the woman.

"I have not, but-"

Del cut her off. "Then shut the fuck up, okay. I am carrying twins, I'm only 9 weeks along and I am fucking bleeding. I think being concerned is well within my rights."

Evan had to stifle a laugh. He squeezed her hand, glad she was a bit more herself. "Could stress have anything to do with this?" he asked.

"I don't think so," the technician said, still completely nonplussed. "Stress can certainly contribute to miscarriage, but that's not what's happening here. As I showed you and you heard, both babies are fine."

"So what's next?" Del asked. "I was still bleeding a bit when we got here. What am I supposed to do?"

"Go home and rest. Stay off your feet as much as possible and follow up with your doctor tomorrow. The house O.B. will be back in a few minutes with the same information. A nurse will get you discharged." With that she left the room.

"Well, she had some great fucking bedside manner, didn't she?" Del said.

Evan helped her up and got her tissues to wipe the gel off her stomach. "Let's just get home and get you into bed."

The doctor did indeed echo all the things the tech had told them and soon they were on their way home. Evan was happy when Del fell asleep almost as soon as the car was out of the parking lot.

*************

It was Friday and Evan was preparing to leave for a half day at the youth center. He would be home by 1:00 pm so that he could be with Del when she saw Dr. Parsons at 2:00. He had arranged for Jenny to come and stay with Del to make sure she stayed off her feet.