Aubrey #3
“I wish I could tell you, but every pregnancy is different. Some have it easy and others don’t.
It’s unfair, I know that, but it’s just how it is.
Yes, I’ll admit that most pregnant patients I’ve had with low blood pressure were better after the second trimester.
But even if it’s rare to have it at this stage, it doesn’t mean it’s not possible. ”
“So, what do we do?” I ask desperately.
“I’m putting her on bedrest from now on. She can still walk around the house but try to get her sitting or lying down as much as possible. We’ll be keeping a closer eye on her until she gives birth. No big activities, nothing stressful.”
She comes to stand beside me. “I’d also like her to take more vitamins and increase her salt intake; those can help raise her pressure. Is she still working? Have you been doing anything that could have caused her any anxiety lately?”
I shake my head. “She’s not working anymore, and we just had renovations done to the house.
We also have our wedding coming up at the end of August, but we have someone planning it for us.
We’ve really been doing everything to keep her stress level low.
I even did all the baby shopping on my own because I didn’t want her to have to deal with it. ”
“I know you’re doing all you can, but stress works in weird ways. Even if she’s not physically involved in anything, it can still make her anxious. Just keep doing what you’re already doing. Keep her well rested, make sure she eats multiple times a day and takes her vitamins.”
She bends slightly and places her hand on my arm. “I understand a wedding can’t exactly be canceled without repercussion, but anything else that could cause her even a tiny bit of anxiety, push it back. Wait until after the baby is born.”
“Okay.” I nod, wishing there was a magical cure to this.
“They’ll be okay.” She smiles warmly. “I’ll be back in a little bit.”
“Okay, thank you,” I say as she walks out of the room quietly.
A few minutes later, Aubrey begins to move under her blanket. “Shane?” she calls out for me.
“I’m right here, sweetheart.” I get up and walk around the bed to face her as I take a seat on the edge.
“Is our daughter okay?” she asks as her eyes fill with tears.
I push a few strands behind her ear and nod. “Yes, she’s healthy. Look.” I point to the monitor that shows Stellina’s heart rate. “That’s her little heart beating.”
She lets out a shaky breath and closes her eyes. “Oh, thank God.”
“Aubrey… Did you know your blood pressure had dropped again?” It’s a thought that’s been eating at my mind.
She opens her eyes and looks at me, and the guilt I see looking back at me as a tear slips out the corner of her eye gives me the answer I was expecting. She knew. Eventually she nods as her bottom lip trembles, and her cheeks take on a pink tint.
“Baby, why wouldn’t you tell me that?” I wipe away her tears, then stroke her cheek with my thumb. I’m not mad at her, I just wish she had told me.
“I didn’t want you to worry even more… I thought I had it under control…” she sobs quietly. “What’s wrong with me? What am I doing wrong?” She covers her face with her hands and cries into them.
“No, Angel.” I get closer and sit her up, taking her into my arms. “You’re not doing anything wrong.
This isn’t your fault. It’s just something that happens sometimes in pregnancies.
None of this is because of you, sweetheart.
” I kiss her crown, burying my nose in her hair and loving how after hours in the hospital, she still smells like herself. Peaches.
“What if all this affects her? What if I’m hurting her?” She grips my shirt tightly with her fist.
“You aren’t and it won’t. Our baby girl is strong and healthy. She’s doing just fine, and she’ll keep doing fine. We’re almost done, Angel. Just a few more weeks and all this will be over. We’ll just need to be extra careful from now on, okay?”
She nods against me. “Okay.”
“And no more keeping secrets. If something is wrong, I need you to tell me, Aubrey. If something were to happen to you… I don’t know how I’d go on without you…” The lump in my throat returns as emotions swirl inside my heart.
“I’m sorry…” she whispers.
“It’s okay, sweetheart. Just promise me you won’t scare me like that again.” I sniffle and kiss her head.
“I promise. If I start feeling off, I’ll tell you.” She leans her head back to look up at me and presses her lips to mine.
After a few passionate kisses, she pulls back and looks me over as I shake out the ache in my shoulder. “Your shoulder’s acting up?”
“I just hit it trying to catch you. It’s fine, nothing serious,” I reassure her.
She nods, looking a bit uncertain. “Have you told anyone that we’re here again?” she asks after a moment.
I shake my head. “No, not yet. I was waiting for you to wake up before I called them.”
“Don’t, not yet. I don’t want them worrying more. We’ll tell them when we get home.”
“Okay, Angel. Whatever you want.”
“Even Chinese food?” she whispers with a hopeful smile.
I chuckle, happy to see my girl back to her regular self. “I’m not sure ours survived the crash, but I’ll see what I can do.” I thread my fingers through her hair and bring her in for a kiss, relief seeping through my veins that she’s okay. That both my girls are okay.