Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
A s soon as they arrived at the hospital Dilly was whisked up the corridor and into a private room where she was transferred to the bed. They were left alone for a brief moment. ‘How are you feeling? Has the pain subsided?’ asked Max.
‘It just feels like an uncomfortable niggle,’ replied Dilly.
‘Your dad is on the way. Does he know about the pregnancy?’
Dilly shook her head.
‘Have you said anything about us?’
She shook her head again. ‘I only found out yesterday, just before… I know I should have told you before I dragged you into the bedroom. I know it sounds so wrong when I say this but I just wanted you. I’ve always wanted you and now I’ve…’ A tear rolled down her cheek.
Max briefly closed his eyes. ‘Concentrate on you. We can talk later.’
The conversation was cut short as the doctor walked into the room with a cheery ‘Hello’. He introduced himself and checked through her personal details. ‘I believe you are pregnant, is that correct?’
Dilly nodded. ‘I don’t know how many months exactly, possibly four,’ she replied.
‘And how’s the pain?’
‘A dull ache and a tiny niggle but bearable.’
The doctor nodded, consulting the documentation filled out by the paramedics. ‘Your blood pressure is low, which likely caused the dizziness and fainting. But let’s get you in for a scan to see what’s going on. The nurse will take you down now. And you can come too, Dad,’ he said, glancing at Max.
‘Oh, he’s not—’ Dilly started to explain, but Max interrupted, his gaze steady on hers.
‘I’ll come if you want me to,’ he offered, his voice gentle but firm.
Dilly looked at him, her eyes searching his face. She hadn’t thought for a moment that he would want to. She nodded, grateful he was still sitting here with her. ‘Yes, please,’ she whispered.
Dilly reached out for his hand and he took it and gave her a reassuring smile, before she was wheeled down the corridor into a tiny room. The sonographer introduced herself as Grace and helped Dilly settle on the bed before she set up the equipment. Dilly felt nervous. She didn’t know what to expect. Seeing your baby for the first time should be a joyous occasion but she was more scared than excited. What if something was wrong? Grace picked up the information on the clipboard and checked everything over with Dilly.
‘When was the last time you ate and drank anything?’ Grace asked.
‘Cake and a cup of tea, about an hour ago now,’ replied Dilly, looking up at the clock on the wall. Time seemed to have slowed right down. She just wanted the scan to be over and done with and for Grace to tell her everything was going to be okay.
‘What type of cake?’
‘Victoria Sponge with strawberries.’
‘My favourite! Now you’re making me hungry; I’ve not eaten since eleven this morning.’
‘I’m surprised you aren’t feeling just as dizzy as me.’
Grace smiled. ‘And when was the last time you went to the toilet?’
‘A while ago. I’m bursting!’
‘Then we’d better get on with this scan as quickly as possible. I’m going to take your blood pressure again quickly just to see if things have settled down a little.’
Dilly nodded.
‘It’s still a little on the low side,’ Grace confirmed two minutes later, turning the monitor towards herself and preparing for the scan. ‘We’re ready to begin though. Just try and relax. Is this your first baby?’
‘Yes,’ replied Dilly.
Grace took a large paper blanket from the shelf. ‘If you could just pull down your trousers a bit, I’ll tuck this into the top of your knickers.’ The dry crackling sound of the paper blanket contrasted sharply with the soft hum of the ultrasound machine. Dilly lay back and Max took hold of her hand as she tried to calm her racing heart.
‘I’m going to put this jelly onto your stomach. It may feel a little cold.’ Grace smiled encouragingly. ‘And I may need to press down at times, which can be uncomfortable, especially if you need the toilet, but the scan itself won’t hurt. Do you have any questions before we start?’
Dilly shook her head. This was the moment she would see her baby for the first time, and she felt a surge of emotions – nervousness, joy and an almost overwhelming sense of reality. Her thoughts raced; she wanted to know that the baby was healthy and she wondered if Grace would be able to tell whether it was a boy or a girl. As the cool gel touched her skin, she jumped slightly, causing Grace to give her another gentle smile. ‘It can be a bit of a shock, I know.’
Grace moved the probe slowly, her eyes focused on the screen. The anticipation was almost unbearable.
‘Is everything okay?’ asked Dilly, seeking some reassurance.
Grace finally looked up, her gaze moving between Dilly and Max. ‘I just need to get the doctor,’ she said, her voice calm but firm. ‘Please excuse me for a moment.’ She quickly left the room and the door clicked shut behind her, leaving a suffocating silence behind.
Dilly’s panic surged. ‘There’s something wrong, I can feel it…’ Her voice faltered and tears welled up.
‘Just try and stay calm.’
Grace walked back in with the doctor, who took the probe and gently ran it over Dilly’s stomach, his eyes focused intently on the monitor. Dilly couldn’t hold back her anxiety any longer. ‘Please tell me everything is okay.’
The doctor looked up and met her gaze, a warm smile spreading across his face. ‘Everything looks just as it should,’ he reassured her, turning the monitor towards Dilly and Max.
The doctor turned up the sound on the monitor and a rapid, rhythmic thumping filled the room, resonating with a steady, reassuring beat. ‘This,’ he said, ‘is the sound of your baby’s heartbeat.’
‘Oh my gosh!’ The relief was instant as she stared at the monitor. The sound was mesmerising, like a tiny train chugging along its tracks, strong and regular. But the doctor wasn’t finished. He moved the probe slightly and pointed to another spot on the screen. ‘And this,’ he said with a grin as the sound coming from the monitor changed ever so slightly, ‘is the sound of your second baby’s heartbeat.’
Dilly’s eyes widened, and her mouth fell open. ‘What do you mean, my second baby’s heartbeat?’
‘Twins!’ the doctor confirmed, his smile growing even wider. ‘You’re expecting twins. Congratulations, Mum and Dad! You are certainly going to have your work cut out! Both are looking very healthy with very strong heartbeats.’
‘Twins!’ Dilly repeated, putting a hand on her own heart. The news took her breath away. She turned to Max who was grinning from ear to ear, his eyes shining with amazement. He squeezed her hand tightly, leaning in to kiss her forehead.
‘Twins! Just look at them!’ said Max.
‘I’m actually lost for words!’
‘There’s always a first time for everything,’ he teased.
‘Do you have twins in your family?’ the doctor asked.
Dilly racked her brain then shook her head. ‘Not to my knowledge.’
‘The measurements suggest you are around four months pregnant, as you suspected.’
Dilly looked down at her stomach. ‘I would have been expecting to be the size of a whale with two babies in there, but instead I just thought I’d eaten too many pancakes.’
‘You have a very neat, tiny bump now, but my guess is that it won’t stay like that for much longer. At this stage I can tell the sex of the babies. Would you like to know?’
Immediately Dilly looked towards Max. ‘What do you think, should we find out?’
Max’s grin widened, his eyes sparkling with excitement. ‘It’s up to you,’ he said, his voice filled with anticipation.
Dilly hesitated for a moment, the enormity of the news still sinking in. ‘I’m not sure,’ she began, her words tumbling out in a rush. ‘I would love for it to be a surprise, but the main surprise is that I’m four months pregnant! In just five months, I’ll have two babies! I haven’t got long to set up the new gallery, decorate the nursery, and make sure I’m ready. And names… I need to think of names! Yes! Tell me… before I change my mind!’
The doctor smiled warmly, clearly enjoying the moment. ‘Girls!’ he announced. ‘You are expecting twin girls! Congratulations!’
Dilly’s eyes widened in delight, and she immediately leaned over to hug Max tightly. ‘Girls!’ she repeated. The thought of having twin daughters filled her heart with a warmth and excitement she had never felt before.
‘I feel it’s going to be a very pink lighthouse!’ added Max, squeezing her hand.
‘I think the discomfort you felt earlier might have been your stomach expanding. Have you felt any kicking?’ the doctor continued.
Dilly shook her head, still processing the news.
‘Well, it won’t be long now,’ the doctor reassured her. ‘As for the low blood pressure, you need to take it easy. Move slowly when getting up, avoid overexertion, drink plenty of water and rest often. We don’t think you need to stay overnight, but we would like you to rest here for a few hours to ensure you’re pain-free before heading home.’
Dilly nodded, her mind already racing with plans and ideas. ‘Yes, of course.’
As the doctor left the room, Grace stepped forward to gently wipe the excess gel from Dilly’s stomach. Dilly looked at Max, her eyes bright with happiness. ‘Twin girls!’ Without thinking she leaned across and planted a kiss on his lips. ‘I still can’t believe it!’