inner_wolf (inner_wolf) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2016-03-23 22:56:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, elphaba thropp, nina pickering |
Who: Nina and Elphaba
What: Checkup
Where: Hospital
When: Mid-march
Rating: Low
Status: Complete
Elphaba was just starting to show now. She was tall and slim and the baby bump was catching up on her figure. She was 14 weeks now and while she was mostly enjoying pregnancy, she was still suffering quite bad nausea and sickness. Something she was hoping to address in this appointment. Unfortunately Luthien had been called away for work which meant Elphie had to go alone, but she tried not to be scared as she sat waiting for the nurse to call her name.
Nina had set up alerts for when any her friends were admitted to the hospital or had appointments, and since she could she had managed to switch her shift around to make sure she was the one who would be there for her friend. “Elphaba?” She called with a smile, “Do you want to come through?”
Elphaba looked up at the sound of a familiar voice. Smiling at Nina, she stood up and followed her through to the examination room. “I didn't realise you would be on call today,” she said happily, waiting for direction once they were in the examination room.
“I’m glad you don’t mind” she said, “I have to admit I saw your name on the list and purposefully swapped my shift. I like to be there for my friends, unless it would be inappropriate of course”
“That’s very sweet, thank you,” Elphaba smiled. “So long as I’m not taking you away from anything more important?” she told her, hopping up on the bed to perch as she watched Nina move about the room. Elphaba had always been uncomfortable being the focus of people’s attention. Had shied away from it in school. “How have you been?” She asked.
“Nothing is more important than making sure my friends are looked after” Nina told her, “I’ve been doing fine thanks. I think the more important question is how are you? Suffering from morning sickness I see?” She said as she looked through Elphaba’s notes.
Elphaba groaned and laid a hand on her stomach as she looked miserable. “Yes, the less said about food the better. Breakfast and I didn’t exactly agree and I don’t think lunch and I are going to be on speaking terms either,” she told her, trying to be glib, but it was the truth. She’d managed to keep dinner down last night at least, but she was surprised at the ferocity of her nausea sometimes.
“I’m afraid the term morning sickness is a little bit of a misnomer” Nina said, “It can be all day sickness and it can last the entirety of your pregnancy. In extreme cases we call it hyperemesis gravidarum which basically means excessive vomiting during pregnancy. But that is the most extreme cases” she said, “Now are you able to keep down water and fluids? And have you had any instances of fainting or dizziness?” She asked getting a blood pressure machine set up while she spoke.
Elphaba made a face at the idea of it being all the time. “I've been able to keep water down so far. Obviously I've given up coffee but the smell makes me gag now anyway, so…” she trailed off as she thought a bit more about her eating habits while she watched Nina bustle about. “Luthien tries to get me to eat plain things like rice cakes and crackers, but I apparently have a limit to how much of those I can eat too. I've been dizzy, but isn't that just normal for pregnancy?”
“Well that’s good. We don’t need to worry too much about dehydration which is a bonus” Nina said, wrapping the velcro around Elphaba’s arm and pumping it up so the machine could measure her blood pressure. “Plain things are exactly what I would suggest crackers, toast, fruit if you can. Some dizziness is normal but it can also be a sign that something isn’t right. I’m not too concerned but we just need to keep an eye on it”
“Ok,” Elphaba replied, feeling her anxiousness about getting things wrong for the baby return. Ever since she'd found out, she was worried that she would do something to end the miracle she and Luthien had been blessed with. “So um, is there anything I can do to...I don't know, stop the nausea? So I can eat more? Any tricks of the trade?” she asked quietly and hopefully. The blood pressure cuff inflated around her arm and she relished the slight pain it caused. Penance for messing up already.
Luckily Nina was a good nurse and she recognised the signs of parental guilt, “You know you’ve done nothing wrong. Many women get ill during pregnancy, especially their first. There are little things you can do, avoid the things that make you feel nauseous, eat what you can manage little and often, keep yourself hydrated and make sure you get plenty of rest” Nina smiled as she wrote down her blood pressure, “A little high but nothing to worry about” she informed her, because she did hate it when nurses or doctors didn’t keep a patient informed, “There are no tricks I’m afraid. If it persists then come back to me and I’ll prescribe you some anti-sickness medication”
Elphaba cast an unsure smile at Nina, her mind already working ten to the dozen about things she needed to research when she got home. She nodded as she listened to Nina words, pushing down her immediate instinct to panic and reminding herself that preparation was key. “High blood pressure? Do I need to take anything for that?” she asked, concerned about taking medication while pregnant.
Nina took Elphaba’s hands in her own then, “I said ‘a little high’ but considering how much you seem to be working yourself up I wouldn’t be surprised if it was because of that. You are doing fine Elphaba. I know you’re worried, most first time mothers are but you are young and healthy and take good care of yourself. You just need to relax and find a way to keep yourself calm”
Taking a deep breath, Elphaba smiled and nodded. She squeezed Nina’s hands and told herself she would do more research, take care of her diet and build more rests into her day. “Thank you Nina, I’ll bear all your advice in mind and try to relax,” she tried to reassure her friend. “Are there any other tests I need to have?”
“Good, I’m glad to hear it” Nina said with a smile, “No other tests for now. But I want you to call me if you have any more concerns okay? Day or night, I’m always here for you”
Elphaba smiled at her friend gratefully and licked her lips nervously. “Ok, will do. Thank you so much. Would you like to come over for dinner one night? As a thank you?” she offered.
“You’re welcome, I’m here to help” Nina said with a smile, “That would be lovely, if you’re sure” she added, “Though I don’t need thanking, I’m doing my job”
“The job you do is amazing. I've always thought doctors and nurses need more acknowledgement for the work they do,” Elphaba told her gratefully. “So would you be free next week perhaps?”
“It’s more of a calling I like to think, for those who enter into it for the right reasons anyway” Nina had always known she wanted to be in the field of medicine. “Next week would be fine I think I’m on earlies or afternoons so whenever works for you should be fine”
“Great, I'll get Luthien to set aside a night,” Elphaba smiled, happy to have a friend such as Nina in her life. “I'll message you with details, that ok?”
“Of course” Nina said, “Thank you, and make sure you rest and try not to worry okay?” she added giving her a quick hug, possibly unprofessional but required in her eyes.
Elphaba nodded, feeling as awkward as she ever did as Nina hugged her. “I’ll try,” she smiled and made her way home.