The "it" is growing

Writers: Heather, Miriah
Date Posted: 14th February 2019

Characters: Thayde, Enamra
Description: The pregnancy progresses.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 7, day 4 of Turn 9

Thayde

Enamra

Enamra settled on the exam bed, trying to get comfortable. The first
time she had been here, she had had Jylanya with her, but after three
months at the Dolphin Hall, she wasn't so nervous about being examined
by a man anymore. Her belly felt swollen and huge and every time the
child within kicked, Enamra felt a hidden surge of resentment. There
was also fear there as well. Her own Mama had died giving birth to her
little brother and she was desperately afraid that she would too.

The first time Thayde had given Enamra an exam he had been incredibly
nervous, mostly because of the condition she had arrived in. Now he
had rather gotten used to the sight of her thin frame with the bulging
belly in front. Even though Thayde's specialty in the dolphincraft was
dolphin healing, he'd spent quite a bit of time at Jade Harbor working
in conjunction with the healercraft to blend techniques, using his
dolphin partner to help with human ailments, and using what the
healercraft knew of human remedies to treat dolphins.

"Enamra," his voice was pitched softly as he came into the room,
remembering how skittish she had been the very first time they'd met.
Fortunately she seemed more comfortable around him now. "How are you
feeling?"

"I'm okay." She immediately dipped her head down, her eyes lowering to
the floor. "I'm getting tired real easy, though." She had actually
fallen asleep against a wall in the middle of scrubbing the stone
walkway just a few days before. And she was tired of having the huge
belly in front of her, making her feel heavy, uncomfortable and
clumsy. Her hair, which always seemed to fall to hide her face was
pushed back behind her ears as she talked to him. "Is it nearly over?"

Pulling a cloth measuring tape from his pocket, Thayde measured from
the top of her belly to the bottom, "Yes, it's nearly over, but I
think probably another month, unless you go early. First time mothers
usually go full term." She looked downright uncomfortable, Thayde
thought, probably more so because of her tiny frame. "Have you been
following the diet we talked about?"

She nodded. " Yes, sir. Jylanya is making sure I eat really good. She
says I have to gain more weight though." She was trying, but
sometimes, her stomach simply couldn't tolerate the large meals given
to her. She held still while he measured, grimacing as the baby inside
her kicked, making noticeable bulges periodically stick out. She
flicked a gaze up and then asked in a near whisper. "When the baby
comes...am I gonna die?"

The question might have been comical from someone else, but coming
from Enamra it made Thayde's heart squeeze. "No, sweetheart, you
won't. I am going to take very good care of you when the time comes, I
promise." He was even going to have one of the healers from the Weyr
come down, just in case.

"My mama died when she had my little brother." She carefully laid her
hand on her belly and just wished for a long moment that the huge
swelling wasn't there. She swallowed. "And I'm scared," she admitted.
"Can we just make the baby come out sooner?"

"I am afraid not. Doing anything to progress the pregnancy might
endanger you or the baby." He wasn't going to be the one to tell her
about the "tales" of how some women tried to get labor to induce.

She sighed and her gaze went to her belly. She had heard a few of the
drudges look at her and talk about how cute babies were or how they
couldn't wait to have one. A few already did, but still talked all the
time how much they loved their babies. She never spoke up about her
own. She didn't want it. She didn't even want to see it. "I guess I
just want it out."

"I understand," Thayde said. "What have you decided to do with the
baby when it is born?"

Her lower lip trembled just for a moment. "Jylanya said that she'd
find the baby good parents."

He took in her trembling lip, "And that is what you want?"

"Yes." Her reply was quick and she swallowed. "I don't want it." Her
head ducked as she stared at her toes and she whispered. "I hate it."

It was gut wrenching, but Thayde understood the hatred, because he
knew what had placed it there. "Okay, well, we will take care of that.
Just a little longer for you and it will be done with."

And she never wanted to do this again. No one was ever going to poke
her, hurt her and put another baby inside her ever again. The poking
wasn't worth it. "Okay. " She just wanted it over with. "Uhm...I
watched my Mama have babies so, I guess I just need to come to you
when the pain starts?"

Thayde patted her hand, a paternal smile on his face, "I will be
there, I promise. As your time gets nearer I will be keeping a very
close eye on you."

She sucked in her lower lip and then nodded. "Okay." She then finally
glanced up. "Are we done?"

"Yes, we're done." He offered her a hand to help her down from the table.

She clambered down with his assistance, but let him go immediately
after her feet touched the floor. "Thank you. I guess I'll see you
next week."

Last updated on the February 28th 2019

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The "it" is growing