Healer Confirmation

Writers: Chelle, Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 18th July 2012

Characters: Parale, Ioven, Telemon
Description: Parale and Ioven go to see the Master Healer to make sure she's carrying.
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 8, day 2 of Turn 6

Even though she had spoken to Parme about it, Parale knew it would
make sense to have everything confirmed by the healers and to make
sure it was all going as it should. Apparently a new Master Healer
had come to the Hold. Surprised, she had made an appointment and
presented herself at the infirmary when it was time. She looked around
for her husband who was supposed to be meeting her from work.

Telemon was running behind in schedule so he was in the middle of
treating a patient-a young boy. "Can you wait for a minute or two?
We're a bit behind," he asked. Sometimes patients just took more time
than estimated. Like this one. He had to puncture the boy's eardrum.
The other option was permanently damaged hearing. Good thing that Ena
was good at distracting younger patients, for the procedure was actually
quite painful. Petting the flit kept the boy from crying.

Seeing what the man was about, Parale nodded quickly and was glad she
didn't have to endure anything like that, though she suspected when the
baby came out it would be worse. Sitting down, she waited patiently as
she considered what she would think about when the time came.

After the procedure was done, Telemon gave his mother the instructions of
after-care and sent them away. "Now it's your turn," he called in Parale.

"I'm sorry, I hurried as fast as I could," a voice said softly next to
her ear as she began following the healer. Her husband's hand wrapped
around her arm as he fell into step with her. He was relieved to see
he was not too late.

She gave a small noise of relief as well. She hadn't wanted to do this
alone. With Ioven beside her, she followed Telemon, inwardly evaluating
the Master Healer without thinking about it.

"I'm master Telemon. What brings you two to me today?" Telemon greeted
and asked.

"I'm exhibiting signs of pregnancy. We were hoping you could confirm it
as well as tell us how long it will be until the baby is born," Parale
offered quickly.

"Well, that's good news," Telemon smiled. At least it should be good news.
He guided them to a more private area, pulling the curtains closed. "So,
when did you last have your period?"

She knew that question was going to come and answered it honestly. "Well,
I've always been rather irregular so it could be six to eight sevendays
between them in the past sometimes. This time, it's been a little over two
months."

"Hmmm," Telemon only murmured and then he started to ask other questions
about the symptoms she had and when what had started.

When they got her history out of the way, Parale got ready for the examination.
Sighing, she laid back and looked up, her hand searching for Ioven. She really
hated this, but knew it would become a regular thing once the pregnancy was
confirmed.

Telemon did the next part of the exam as quickly and gently as possible. It was
necessary, though. He didn't find any signs of scarring or stretching, which
was surprising for a woman over thirty. Otherwise, everything was normal.

"This is your first pregnancy?" he asked.

"Aye," she answered quickly, knowing how ludicrous that sounded. And for just a
few moments, Parale was visibly embarrassed. She hadn't meant to wait so long.
Things just hadn't happened the right way for her!

"We haven't been married that long," Ioven piped in, trying to be helpful.

And she had managed to stay untouched until then? Telemon was impressed. "Since
it's your first pregnancy, I would like to take you under special surveillance.
That means visits to infirmary more often. There are certain risks involved in
your age, if you're a first timer," Telemon explained. "So far everything is fine
and your pregnancy is progressing normally," he added with reassuring smile.

That did put her at ease, but the mention about risks brought her attention
full circle. "What sort of risks?" She needed to know so she could try and
prevent them, right?

"Well, your body doesn't adjust to changes as well as younger ones, so
you may have all kind of pains, or worse than usual morning sickness.
There's also increased chance for miscarriage or premature birth," Telemon
explained as gently as he could for it was serious matter. "Birth defects
also tend to get more common when the mother is older."

"I've seen plenty of perfectly normal children born to mothers Turns
older than Parale," Ioven said in an attempt to reassure her.

The morning sickness was over for the most part, which she neglected
to tell him. The miscarriage and premature birth part, though, that did
scare her. And the birth defects... She didn't say anything, but a few
tears came. **I finally get pregnant after so many turns of waiting and then
my child is lost to me or is deaf, dumb, blind? I don't think I could stand
that.** Her hand that was holding Ioven's squeezed hard, clutching him tight.
He couldn't leave her now-not when things like this could be in her future.
She couldn't do this alone.

"Yes," Telemon agreed with Ioven, "and you're actually over the worst
part when it comes to miscarriages. Most of those happen during the
first or second month, and you're over that."

Ioven's eyes grew a little wider, both from the pain in her grip and the
surprise he felt. She was already further than two months along? "Just
how far along _is_ she, then?"

"Depending when it got started, end of the second month or very
beginning of third month. It's hard to be accurate," Telemon replied.

That was good news at least. Trying to calm herself down, Parale
wasn't a shade of green anymore, but her current state wasn't too
much better. Then she caught the words he had said. "I'm over that?
So how much longer till the baby comes?"

"About four months. The baby is due late month eleven or at the beginning
of month 12, I can't give you more accurate estimate," Telemon answered to her.

The news made Ioven go a bit pale. Four months was not much time.
There was a lot that needed to be figured out before that time.

"Is there anything else we need to know, Master?" she asked politely, knowing
she'd rather be done with this so they could go tell the girls and she could
rest. Parale was also getting a bit hungry, to be honest.

Telemon gave her the usual instructions, what to eat, what to avoid. Then he
gave her the time to next check up.

After it was over, Parale hurried to get dressed and was grateful when they
were on the way back to their quarters. The girls wouldn't be home for a bit
and she really just wanted to lie down. All the things the Master had said were
making her head spin.

Last updated on the July 24th 2012

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Healer Confirmation