New Year's Eve Baby Sample

Chapter 7: Second Encounter

Elena's P.O.V:

Lara, as Dr. Johnson insisted I call her, applied a bit of gel on my stomach, which still looked normal even though I was about three months pregnant. But when I'd told Lara about my concern, she simply smiled and told me that my tummy wouldn't be that noticeable until I was about five months pregnant.

"Just relax honey; you'll be able to see your baby in a little while." Lara said as she used the probe on my lower abdomen to find the right spot. It didn't take long before an image appeared on the screen and Lara turned the computer slightly in my direction and there it was! My baby!

I felt tears well up in my eyes at the sight of the tiny bundle that looked more alien than human. "It's so tiny!" I whispered to Helena, who was standing right beside me, holding on to my hand tightly.

"Of course it is," Helena smiled down at me, "you were just as tiny when your mother was three months pregnant with you."

I'd never expected to feel this overwhelming sense of joy when I first saw my baby. Until now, I've had so many mixed feelings about my baby; at one point I'd even thought about an abortion, but the thought itself had sent me into nightmares. How could I just end a life of something so small when it didn't even have the capacity to think for itself? Most of all, how could I end the life of something that looked up to me for protection?

"Lara?" I looked up at the doctor only to find her frowning at the computer, her jaw set in a hard line. "Lara, is everything okay?"

Lara didn't say anything for the longest time, just kept looking at the image from different angles until Helena asked her the same question.

Lara sighed and put the probe back on to its holder, then took a paper towel and wiped the gel off of my stomach before telling me to join her in her chamber. Helena and I looked at each other for one moment, worry clouding our eyes, but Helena helped me get down from the table and we followed Lara to her office. I placed my hand instinctively to my stomach, reassuring my baby that everything was going to be alright.

"I have some bad news," Lara told us straightaway as we all took our seats. "I hope you'll be mentally strong enough to take it."

Helena pulled me closer to her before answering Lara, "Whatever it is, I'll be there to help her through it. Tell us Lara."

Lara nodded before continuing. "There are several complications in your pregnancy. Firstly, it seems like you might have a water-electrolyte imbalance, which is why you're having such severe morning sickness. Secondly, your modeling diet had made you lose weight and if this continues, then it'll have a direct affect on your baby. You need to remember that you'll be eating for not one but two people right now and your baby needs a fully balanced meal." Lara took a deep breath before looking directly into my eyes. "And the biggest of all is that your baby seems to be lying in a Breech position, as compared to the normal head-first position. It means that instead of facing its head towards the vaginal opening, it has its feet in that direction."

"What does that mean?" I asked, confused with all the terms. But at the same time, I knew something was very, very wrong with it.

"It means that if the baby still sticks to that position even after a month, we'll have to perform a C-section on you...and it'll leave a scar on your abdomen." Lara told me, giving me a sympathetic look to soften the blow.

I gave her a nod. "If you're talking about the end of my modeling career, then that's not an issue. It simply means I can't wear anything other than a one-piece."

Lara seemed to visible relax at my words. "Good, models usually stress when they get any defects in their body. But if you don't have any problem with scaring then the rest can be handled. I'm prescribing you iron tablets and tablets that will keep your electrolyte balance in check, all you need to do is dissolve them in water and keep drinking only that water for the next couple months. And I'm also setting up another appointment in two weeks to see if your condition has improved. But you must remember two things, absolutely no stress and plenty of rest."