The fever still didn't go away. Nate had to get up and go to work as usual, so I just lay on the couch and drifted through the day in half doze. That evening, while showering, I began to shiver again, all my muscles cramping and quaking. But this time there was a strange sensation, a feeling in my lower abdomen that I had never before had and yet knew immediately was not supposed to be happening right now. It wasn't painful, but it was wrong, and the fear came rushing back in. We drove to the ER south of us - we'd had a negative experience at the ER to the north, so although it was slightly closer, we decided it was worth the few extra minutes to go south. I, having started the pregnancy slender and then lost quite a bit a weight, did not look pregnant, I'm sure, but some ladies sitting next to us in the waiting room inquired about why we were there and why I was so worried. I will never forget their kindness in letting us go before them, although we had arrived some time after. The nurse took us back and after taking a sample, left us to wait. I'd begun to bleed a little, but eventually it stopped.
After what seemed like a very long time, a doctor came in and told us that I did indeed have an infection, in fact such a serious one by this time that they wanted to stop the prescription antibiotics and immediately administer some more powerful drugs by IV. Thankfully we asked if they were alright for pregnant moms - he had missed the fact of the pregnancy somehow, and had to adjust his prescription a bit, but they got it started and gave me some other follow-up antibiotics to take for a week. To humor me, they checked internally and reassured me that everything was as it should be - no changes in the cervix to be concerned about. We even got to have an ultrasound and see the squirming, kicking little baby inside my uterus, which was visibly (as I had suspected) contracting. But all was well, they said, so we went home.
The intermittent bleeding and contracting continued over the weekend, but I just took it easy and tried to trust that all would be well. By Tuesday, the midwives said we should go have an ultrasound at a special women's hospital in Orlando, so we drove out there and spent forever waiting in their foyer, finally to be called back for another ultrasound. Again, the internal exam seemed to show no worrisome changes in the cervix, and the ultrasound showed that, although the little one was head down and very deep in my pelvis, it was active and apparently healthy. Relief. But still irritation. If all was well, why was I still bleeding? Why was I still contracting? Why could no one seem to do anything about these things or tell me how to stop?
At this point, I get a little fuzzy on the details. I think we went south to the ER again, and ended up having another ultrasound, but I don't remember exactly why, beyond the same reasons we had gone before. All I know is that they showed, and told us that all was well and the baby was fine. That was what I wanted to hear, and seeing the little legs kick and arms wave was a balm to my mama heart.
Poor Nate. I was having a tough time of it, but he was still going to work every morning at 6, and at least three nights was up past midnight with hospital runs, while the others he had to take care of his invalid wife. But he never complained. He was always kind and considerate and supportive, willing to take my word for any symptom, any worry. He was my rock.
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