Checkup

Writers: Mirren, Paula
Date Posted: 3rd March 2016

Characters: Drumilla, Shanel
Description: Just a healer checkup
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 4, day 9 of Turn 8

Shanel cleared her throat, nervous to be a bother, but wanting to see a healer to be sure the baby was all right. After all she'd done to get here safely, she didn't want to take any more risks.

"Excuse me," she addressed the first healer she saw.

"Yes, can I help you?" Drumilla asked with a friendly smile. She gave the young woman a quick, assessive once-over.

"I-" Shanel was determined to be strong, but she was used to speaking in a deferential tone to Reyer, so she didn't provoke him. "I just need a checkup. Please."

"For a pregnancy? If it's normal pregnancy without any issues, I can do that," Drumilla replied.

"Yes, it's fine so far." Shanel hoped the bruises on her face had faded sufficiently to look benign.

"Come, this way," Drumilla gestured and led her to one of the exam beds. She pulled the curtains closed around them. "I'm Drumilla, junior journeywoman healer. What's your name? Have you been here before?" She asked. If she had been, she would go find her records.

"No, never. My name is Shanel." Her eyes were huge, as it finally sunk in that she was addressing a _female_ healer. It seemed an odd thing for a woman to do. Did she dare trust her?

"Alright, I need to start a medical record for you then," Drumilla replied. New people came to the Weyr pretty much daily, so she wasn't surprised. "Switch into this one, while I get a hide and something to write with," she gave a friendly grin and handed her the infirmary robe. "I'll be back shortly." She left her to change in privacy. There was however, a blue firelizard, perching over the curtain rod, but he kept silent.

Shanel looked at the flit with suspicious eyes. She had some idea of what they could do and didn't want him sending pictures of her body to her human. She turned her back and changed hastily.

Drumilla came back with the things she needed. "Are you set? I need to ask you some questions first."

Shanel startled and whirled around, her hand raised in a gesture of self-defence. "Yes." She lowered her arm. "Yes I am." Her heat was racing again.

Drumilla noticed the gesture and it broke her heart to see someone not much younger than she was being so defensive and skittish. She could easily quess what had caused it. The was compassion her voice. "I'm asking you a set of questions and I hope you'll answer trutfully. These records are for healer's use only, they don't leave the infirmary and are kept behind locked door when not used."

Shanel swallowed and nodded. She didn't want pity, but the healers should have some idea of her past, if only for the baby's sake. Maybe having a woman healer would be a good thing, she'd understand.

Drumilla started with the easy ones: name, age, date of birth, where she was from, name of the next of kin. Then she proceed to more personal ones: did she have some medical condition, allergies? How far along the pregnancy she was?

"I'm six months along." She was small for being so far, but she wasn't a large woman anyway. Too large and it'd play havoc with her balance.

Drumilla nodded and wrote down the answers. "Do you ever had bones broken or any surgical operations done?"

"Um, my wrist." Shanel held up her left. "And some fingers." She wiggled them to show they still worked.

"So it's healed well," Drumilla said with a smile and put away hide. She picked up a stethoscope instead. "Let's see how the baby is doing. Lay on your back and I'll listen for the heart beat," she said and did her best to warm up the metal part.

Shanel did as she was instructed, but she was worried about the baby. She'd been under so much stress for so long, she didn't know what damage it might have done.

After moving around the stetoscope, Drumilla found the heartbeat from the left side. "Here, do you want to listen?" she asked and offered her end for Shanel.

"How is it supposed to sound?" Shanel put the contraption to her ear, but all she could hear was a rapid swishing sound.

"It's a kind of fast whud-whud sound," Drumilla said. "Maybe the baby moved? I'll try to find it again," she said and moved the listening end around a bit.

Shanel listened, her brow creased. When the sound suddenly changed she jerked slightly. "Is it supposed to sound fast?' Maybe something was wrong.

"Yes, the babies have much faster heart beat than you and I," Drumilla replied.

"Are you sure?" If the healer was a man, Shanel would never have dared to ask.

"Yes, I am sure," Drumilla replied calmly. "I heard very steady beat, that's the most important fact."

"So the baby is all right?" That was the important fact for Shanel. The only important thing.

"Yes, perfectly fine," Drumilla assured her. He felt around her belly. "The baby's back is resting against your left side. Here's the head," she guided Shanel's hand to a right place. It could be felt as tiny, hard clump.

"Oh." Shanel was careful not to put any pressure on the head, in case she hurt the little one. "Thank Faranth." Maybe everything would be worthwhile after all.

"Won't be long and he or she will be kicking your kidneys," Drumilla grinned. "From now on, the baby will mostly just grown and gain weight."

Shanel nodded. "And be born." She wasn't looking forward to that, but she wanted to hold her baby in her arms and know she'd done the right thing.

"Does the thought of that make your nervous?" Drumilla asked. It was pretty much standard question for first timers.

"No." Shanel titled her chin up. "I'll be all right." She'd been through a lot, she'd manage to give birth.

"That's good to hear. You have plenty of time to pick who you want to deliver your baby. You can also look for a doula for the birth. That's the support person who helps you thru it. She...or he.. won't actually deliver the baby, more like hold your hand and encourage you."

"Does any of that matter?" In a small hold there had simply been a woman who delivered babies and that was that.

"It's up to you. Most women want someone they can trust around when the give birth," Drumilla replied.

Trust? That wasn't something Shanel could imagine building with anyone in such a short amount of time. "I'll think about it." As long as the baby was healthy that was all that really mattered. Her needs were secondary at best.

Drumilla just nodded. "You and baby are both doing fine healthwise, " she said with encouraging tone.

"That's good, thank you." Shanel sat up. "Thank you for your time." Maybe female healers were all right after all.

"Anytime, 'tis my job after all," Drumilla grinned.

Last updated on the March 4th 2016

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Checkup