What To Expect When Expecting

Writers: AL, Chelle
Date Posted: 1st July 2011

Characters: Zathris, Chupsin
Description: The healer and the Lord Holder discuss Benani's pregnancy.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 2, day 23 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: Benani

Zathris

Zathris moved into the infirmary and he cleared his throat. "Excuse
me," he called to the first healer who came into sight. "A word if you
please."

Turning his head around, Chupsin saw the Lord Holder. Immediately
alert, he headed over to him. "Aye, my Lord, can I help you?"

"Yes, actually." Zathris inclined his head to Chupsin and then
motioned back toward the rooms that would afford them a little
privacy. "I'd like a bit of your time if I may."

He followed Zathris, walking with him into one of the consultation
rooms. Closing the door, he took his usual seat. "You have it."

"I just wanted to go over what Benani should be doing at this stage."
Zathris didn't sit, but rather leaned against the door, one ankle
crossing lazily over the other while his arms crossed over his chest.
"I've some experience with pregnant women, but this is my first with
twins. I'd like to know what to expect."

"Well...she is going to start really gaining weight now. Big time. And
she may also start having very slight contractions from time to time
which will ready her cervix." Chupsin wondered what parts Zathris really
needed to know and one interesting thing occurred to him. "Also, you
might find it interesting to know that she could become increasingly
amorous. In another month or two, though, you'll need to be careful
since intercourse then can bring on preterm labor."

"More amorous?" Zathris couldn't help but chuckle at that. He and
Benani had never had a problem with a lack of! "Yes, I remember the
contractions. Practice contractions, they were called." Though that
had been some time ago.

"She'll be eating more naturally. And you will need to be careful with
her as she tries to learn the limitations of her size. Her balance may
not be as good as normal. If she finds herself having problems, she
may need to watch her activity to prevent falls." Chupsin had seen
many women try to overwork themselves.

"Of course." Zathris waved his hand dismissively. "I know all that.
I'm more interested in knowing what things I should expect with twins,
specifically."

"Well, there is the possibility of them being conjoined, which poses a
significant difficulty and risks later. One twin may also get more
nutrients than the other, increasing the risk for the smaller twin.
Lastly, we've seen a normal baby with the second never fully developing
for whatever reason." He wanted Zathris to be aware of the problems
that could arise. "Fortunately, most twins have a very good chance of
survival, compared to women who have more than two babies at once,
which is quite rare."

Zathris was glad that there weren't more than twins. At least, he
hoped there weren't more than two. Having twins brought enough
possibilities for things going wrong - they didn't need any more. "The
heartbeats seem strong when we go to the visits, so I'm not too worried
about the second child developing. What of the risks of the birthing
process? What can we do to minimize any risks?"

"Honestly, with this being her first birth, it's going to be the
hardest because we don't have any other information to go by. The
multiples just add to the risks. I would say to make sure as soon as
she starts showing signs, to get her to a healer. If there are any
signs later that the babies aren't developing right, we might ask for
her to go to bedrest early. Regular checkups and eating properly
as well as mild exercise should keep things in hand." Chupsin watched
Zathris' face as he talked about some of these things.

Zathris nodded slowly, his expression solemn. A lot of things could go
wrong. A lot. "Perhaps we should have a healer checking her every
sevenday." The visits were only once a month, but Zathris would feel
better if they occurred more often.

"As she gets farther along, her checkups will become more frequent.
I've already discussed that with her and she understands. The headwoman
will surely see to her meals, getting her the extra nutrition she
needs." Chupsin looked down at his notes. "Do you understand what will
happen when she goes into labor, my lord?"

"I understand she'll be in a lot of pain." Zathris knew that much.
"Please, enlighten me as to the details - and if there's anything I can
do while she's in labor."

"The first sign could either be minor contractions that increase or it
may likely be her water breaking. Some women mistake it for a release
of urine, but it'll be quite substantial." The healer thought about
what else to say or to hold back for later.

Zathris nodded and made a motion for the healer to continue. "Go on.
I'm not opposed to details."

"The contractions are going to push the babies down. The it's a matter
of getting them out without them getting choked, being in the birth
canal too long, or your wife bleeding too much. Sometimes women have
literally gotten too tired to push. Others do very well. Sometimes,
babies can get in the wrong position and we have to turn them. After
they're out, she'll have to expel the afterbirth. And the entire
process is going to be painful."

"I know it will be painful." Shards, men who didn't had to live in
some sort of bubble to not know that. He'd certainly been taught about
it when he was younger. Zathris' jaw tightened at the thought of
Maisla - he'd been witness to that birth, and death. "I want
everything done to make this go smoothly. Is there a Master
Midwife that we can, perhaps, have brought here for the rest of the
pregnancy and for the birth?"

"There are no female masters anymore.." Most of them had died, to
Chupsin's knowledge. "And as far as the males.. there's one at Emerald
Falls, and one at the Weyr who is trying to leave it. You might reach
out to him." Chupsin himself was trying to cultivate Yanley, but she
didn't have any real skill just yet. "I assure you though, the only
thing that keeps me from my own knots is turns." Zathris didn't know
_him_ well just yet.

Zathris was not stupid, he knew there were no female masters - at
least, not at the Holds. "One at the Weyr?" That he hadn't been
aware of. "A Master Midwife at Dragonsfall? Do you have a name?"

"He's the acting Weyrhealer there, Master Telemon." Such experience
would be invaluable, especially his knowledge of threadscore. "I don't
know exactly what his specialty is, but chances are with how many babies
are born at the Weyr and as many high risk pregnancies as they get
there, he would know what he was doing." Chupsin thought it would be
good to ask anyway.

"Indeed. You have a point." It would certainly be worth looking into,
if nothing else, though Zathris also thought it couldn't hurt looking
into a Master who specialized in labour and delivery. "I'll have a
message sent to the Weyr."

The healer nodded. "Other than that, she is having her checkups which
is good and all signs seem normal at this point."

"And of course, I expect to be informed if anything changes." Benani
didn't usually keep things from him, but Zathris couldn't help but
wonder if she would should something be worrisome. She might out of
concern that he might be overly worried about it, not from any sense of
trying to be dishonest with him.

"Aye, if there is any information to be shared, I won't keep it to
myself. The Lady Holder's duty is to provide a healthy heir and I
wouldn't ever interfere with that." He took his autonomy as a crafter
seriously, but he was a holder first, no matter what some might think.

Zathris nodded slowly. "I thank you for your time then, Chupsin." Her
duty to provide an heir, even if it meant her life. That hadn't been
said, but Zathris knew that some thought it. He wouldn't allow Benani
to simply produce baby after baby after baby only to take a toll on her
health. He did want children, enjoyed children, but he loved his wife
and wanted her around for a very long time.

Last updated on the July 22nd 2011

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