“That’d be good. Thanks.” Garrett took my hand and pulled me to my feet. “You like them,” he said when the two midwives discussed which rooms were available. They had a mom currently in early labor in one room and two more in the waiting area that was more comforting than my parents’ living room.
“I do. What do you think?”
“I think your comfort is more important than mine when it comes to what you’ll have to be doing. The hospital being ten minutes away concerns me, but if you trust them.” He shrugged. “I can do some research into this whole thing to settle my own nerves.”
My hand pressed to his cheek. “Every single day you get more incredible.”
“I just want what’s best for you and our baby, that’s it.”
Yeah, but many men didn’t. More, I’d heard from a number of coworkers and friends whose husbands weren’t as checked in as this man in front of me.
“Okay, are you two ready?” Serenity asked. She stepped toward the doorway leading us down the hall to the prenatal rooms. The delivery rooms were what I most wanted to see. If they held the same homey, Zen vibe as the rest of that I’d seen so far, I’d drop to my knees and beg them to sign me that day.
“We are. Yes.”
We followed her past the prenatal exam rooms and she said she’d show me them last. They had an ultrasound tech on staff, so they did a quick peek into that room. Admittedly, it looked as medicinal and cold as any other place I’d imagine, but Serenity assured me the other rooms were more like home. I suppose you didn’t spend much time getting ultrasounds done so I didn’t worry much about it but as she opened a door to a labor and delivery room, my jaw almost hit the wood floor.
Yes. Wood. Gleaming. Sparkling clean and the delivery bed wasn’t a twin hospital bed but what looked like a queen bed, complete with a headboard and soft bedding on top. In the corner was an enormous soaker tub that could easily fit Garrett and I if we’d wanted a romantic interlude in one, hell it was bigger than any tub I’d ever seen. Pillows were stacked next to it, along with towels rolled on a shelf. Everything appeared more like a luxury spa or hotel than where a baby would be born.
“Wow,” I breathed, spinning in a slow circle. “You said a homey feel, but I didn’t expect…”
It was decorated better than my own home, for crying out loud.
“We want our mamas to feel comfortable. We find labor progresses more naturally, more smoothly, when moms can be as at peace as possible, so we try to initiate that for them. The bed can be raised for delivery, much like what you’d find in a hospital. The bathroom has a step-in shower. Some women like the pressure of the water spray on their lower backs during contractions. We also do have the ability, along with an anesthesiologist on call from the hospital who is capable of doing epidurals and other medicinal pain management like we’ve discussed and if it’s requested. In short, our job is to ensure you have a peaceful, healthy, and safe experience while welcoming your little baby into the world. We do whatever it takes to give that to you.”
I was sold. Absolutely sold. Garrett’s hand at my lower back spread a warm heat through my sweater to my flesh and spread outward, straight to my stomach. I swore, every time someone said the word baby, everything became more real for me. But this? I could imagine myself in here, plenty of space to pace. Maybe sitting on an exercise ball they could bring in for me. The fact I’d receive all the monitoring and opportunities but not be stuck in a sterile hospital made me want to squeal with joy.
“We’ll have to talk about this,” I said, not willing or wanting to jump too quickly into this. Yeah, Garrett said it was my choice, but if he had concerns, I still wanted to hear him out and that wouldn’t happen here.
“I totally understand.” Serenity, slightly graying brunette hair pulled into a low bun at the base of her neck, checked her watch and then smiled. “I still have about fifteen minutes before my next appointment. This went quicker than I anticipated. Since I have the time, would you like an exam while you’re here? I won’t worry about insurance today, but it’d give me an idea as well on how you’re doing, and if you’ll be low risk for us to accept you if you decide to allow us to help you.”
“Um.”
“Yes,” Garrett said before I could. “If that’s okay with Lizzie. I’d like that.”
Of course he would. Because he hadn’t been to any yet.
“Wonderful. Come this way and we’ll get you situated.”
We followed her to an exam room, where truly the only difference was the bed was a twin and not a queen, and the room was one third the size. She handed me what felt like a silk gown and not scratchy cotton. “These snap in the front, unlike a hospital gown. They tie below your hips. Mamas are welcome to bring their own clothes for labor but if they choose not to, this is what we offer. We also use this for exams when we need to do internal checks. For today, if you’d like, we’ll try to see if we can hear your little one’s heartbeat.”
“That’d be amazing,” I said, before I could stop myself. I’d heard it once, my eight-week exam with a vaginal ultrasound but I was far enough along now that I might not need it that way.
“Wonderful. I’ll let you get settled and be back in a minute or two.”
The door closed behind her and Garrett, for maybe the first time ever, looked uncertain.
“What?” I asked, already stripping out of my jogger sweats.
“Um. Do you… would you be more comfortable if I left? While you changed?”
“What?” I barked out a laugh and then as a dark hue slid onto his cheeks, felt horrible for laughing at him. “You’ve seen me naked at least a dozen times since I’ve been in Las Vegas alone.”
“I know.” He scratched the back of his neck, did that manly, lift the hat and swipe through the hair and replace thing. “But this is a doctor’s appointment. Different.”
“I think it’s okay.” I tried for a straight face, failed, and continued stripping out of my clothes.
He cleared his throat, muttered something that sounded like his usual, “You’re a pain in my ass,” but it was low and I couldn’t be sure.
He’d given me his back, so I quickly settled on the bed, draped the silk cloth over my lap. There wasn’t a need to remove my top, so I reached out and poked him in the back of his thigh with my toes. “You can turn around now. I’m not naked.”
Before he could, a light knock rapped on the door and creaked open. “Everything okay?”
“We’re good.” I grinned at Serenity and wiggled my fingers at Garrett. “Come up here and hold my hand.”
As Serenity got settled, we talked about my last period, and how far along I was. I told her again, even though we’d already spoken about my current doctor, what they recommended, the prenatal vitamins I was taking. She went over the fact I was beginning the second trimester, what to expect in the upcoming weeks. How often my appointments would be. It was all stuff I knew from reading and other appointments, but the more I heard it, the more settled I became, and the more I trusted her.
Then came the moment where she smiled at Garrett and more to him than me, asked, “Would you like to hear your baby’s heartbeat?”