Navigating The Storm

Andrew fell silent, his mind racing with the possibilities. The thought of something happening to Carina, even if it was only a possibility, was terrifying. But he knew he had to stay strong, not only for Carina but for Maya and Marina too.

January 15th 2025 7:00 AM
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Week 9
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The next morning, Maya was abruptly woken up by a wave of nausea. She sat up quickly, a hand instantly going to her stomach as she fought to keep the bile from rising in her throat.

Marina, woken up by the sudden movement, began crying softly. Maya tried to ignore the sound, her focus on the roiling in her stomach. She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths to try and will the nausea away.

But the nausea was persistent. Maya stumbled out of the cot, her legs wobbly, and made her way to the nurses' station. She was thankful for a moment that not too many doctors were there yet, including Jo.

As she reached the nurses' station, Maya leaned against the counter, taking deep breaths to try and steady herself. A nurse noticed her and approached her with a concerned look.

The nurse, Hannah, put a hand on Maya's arm and asked, "Are you okay, sweetie? You look a little pale."

Maya shook her head, mustering a small smile, "Morning sickness," she said weakly, gesturing to her stomach.

Hanna nodded in understanding, her tone sympathetic. "Ah, pregnancy. Morning sickness can be rough. Do you want some ginger ale or anything? It might help settle your stomach."

Grateful, Maya nodded, wincing as another wave of nausea hit her. "Yes, please. Anything that can help would be great."

Hanna disappeared into one of the storage rooms and returned a moment later with a can of ginger ale. She handed it to Maya, who opened it and took a sip. The fizzy drink immediately made her feel a little better, and she took another sip, hoping it would stay down.

The nurse gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder. "I know it's hard, but try to take it easy. You've got a little one depending on you for food, and it's important to stay hydrated and healthy during your pregnancy. Let me know if you need anything else, okay?"

Maya nodded, grateful for the understanding and the help. The ginger ale was settling her stomach, and she was starting to feel a bit better. She took another sip, promising herself to take it easy as the nurse suggested.

Jo looked at Maya. "I know we had a check up a few days ago but we have to do the 9 week appointment today."

Maya groaned softly, the thought of another checkup not appealing to her in her current state. But she knew it was important, for both her and her baby.

She agreed, though reluctantly. "Okay," she said, "When do you want to do it?"

Jo looked at her watch. "Let's wait a little while, if you can. I have some things to take care of right now. But maybe in the next couple hours?"

Maya nodded, taking another sip of her ginger ale. The thought of the appointment was still not enjoyable, but she decided maybe it would distract her from her worry about Carina.

As Andrew came out of the room with a fussy Marina, Maya looked up, her eyebrows furrowing in concern. The sound of her daughter's cries tugged at her heart strings, and her instincts as a mother kicked in.

"Is she okay?" Maya asked, concern lacing her voice as she took Marina from Andrew's arms.

Andrew shrugged, clearly struggling. "She won't stop crying."

Maya gently rocked the baby in her arms, bouncing her slightly. She could feel Marina's tense little body, and it broke her heart. She hated seeing her daughter upset like this, especially with so much else going on.