“Oh my God,” I say. “We’re having twins?”
“We’re having twins!” Asher shouts.
It looks like he was in shock and is just starting to believe the news himself.
He stands up and looks as if he’s going to bounce up and down. Instead, he extends his hand to Dr. Morris.
“Now can I shake your hand?”
“Or course,” Dr. Morris says, reaching out and meeting Asher’s hand. Asher pumps it wildly, deliriously. “Congratulations. I must say, this is a unique reaction.”
“My husband is very unique indeed,” I tell Dr. Morris, winking at Asher.
“Well, I’m certainly very happy for the two of you.”
I wish I could join Asher in jumping for joy but I’m a little tied up— in quite a different way than I’m usually tied up when I’m with Asher. As he sits back down, Dr. Morris switches the image over to a large projector in front of us.
“Now,” he says, “Since we know everything sounds good, we can look at things up closer on here.”
“I figured it was either twins, or an abnormally fast heartbeat,” the technician tells him. “I was really hoping it was the former, but didn’t want to…”
“Lead them down one direction or another without consulting me,” Dr. Morris says, nodding. “That was the right decision. You did well.”
“And I was also noticing…”
“Yes,” Dr. Morris says, pointing with an arrow to one part of the screen and taking a picture. “The cervix. I’m glad you mentioned that to me as well.”
He frowns, and Asher immediately says, “What is it, Doctor? Be straight with us. We already got the good news. Now give us the bad.”
“It’s probably not that bad,” Dr. Morris says, reassuringly. “It’s just that the cervix is a bit open for this stage in the pregnancy, and we need to keep an eye on it.”
“Keep an eye on it?” I ask.
“We’ll start you on some progesterone,” he tells me. “And we’ll schedule you for a follow up ultrasound in a month. If it opens much further we might need to do what’s called a curtilage, to stitch it close and further reinforce the cervix.”
“So worst case scenario, that’s all it’ll be?” Asher asks.
Dr. Morris frowns again.
“I never want to say ‘best’ or ‘worst’ case scenarios,” he says. “Because these things can be unpredictable. Best case is always a safe full term delivery of a healthy baby, of course. Or in your case, two healthy babies. Worst case scenario…”
He trails off, obviously not wanting to finish.
“Worse case scenario is always bad, always the exact opposite of that,” Asher says, bluntly. “I get that. But in this exact case, what could happen?”
“An open cervix could lead to premature labor or infection,” Dr. Morris says. I appreciate that he’s being a straight shooter. “But it really shouldn’t come to that. With medical monitoring and any intervention, if necessary—and it probably won’t even be necessary—you’ll be just fine.”
He’s looking at me now.
“Don’t lift anything heavier than fifteen pounds,” he instructs. “You can and should exercise but keep it moderate— walking rather than running, swimming rather than weightlifting.”
“Which of course would go against the first rule prohibiting more than fifteen pounds,” Asher jokes.
“Exactly,” Dr. Morris laughs.
Then he turns back to me.
“You can go about your daily life, you can even travel and work and do everything you normally would do,” he continues. “If there is any kind of a change that would warrant extra precautions or bedrest, we’ll let you know. But for now, that should do it. On your way out you can schedule your follow up ultrasound.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” Asher and I say in unison.
“I don’t mean to sound like a typical man,” Asher says. “But, can I ask…?”
“Oh yes,” Dr. Morris says, waving a hand in the air as if he already knows the question.
The ultrasound tech must know what Asher is asking too, because she blushes.
“It’s fine to engage in sexual activity,” Dr. Morris continues. “If we see anything at the next ultrasound that indicates otherwise, I’ll be sure to let you know.”
“So in other words, get a lot of it when we can, huh?” Asher asks me.
“Honey!” I swat at him playfully, and the ultrasound tech blushes even deeper.
“Oh, just one other word of precaution,” Dr. Morris adds, as almost an afterthought. “Sex really is fine because it gets those natural hormones going and gets blood flowing to all the right places and is a natural relaxant. But, with that being said, the opposite circumstance— a lack of relaxation, if you will— is not good. So try to avoid stressful situations.”
Asher and I both laugh out loud.
“What’s so funny?” Dr. Morris asks.
“You do realize I’m a lawyer, right? A trial lawyer?”
Now Dr. Morris laughs along with us, as does the technician, whom I’m no longer mad at. I’m glad she went and found Dr. Morris so we know exactly what’s up.
“Well, believe me, I know there’s only so much you can do to avoid stress in some professions,” Dr. Morris says. “But just try your best to take it easy.”
Asher massages my shoulders as I sit up, ready to start getting dressed.
“I’ll do everything I can to make that possible.”
“Thanks honey,” I say, as he leans down to kiss me.
I guess we really are this blessed. Doubly blessed. What started off as a scary day has become a wonderful one.