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“Yeah,” Sarah said, “my ankles swelled up too, around the same time as my hands. I know that’s normal for being pregnant, though.”
Saff laid the blanket back down on top of her feet. “Have you noticed any changes in your vision?”
Sarah tilted her head to the side. “What do you mean?”
“Any blurriness that you didn’t have before? Or seeing any type of flashing lights or spots?”
Sarah hummed, tilting her head in thought. “I don’t think so.”
Saff turned to the older woman. “Do you have a flashlight here?” she asked.
She nodded, then disappeared into one of the connected rooms.
“How far along are you?” Saff asked, turning back to Sarah.
“I’m not really sure,” she answered with an embarrassed look. “I think I have to be at least past thirty-six weeks though, if I had to guess.”
Saff would have guessed closer to thirty-eight with how large she was. “When was the last time you felt the baby kick?”
“Just a few minutes ago,” Sarah answered with a small smile as she gently patted her belly.
Saff returned the smile. That was the answer she’d been hoping for.
The older woman reemerged, holding a small flashlight along with a stethoscope. “Just in case you need it,” she said, handing her the items.
Saff placed the stethoscope around her neck, and again, the familiar weight felt somewhat surreal.
“Is it okay if I shine this light into your eyes?”
Sarah nodded. “Yeah, whatever you need to do.”
Saff clicked the flashlight on. “Just look straight ahead.”
She drifted the light back and forth, and Sarah instantly squinted, looking away as she put a hand up to her forehead.
“Sorry,” she muttered with an apologetic frown. “It’s just this headache.”
Saff clicked the flashlight off. “Did you feel some pain when the light shined into your eyes?”
Sarah nodded.
Saff reached out, handing the flashlight back to the woman. “Have you felt any sharp pains in your stomach?”
Sarah smiled. “Yeah, every time they kick me in the ribs.”
Saff gave her a small, understanding smile. “What about when they’re not kicking or moving at all?”
Sarah thought for a moment. “No, I don’t think so. Or at least not anything that I’ve noticed.”
“Do you mind if I feel the top of your stomach?”
“Yeah, go ahead.” Sarah pulled the blanket down off of her stomach.
Saff placed her hands near the top of the bump. She pushed down gently, then moved to another spot and repeated a few more times.
Then she pulled the stethoscope off from around her neck, placing the ends into her ears before holding the metal end up to Sarah’s stomach. It took her a minute to hear the baby’s heartbeat, and when she did, she realized it was just slightly too fast.
She listened for a moment longer, then pulled the tool away and wrapped it back around her neck, clearing her throat. “Sarah, do you know what pre-eclampsia is?”