The Nurse's Newborn Gift by Wendy S. Marcus Page A

baby.”
    She slid him a look. “You don’t know that.”
    That’s right. He didn’t, at least not for sure. But according to his research, the average birth weight for babies was seven and a half pounds, with a range of five and a half pounds on the low end of normal and ten pounds on the high end. Since, even pregnant, Krissy was on the small side, he’d guess her baby would be on the small side too.
    â€œAll this talk about individualized birth plans and creating the experience you want. A bunch of bull.” She waved off the idea. “I told my doctor I wanted the unconscious plan. A scheduled cesarean, so I know when J.J. is coming. General anesthesia, so I can sleep through the painful parts and wake up relaxed and happy and ready to get started on the mother son bonding.”
    She may be scared, but she managed to be amusing at the same time. “General anesthesia, that’s your birth plan.” She had to be kidding. Although she didn’t look like she was kidding at all.
    â€œDon’t judge me, Spencer. I don’t like pain. Pain hurts. And to have to endure it for hours and hours and maybe days.” She wrapped her arms around herself and shivered. Then she shook her head. “Nuh-uh. Not for me.”
    â€œHow’d your doctor respond to your request for general anesthesia?”
    â€œHe laughed.” She looked like she couldn’t believe he’d had the nerve. “Like I was joking around. Well I wasn’t. I was totally serious.” She fidgeted with her necklace. “Then he told the nurse to sign me up for the next Lamaze class. I told him I wasn’t available this weekend but he told me to make myself available that he expected me to be here and would be very disappointed if I didn’t show up. Like a parent tells a child. ‘I’ll be very disappointed if you don’t show up,’” she mimicked in a deep, authoritative voice. Then she turned to look out the window. “I really don’t want to disappoint him but...maybe I should find a new doctor.”
    â€œYou don’t need a new doctor.” Spencer liked the guy, especially since he seemed to know how to handle patients like Krissy. “Maybe he wanted you to take this weekend’s class because he thinks you’re going to deliver early.”
    Krissy’s eyes went wide and all the color drained from her face. “Don’t say that. Don’t even think it.”
    â€œLamaze is supposed to teach you how to cope with the discomfort of contractions,” Spencer said, keeping his voice calm. “Give the class a chance. Maybe you’ll learn something. Maybe it’ll alleviate some of your fears.”
    â€œI doubt that.”
    He gave her hand a shake. “I promise to take you for a hot fudge sundae when it’s all over.” Her favorite, at least it used to be.
    â€œNo.” She shook her head and pulled her hand from his. “I’ve made up my mind. If my current OB-GYN won’t knock me out with medication, I’m going to find one who will. So all this Lamaze stuff is going to be a total waste of time that could be much better spent shopping for furniture and baby stuff.”
    â€œAs a nurse you know natural childbirth is best for the baby.”
    She turned to look at him, or, more specifically, to stare down at his crotch. “Hmmm. What do you think we could do to you to simulate what natural childbirth might feel like?” She smiled sweetly. “Then we can talk about natural childbirth.”
    Okay. Not going there.
    â€œI have seen women give birth,” she said. “I have listened to their screams on the Labor and Delivery floor. I have actually witnessed the birthing process, live and in person. I can tell you, in no uncertain terms, nothing short of knowing I will be heavily medicated so I can sleep through delivery, will put my mind at ease.”
    â€œKrissy,” he