Taylor's POV
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When comparing Private healthcare to state hospitals, they are what champagne is to Prosecco. The foyer is fancy, much more like heading into a spa or resort rather than your family planning clinic.
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"Ciao, abbiamo un appuntamento" Jay says and I look at him shocked. He suppresses his laughter and I grin holding onto Henry.
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The receptionist, an older lady with a warm smile and dark hair, speaks back to him in fluent Italian, he nods and smiles. He thanks her in Italian and guides me over to a waiting area.
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"So Italian too huh?" I ask him, taking in the air conditioned waiting area. The cream leather sofas, and the glass table with various publications and magazines on.
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"Fluent" he says smirking at me.
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"I mean how!? I'm beginning to feel like I don't even know my husband" I say laughing.
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"Well" he begins stroking my thigh in my shorts.
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"My dad's mother, mia nonna, was Italian. And so when she looked after me when I was very young she spoke to me in Italian" he laughs.
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I glance up at him, noticing how he completely cancels out my anxiety, usually appointments render me into a blathering, worrying idiot. But with Jay, I'm safe. I hold onto his white shirt, his sleeves are rolled up and he’s wearing tan chino trousers. He smells like his cologne, and I love him. Everything about him comforts me.
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"She passed when I was six" he says softly and I stroke his arm.
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"I'm sorry" I tell him and he smiles, stroking my face briefly.
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"My dad loved her talking Italian to me, always wanted me to be bilingual. It's good for business" he laughs slightly.
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He rubs my waist feeling the little kicks again and I smile resting my head into his neck.
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“Mr and Mrs Gilbert Scott” a nurse calls out and he helps me up. The nurse guides us through a hall which has various pictures of babies and pregnancy bumps on the wall. She asks us a question in fluent Italian, and when I look perplexed she turns to Jay and he smiles answering.
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“She’s asking how far along we are” he smirks.
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“I said around 22 weeks, that’s why she looked at bump with a wry smile. Baby is big for this gestation” he explains and I smile at him.
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“Think I could be further along than we had assumed?” I comment and he smiles pushing his hair back.
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Opening the door to a low lit room with two cream sofas and a bed, we follow her in and she speaks with Jay mostly about our concerns. There are a few words that I know and pick out in order to keep track of the conversation. Other than that I’m not fluent in Italian, and so I feel like a bit of a numpty who can’t speak the native language.
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“The nurse is going to check the heartbeat, and then we’re going to see the baby” he explains to me and he kisses my forehead.
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The nurse, indicates that I sit on the bed. Jay helps me up as the nurse goes to grab the doppler. She returns just as I’ve pulled my top up to reveal my baby bump, Jay is resisting kissing me all over I can just feel his needs and I smile at him holding his hand.
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The doppler registers a strong heartbeat, and the nurse smiles satisfied with her findings.
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“The same” she says attempting some English for my sake and I grin at her.
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“130” she adds, having checked out the notes Jay supplied her with from our maternity pack.
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I lay back on the bed and he comes to stand by my side near my head. He strokes my hair back and kisses me lightly as she goes to turn on the screen.
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“You are fine” he smiles down at me.
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“What a strong heartbeat” he says and he kisses me again, his eyes glassy from tears.
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“Fredda” she smiles at me as I feel the cold gel swirl around my tummy.
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Before our eyes baby is shown on the screen, in full 3D. I sob in amazement Jay holding onto my hand. Henry is yawning, and moving around in my womb.
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“He’s wonderful” Jay says wiping his eyes, he looks down at me as if I’m giving him the entire universe. The bearer of everything good and wondrous.
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“He’s beautiful, and he looks like you” I smile looking at him.
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“Il bambino è più della gestazione a cui sei stato portato a credere” the nurse comments looking over the ultrasound, the organs and the development of our little baby.
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“She’s saying that 3d scans are more accurate, that she is better able to see the development of our baby. And that he or she is further along than we had been led to believe” Jay paraphrases for me.
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“How far along are we” I ask him wiping my eyes at my little baby sucking his thumb. It’s clearly a boy.
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“We’re around 28 weeks” Jay says smiling down at me.
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“Babies movements are fine, he’s just bigger and running out of room” he explains to me. I wipe my eyes as the nurse wipes my belly clear of the gel.
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“We definitely need to write up that birth plan” he smiles at me.
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“That’s the third trimester” I say to him, so pleased that we got here.
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“Ti piacerebbe fare un tour della sala parto qui?” she asks simply and Jay nods.
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“She has suggested we tour the birthing suite” he smiles.
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“It will help us to make an informed choice if we see the options ahead of us, Taylor we could stay and…” he says smiling at me.
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I step down off of the bed and he takes my hands in his own.
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“We could have the baby here” he whispers and I smile up at him.
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“We could” I smile and stroke his face.
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“It’s only possibly ten or so weeks away, mon amore” he smiles.
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We follow the nurse further down the white corridor. Eventually we reach a reception area, and then we continue past several rooms which are occupied. The echoes of women in various stages of labour calling out, bells dinging and machines bleeping. I glance up at Jay and he strokes my hand.
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She opens the door to a room which is not in use. In the centre of the room is a pool, not currently filled with water. The lighting is low and the atmosphere is calm. You wouldn’t believe you were in a hospital, at all.
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“This is a popular option, however should there be any complications, then this is not advisable.” He paraphrases.
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“Like she means if you need to be closely monitored you cannot be in the water” he explains to me.
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I nod liking the idea of being in the pool the entire time. Jay holding me from the side.
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“Bikini tops are allowed by the way” he explains as we walk off to another room. I smile at him, how he manages to make light of everything reassures me.
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The next room is more of a traditional hospital room, full of equipment and a huge bed. I wince as she shows us some kind of leg harness. Hearing a woman calling out from the room next door.
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“She’s explaining that the birth plan details our wishes for the birth, they will always advise us should we need more medical intervention. Like a c section for example” he explains and I hold onto him.
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“Pain relief, like gas and air, epidural we can include in the plan too” he says and I smile at him.
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I smile at the nurse and thank her for showing us the options. She beams back at me, explaining that she hopes to see us again soon.
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Having a lot to think about and consider, for the arrival of our first child, Jay drives us out to lunch. Holding my hand in his as he navigates the winding streets all the way back to the Amalfi coast.
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