Clara found it hard to sit still in the waiting room, impatiently jiggling her legs until she finally heard one of the assistants call out her name. She was led into a sterile room with a desk, two chairs and an examination table and sat down reluctantly. Telling herself to keep calm Clara took a series of deep breaths. A few moments later a friendly looking man entered the room who seemed to be just a few years away from his retirement. He greeted Clara with a firm handshake.
“Clara Oswald,” he read from a sheet of paper that she had filled out earlier in the waiting room while he took the seat at the other side of the desk, “What can I do for you?”
Clara inhaled sharply. “I, erm, I think it might be possible that I'm pregnant.”
“Okay,” the doctor smiled at her, “How long has it been since your last period?”
“That was around Christmas,” Clara replied, “But it's usually very irregular. Missing a month or two happens.”
He nodded. “And when do you think you and your, erm,” the doctor looked back down at the piece of paper.
“I'm not married. Double checking won't change my marital status,” Clara said defensively, “I think it must have happened in early January.”
The doctor smiled at her again. “There is a laboratory test that can be done for which we need a urine sample and you will get the results in a couple of days.”
“A couple of days?!” Clara blurted out in panic, “I can't wait that long! I need to know now!”
The doctor sighed. “I can understand that you are impatient but-”
“No, you don't understand,” she said angrily, “I can't tell my boyfriend unless I know for sure and I can't keep this a secret from him either. I need to know!”
“Well,” the man paused, “I guess I could try hearing for a heartbeat. If the baby was conceived in early January there is tiny, little chance we might be able to hear that but if we don't hear anything you could still be pregnant. It's too early to be sure.”
“Try it then,” Clara told him.
“Have you been experiencing any of the common pregnancy symptoms? Dizziness? Nausea, especially in the mornings? Do you feel more tired than usual? Craving or aversion of certain foods?”
Clara tried to think back the past few weeks. She had been feeling dizzy and nauseous on occasions, yes, and she was also tired although she had so far blamed that on her nightly activities with John. And she did hate the smell of the diner food lately, that was why she had taken up cooking at home.
Slowly Clara nodded.
“Alright,” the doctor said, “I will try to hear for a heartbeat, but like I said, it is highly unlikely we will be able to hear anything. Please, uncover your stomach and sit on the table.”
Clara untucked her blouse from her shirt and walked over to sit on the examination table while the doctor reached for his stethoscope. A few moments later he knelt down next to her and pressed the cold metal onto her skin.
“Relax,” the man told her, “Just breathe normally.”
Clara did as she was told and closed her eyes, trying very hard to relax but failing. There was no way she could relax now. Not until she knew for sure. A couple of days. She couldn't wait any longer.
The doctor let out a small laugh.
“What?” Clara asked immediately, “What is it?”
“This is really rare, Miss Oswald. I can hear it. It is very faint but it's definitely there,” the doctor took the stethoscope out of his ears and came to stand next to her, “Congratulations, I am very sure that you are with child.”
“What?!”