A young pregnant woman is lying in a hospital bed.  She is draped in a hospital gown, naked underneath.   She is flat on her back, staring at the ceiling.  Her heart is racing.   Body tense.  She is anxious, and loud, and uncooperative.

“Just relax.  We need to check your cervix to see how far along you are.  Miss, please calm down.  You need to open your legs so we can examine you.  RELAX!  This will not hurt.  It will only take a second.  Please, just RELAX!  If you think this is painful wait until you start pushing.  Calm down.”

Nurses’ Station: Idle chatter by doctors, residents, nurses, med students, secretaries, etc.  “Can you believe that lady?”  “You would think she was a virgin.”  “How did she get pregnant in the first place?”  “Yeah, like my finger is the only thing that’s ever been inside her!  ha ha ha!.”  “What until she starts crowning.  We will have to put her in leather restraints!”

Chatter ends in the diet coke, coffee strewn nurses station.  The staff go about their lives.  Admitting the next patient, planning for the weekend, moving forward.

Hospital Room: A young pregnant woman is lying curled up on her side.  She is scared, and quiet, and submissive.  She is now the child told to be quiet, told not to tell.  She is the young woman in the dorm room, who said no.  She is the woman left to die in the alley.  She is the cut woman bleeding on the dirt floor of her hut.  She is moving backwards.

Just Relax

RR