05-04-2024, 10:27 AM
“Dr. Lim, Commander Talion had mentioned something about Cryo Stasis, that you could place the fetus in Cryo Stasis until I’m ready to be a mother. Is that possible? If not, what other options are available?” Replied Jez, her tone at best uncertain.
Dr Lois Lim's blood boiled when she heard that Commander Talion had been giving medical advice to a young pregnant woman who was in an emotional whirlpool. Scientist or not, how dare he!. But this was not the time to take the well-meaning Commander Talion to task and possibly destroy Jez's faith in a relationship which Lois could see was developing into friendship. She was very aware that she needed to be professional and detached from the emotions of the situation. Jez was now seeking appropriate medical advice, and Lois knew that was a step in the right direction and she'd best not blow it with an out bust of rage toward the good-natured, but inappropriately good-meaning, Commander Talion.
Lois began with a calm and clear voice, hoping that her facial expression and body language at this moment had not given away her rage at Commander Talion who stood a meter or so away from the good doctor.
"Well Jez, yes there are a number of options, and there are three people involved here, yourself, the baby and the father, who need to be considered. Yes, Cryo statis is one option, but there are, as with all the options, some inherent risks for yourself and the baby and moral issues that you would need to consider before taking that step," Dr Lim said.
"Termination is another option. Again, it has its inherent risks for both you and the baby and morally that you would need, I'm not sure what the right word to use here is, but let's say 'to be comfortable with', if you decided on that option. Adoption is another and/or having a carer for the baby, a relative or friend is another option that needs to be thought through," Dr Lim continued.
Lim was slowly coming to the hard end of this preliminary conversation. "Carrying the baby to birth is another option, it has risks as well and there are a number of protocols that would come into play on a Federation Star Ship as a Federation officer who is pregnant. Your pregnancy is in a very early stage, so you have time to think seriously through them, some of these options are time sensitive, in other words the longer you wait the higher the risks."
"I would also recommend seeking help from the ship's counselor or someone who has skills to help you talk about your feelings and emotions before making a decision. Perhaps even talking to some of the mothers on the ship, your mother perhaps, those who have experience of child birth and raising children on a Starship. It would give you a broader, more long term perspective. And of course, discussing them with the father. It is his child as much as yours, at least give him the option to be involved or not."
"I know this is overwhelming, a lot to take in, Jez. I am available for you to talk through the details of these options, benefits and risks, or anything else." Dr Lim was almost finished, there was just one more issue to be explained. This one was often a shock to some officers, they often felt they were being treated with kid gloves for no good reason.
Lois hesitated before she began to speak, searching for the words. She had the words for the medical stuff, but this wasn't medical. It was rules, standard procedure and it only affected women who were pregnant. Discrimination? No. It just the way it is with females because they're female.
"There is another consideration that I wonder if you are aware of, and that is the effect this pregnancy has on you and your career, because at some stage soon, if you do not, I will need to inform the captain and your department head, that you are pregnant. The captain, as do all of us on this ship, has a duty of care for all the members of the crew. In your case, that duty of care prescribes that you would be put on light duties only and it would significantly restrict your active duties, especially being a security officer. No away missions, no duties where there is any possibility that harm may come to you or your baby. You may even be taken off the active-duty roster altogether, depending on the circumstance that prevails at any specific time."
Lois waited a long time for that all to sink in. The noises of sickbay became louder in the silence that prevailed in their little corner. The Chief Medical officer, with a hint of sadness sounding, finally spoke, "I'm sorry Jez, this is a military organisation, like it or not, and these are the rules. If you want to talk more about this, my door is always open."
== Tag all this little group in a little corner of sickbay ==
Dr Lois Lim's blood boiled when she heard that Commander Talion had been giving medical advice to a young pregnant woman who was in an emotional whirlpool. Scientist or not, how dare he!. But this was not the time to take the well-meaning Commander Talion to task and possibly destroy Jez's faith in a relationship which Lois could see was developing into friendship. She was very aware that she needed to be professional and detached from the emotions of the situation. Jez was now seeking appropriate medical advice, and Lois knew that was a step in the right direction and she'd best not blow it with an out bust of rage toward the good-natured, but inappropriately good-meaning, Commander Talion.
Lois began with a calm and clear voice, hoping that her facial expression and body language at this moment had not given away her rage at Commander Talion who stood a meter or so away from the good doctor.
"Well Jez, yes there are a number of options, and there are three people involved here, yourself, the baby and the father, who need to be considered. Yes, Cryo statis is one option, but there are, as with all the options, some inherent risks for yourself and the baby and moral issues that you would need to consider before taking that step," Dr Lim said.
"Termination is another option. Again, it has its inherent risks for both you and the baby and morally that you would need, I'm not sure what the right word to use here is, but let's say 'to be comfortable with', if you decided on that option. Adoption is another and/or having a carer for the baby, a relative or friend is another option that needs to be thought through," Dr Lim continued.
Lim was slowly coming to the hard end of this preliminary conversation. "Carrying the baby to birth is another option, it has risks as well and there are a number of protocols that would come into play on a Federation Star Ship as a Federation officer who is pregnant. Your pregnancy is in a very early stage, so you have time to think seriously through them, some of these options are time sensitive, in other words the longer you wait the higher the risks."
"I would also recommend seeking help from the ship's counselor or someone who has skills to help you talk about your feelings and emotions before making a decision. Perhaps even talking to some of the mothers on the ship, your mother perhaps, those who have experience of child birth and raising children on a Starship. It would give you a broader, more long term perspective. And of course, discussing them with the father. It is his child as much as yours, at least give him the option to be involved or not."
"I know this is overwhelming, a lot to take in, Jez. I am available for you to talk through the details of these options, benefits and risks, or anything else." Dr Lim was almost finished, there was just one more issue to be explained. This one was often a shock to some officers, they often felt they were being treated with kid gloves for no good reason.
Lois hesitated before she began to speak, searching for the words. She had the words for the medical stuff, but this wasn't medical. It was rules, standard procedure and it only affected women who were pregnant. Discrimination? No. It just the way it is with females because they're female.
"There is another consideration that I wonder if you are aware of, and that is the effect this pregnancy has on you and your career, because at some stage soon, if you do not, I will need to inform the captain and your department head, that you are pregnant. The captain, as do all of us on this ship, has a duty of care for all the members of the crew. In your case, that duty of care prescribes that you would be put on light duties only and it would significantly restrict your active duties, especially being a security officer. No away missions, no duties where there is any possibility that harm may come to you or your baby. You may even be taken off the active-duty roster altogether, depending on the circumstance that prevails at any specific time."
Lois waited a long time for that all to sink in. The noises of sickbay became louder in the silence that prevailed in their little corner. The Chief Medical officer, with a hint of sadness sounding, finally spoke, "I'm sorry Jez, this is a military organisation, like it or not, and these are the rules. If you want to talk more about this, my door is always open."
== Tag all this little group in a little corner of sickbay ==