The new week brought warmer weather and a significant milestone: thirty weeks pregnant.
Aria had been on modified bed rest for two weeks, and while she absolutely hated the restrictions, she couldn't deny the results. Her back pain had improved dramatically. The sharp, shooting pains that had left her unable to stand were gone, replaced by a dull ache that was manageable with heating pads and careful positioning.
She'd learned to work efficiently from the couch, with her laptop propped on a pregnancy pillow, completing assignments while horizontal. It wasn't ideal, but it worked. And more importantly, it kept Emma safe.
At her thirty-week appointment, Dr. Chen seemed genuinely pleased for the first time in weeks.
"Much better," she said, reviewing Aria's chart. "Your blood pressure is
