52 – Linda’s Delivery
In Cotton’s bedroom, Linda was moaning softly.
Grandma Bianca, who arrived early, had laid out clean sheets on the floor.
She had warm water in a bucket.
“You’re here, it’s starting.”
Serious-faced Grandma Bianca!
I asked Grandma Bianca.
“How long has the labor been going on?”
“Not long, about an hour.”
An hour.
We still have a long way to go.
Right now, it’s just the beginning of labor.
Labor typically lasts about 12-14 hours before childbirth.
For experienced mothers, labor is much shorter.
Linda is a first-time mother.
For first-time mothers like Linda, it’s an average of 12-14 hours.
“Linda, are you in a lot of pain?”
Linda furrowed her brow lightly as she lay on the bed.
“It’s bearable.”
The pain intensifies as time passes.
Since the labor has just begun, Linda seems to be bearing it well.
“Kim Cheol-soo, I brought a special paste and a drink. It’s birch bark boiled water. If it’s too hard to bear, let me know.”
“…Yes.”
“Phew! First, let’s see how the baby is positioned.”
The baby is currently in the uterus.
Checking whether the baby’s head is down towards the cervix or if the baby’s feet are down towards the cervix.
Depending on the baby’s position, the childbirth approach will vary!
The so-called Leopold maneuver.
I gently palpated Linda’s abdomen from below with both hands.
There’s a lump that my hands can feel, which is the baby.
“Phew, it reminds me of what we used to do at school.”
I learned about childbirth nursing in nursing school.
I practiced on the mannequin and received a lot of evaluation.
I remember vividly when the practical instructor dubbed the pregnant mannequin, it felt so real that I lost my mind.
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But this is real.
I have never worked in obstetrics and gynecology.
The sight of Linda sweating profusely felt so real.
Catherine looked worried, and Cotton looked unwell.
I understand their worries.
The maternal mortality rate during childbirth in this era is 25%!
It’s not some Russian roulette; it’s an alarmingly high death rate.
What I have to do is to save both Linda and the baby!
“Pull yourself together.”
Childbirth is a long process.
As mentioned earlier, labor before childbirth takes 12-14 hours.
It’s only after 12-14 hours that the amniotic sac ruptures and the baby begins to come out.
That’s when it gets real.
Thankfully, Grandma Bianca is a certified midwife, half-believable.
It’s a folk remedy, so who knows.
Catherine says it’s her first time assisting in childbirth.
In reality, I am the one with the knowledge of modern childbirth.
I need to get it together.
I finally finished stimulating Linda’s abdomen.
“Whew!”
When I touched Linda’s abdomen, I found that the baby’s head was pointing downward.
The baby’s head is descending into the cervix.
The baby’s feet and legs are pointing upward.
During childbirth, the baby will come out headfirst from the vaginal opening.
“The baby will come out headfirst.”
Grandma Bianca’s eyes sparkled at my words.
“…Do you know that? Do you have experience in childbirth?”
“Haha… I studied a bit of medicine in my hometown. I don’t know much.”
I’ve never experienced actual childbirth!
There’s a big difference between knowing theoretical knowledge and actually experiencing it.
But Grandma Bianca seemed to like me.
“You may be famous as a healer, but honestly, I thought you’d be no good in childbirth… Can I trust you on this?”
“I am very inexperienced. I ask for much teaching.”
“Don’t worry. I will do my best.”
Count Roland and the villagers have a strong bond.
Even if they are not related by blood, they have a strong sense of community, belonging, and family.
We are all one!
Cotton kept bowing his head to me and Grandma Bianca.
“Please help my wife, Bianca Grandma. Mr. Cheolsoo.”
“Of course.”
“Phew! I will do my best.”
We were determined!
* * * *
Time passed.
Linda’s labor pains began to intensify.
Linda was in so much distress that she lay on her side and was given boiled birch bark water, which helped momentarily.
But Linda suffered from labor pains again.
The frequency of the contractions was increasing.
“Uh, uh…”
“Kim Cheolsoo, Linda’s breathing rate is only 9 breaths per minute. It’s slow, isn’t it…?”
Miss Catherine checked Linda’s pulse, temperature, and respiration rate in real-time, wearing a puzzled expression.
“It’s because of the pain. Normally, her breathing rate should come down to about 10 breaths per minute. However, it’s difficult to just sit and watch. Linda, try breathing with rounded lips, like this: ‘hee-hee-hoo.’ Breathe shortly for ‘hee’ and deeply for ‘hoo’.”
“Uh… okay… hee… hee-hoo…”
I tried to tell Linda every good method I knew!
When Linda was in too much distress, I gave her Kim Cheolsoo’s special painkiller (boiled birch bark water) to drink.
Her complexion improved only when she had the painkiller.
Has it been 9 hours now?
One minute feels so long.
At this stage, just before childbirth, there wasn’t much for the medical staff to do.
Normally, the mother would be left in the delivery room until it was time.
We were just taking care of Linda in real-time.
“Take a short break and come back.”
Bianca Grandma told me.
As the treatment time lengthened, I was physically reaching my limit.
But I shook my head.
“The childbirth will start soon. I’ll just keep watch here.”
“Childbirth is a matter of strength. If you overdo it, you’ll feel dizzy during Linda’s delivery.”
“…”
“Yes, Kim Cheolsoo. Rest for a while and come back. I’ll wake you up in about 2 hours.”
Miss Catherine also tried to send me away.
“Hehe, Miss Catherine, you should rest for a while too. This old lady will keep watch.”
“Umm…”
Bianca Grandma nodded, allowing both me and Miss Catherine to rest for a while!
Cotton, who had been gazing down at Linda with a serious expression, quickly got up and gave us a space to rest, so I lay on the bed, forcing myself to relax.
“Sigh…”
Honestly, I was so nervous that I couldn’t sleep at all.
I just wanted the childbirth to be over quickly…
Miss Catherine also seemed unable to sleep, as she tightly held my hand and let out deep sighs.
“Hoo… Kim Chul-su, childbirth is really tough.”
“Yes, it is. It’s a war for pregnant women, families, and healthcare professionals alike.”
“I’ll also go through pregnancy and childbirth someday… I’m scared, Kim Chul-su.”
“Oh, Miss…”
I firmly held Catherine’s slightly trembling but warm hand!
I can sense her feelings towards me.
Even though I’m a man and can’t fully empathize with the feeling of not being able to give birth.
I can understand and be considerate.
“Let’s make Linda’s childbirth this time a success.”
“Kim Chul-su?”
“We will overcome this hardship…because it’s for a new life.”
If we overcome this hardship, Catherine’s fear of childbirth will also diminish a little!
I will make it happen, Catherine.
Please don’t be afraid of childbirth!
“…Okay!”
Catherine responded to my fervent determination!
“Ugh!”
Just as we regained our composure, Linda let out a piercing scream!
Catherine and I, who were holding hands, stood up in surprise.
Linda’s scream was not ordinary.
How many hours have passed?
I don’t have a watch, so the concept of time is vague!
Catherine and I hurriedly rushed to the bedroom where Linda was.
Linda was twisting her body little by little, in pain.
Bianca, the grandmother, was sterilizing a white cloth with a more serious expression than ever!
“The amniotic sac has ruptured!”
The fetus will soon come down.
“Catherine!”
“Yes!”
Giiii!
Catherine and I activated our divine powers, sterilized our hands, and immediately approached Linda!
“The amniotic fluid has ruptured.”
“…You came at an incredible timing, young man.”
Between Linda’s legs, it was a mess of amniotic fluid and vaginal discharge.
Thanks to Bianca constantly wiping it clean with a cloth, it was somewhat improved.
When I inserted my gloved hand into Linda’s uterus, I could feel the baby’s head!
“Ugh! Ugh! My lower abdomen, my lower abdomen hurts so much!”
Linda screamed.
Phew, it was almost too late.
I quickly withdrew my hand and continued to sterilize while assessing Linda’s condition with my divine power.
The patient Linda’s face contorted as she continued to scream!
“Linda, take a deep breath. It seems hard for you to breathe right now, Mrs. Cotton! Linda, please hold my hand.”
“Got it, Mr. Cheolsu!”
Hastily approaching Linda, Cotton held Linda’s left hand with both of hers.
Linda’s whole body was tense.
Linda’s posture was that of a good birthing position, legs spread in a V shape.
Miss Catherine began to measure Linda’s breath, pulse, and temperature with Linda’s right hand.
But the baby was having difficulty coming out.
As Catherine reached into Linda’s womb, the baby got stuck in the descent.
‘What?’
Is it stuck in the pelvis? Or is Linda’s uterus contracting too strongly?
The baby was not descending!