Chronicle of the 70s-Chapter 313 - 302: Another Birth, Another Update

Qin Xi’s prenatal fear did not improve with her family’s comforting, but instead worsened by December, resulting in insomnia and headaches, leaving Li Xianglu dumbfounded, unsure whether to laugh or console.

They were the first batch of university students since the beginning of the school year in 1978, starting in April, and graduating by year’s end. In November, the school had already started their graduation defenses and job arrangements.

Pregnant, Li Xianglu postponed her graduation defense to the following April, which coincidentally would be the second month after her delivery, assuming she gave birth on schedule.

Li Xianglu’s due date was around January 20th, but by late December, due to her large belly, she was forced to be admitted to the hospital. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

The hospital recommended an early cesarean section as the twins were developing well but cramped in the womb, causing not only the mother discomfort but also some oxygen deprivation for the twins.

Therefore, after the examination, they scheduled the cesarean section for January 1st.

Su Yan, not confident in the current medical conditions and technology domestically, had half a month earlier arranged for an American Chinese obstetrician from Hong Kong to come over, a woman with a great reputation.

After thorough examinations, the foreign doctor actually recommended a natural birth. Li Xianglu, due to her good diet, had been taken for regular walks by Qin Xi since the fifth month, and the babies were correctly positioned, making vaginal birth feasible.

This differing diagnosis wasn’t due to any issue with the local diagnosis but reflects different medical system concepts from one country to another.

Abroad, mothers are generally encouraged to give natural birth for better recovery and it’s also better for the baby.

During natural birth, the baby experiences compression which, while stimulating the circulation in brain vessels, provides a better foundation for the respiratory center in the brain, facilitating the onset of breathing after birth.

Of course, the most painful part of natural childbirth is borne by the mother. Lu Anna took a whole day and night to deliver Xiao Min, so Qin Xi directly rejected this suggestion when hearing it.

The Chinese-American doctor, educated abroad, could not understand why the baby’s father disagreed, as it would be for the child’s betterment, although painful, recovery for the mother would be quicker.

Su Yan had to helplessly explain that the baby’s father was currently in a particularly bad state; waiting for a natural childbirth might mean having Li Xianglu in the hospital before Qin Xi.

The doctor was stunned upon hearing this.

Consequently, the foreign and Chinese doctors decided together to stick to the original plan of a cesarean section on January 1st.

Unexpectedly, the twins were eager and changed plans; on the evening of December 30th, preparing to get ready for her hospital stay the next day for the cesarean section, Li Xianglu experienced contractions.

At ten o’clock at night, Li Xianglu was enjoying some watermelon she had taken out from the Storage Ring; now, she didn’t avoid Qin Xi at all, boldly taking out off-season food or steaming hot meals.

After being startled multiple times before, Qin Xi was now much calmer. So, after ten, they sat in front of the cozy iron stove eating watermelon, which was a delightful moment.

While eating, Li Xianglu suddenly felt waves of pain in her stomach, an extremely strange kind of pain, as if her belly was being stretched open. With half a watermelon left, Li Xianglu hesitated, took a few more bites, and after finally finishing, she wiped her mouth, supported her belly with her hand, took a deep breath, and turned to Qin Xi who was eating melon beside her, "Qin Xi, I need to tell you something."

Qin Xi looked up, saw Li Xianglu’s face turn suddenly red and her hands holding her belly, and anxiously moved closer, asking, "What’s wrong with you?"

Bearing the pain, Li Xianglu smiled and said, "It’s nothing serious. Go get Grandma Su, something feels off."

What? Qin Xi’s face turned ghostly pale and the watermelon slipped from her hands with a smack and dropped to the ground. She moved forward to embrace Li Xianglu.

Li Xianglu, however, blocked Qin Xi by moving a step ahead and endured the expanding pain in her belly, saying, "Don’t hug me. It’s late at night. You go and get Grandma Su first. Tell her I think I’m about to give birth, then put everything into the trunk. We need to prepare to go to the hospital."

Upon hearing this, Qin Xi quickly composed herself and hurriedly ran to the front yard.

Li Xianglu dared not move and sat there breathing in and out to regulate herself. Fortunately, just as she thought, it was prenatal labor pain and childbirth was still some time away.

By the time Qin Xi arrived back with Su Yan flustered, Li Xianglu had already managed to put on her cotton coat. The watermelon rinds and the unfinished watermelon on the ground had disappeared, but she couldn’t put on her shoes because her belly was too large.

Su Yan waved her hand and directed the already panicked Qin Xi to help Li Xianglu with her shoes, and then called out for Hu Zi and Old Geng from the front yard.

Both had heard the commotion when Qin Xi had rushed out earlier and had been following behind. They immediately sprang into action.

Under the effective arrangements of Su Yan, Hu Zi drove the car while Su Yan and Old Geng supported Li Xianglu, and Qin Xi was arranged to sit in the front passenger seat.

Mr. Li at home was calling the several people who were not present today.

Coincidently, Li Huan and Xu Wu were both absent. Originally, they planned to be in the hospital early the next morning waiting, but who knew that Li Xianglu would experience early labor pains.

Fortunately, the hospital had already prepared the medication and surgery room for the next day. Almost upon arrival at the hospital, Li Xianglu was taken to the delivery room.

Qin Xi’s face was pale, but she insisted on accompanying her.

Doctors in China generally do not agree with family members entering, but the Chinese doctor thought it would help enhance the couple’s relationship and was reasonable.

Thus Qin Xi changed clothes and also entered.

However, Li Xianglu’s condition was not very good; the amniotic fluid was a bit low, and her blood pressure suddenly rose, necessitating an immediate cesarean section. Otherwise, both the baby and the mother would be in grave danger.

The Chinese doctor was very cautious, and despite the emergency, she rigorously conducted an anesthesia test on Li Xianglu.

The result was shocking. Li Xianglu was allergic to the anesthesia, and a row of red rashes quickly rose on her arm.

The Chinese doctor looked gravely serious. Unable to use anesthesia and with high blood pressure and low amniotic fluid, a cesarean section was imperative, otherwise both the child and the mother might get seriously harmed.

Li Xianglu was stunned upon learning of this situation; how unlucky could she be, but the clear movements that she could feel in her belly calmed her heart down immediately.

Since anesthesia could not be used, then just proceed without it.

Qin Xi’s face was pale, and all he could do at that moment was hold his wife’s hand tightly to encourage her.

Performing surgery without anesthesia was not something ordinary people could endure. To prevent Li Xianglu from heavy bleeding, the Chinese doctor had the hospital prepare plasma ahead of time. Xu Wu was a stubborn man; he directly brought four or five of his brothers along, and they extracted blood on the spot for reserve.