Chapter 143: So Ugly

"Now you need to focus on feeling the contractions. The cervix should be fully dilated soon, and when the contractions hit, you must push."
"Mm."
The pregnant woman seemed to regain her strength, and Qiao Qingyun began instructing the two of them as she walked over.
Taking advantage of the time while the pregnant woman could still conserve her stamina, Qiao Qingyun wanted to make sure they understood under what circumstances this type of regional anesthesia should be used.
"Teacher, will this pain-relief injection affect the baby's health?"
Before Qiao Qingyun could speak, Chun Cheng interrupted with his question. She rubbed her head helplessly, "If it affected the baby, do you think I would use it?"
Chun Cheng: ......
"Then in what specific situations do we need to use this kind of regional anesthesia?" Xu Lu asked the crucial question, and Qiao Qingyun immediately replied, "Whenever lower body surgery is required, and during natural childbirth."
"Childbirth is divided into two types: natural delivery and cesarean section. If it's a cesarean section, an incision must be made across the abdomen, cutting through a total of seven layers to take the baby out, and then stitching it back up."
"This is when your technical skills are put to the test. Furthermore, in specific delivery situations such as premature labor, when the pain is unbearable and wastes a tremendous amount of stamina, pain relief needs to be used."
Qiao Qingyun explained once, finally making her two apprentices understand.
She checked on the progress of the pregnant woman's dilation from time to time.
Fortunately, the situation wasn't bad; everything was fully dilated shortly after.
"Keep it up! At this point, it all depends on you!"
Qiao Qingyun encouraged the pregnant woman, even helping her adjust her lying position. No matter the posture, as long as the pregnant woman could exert her strength effectively, they were willing to adjust it.
"No! I don't think the baby can come out! I can't do it!"
The pregnant woman was very young, shaking her head at Qiao Qingyun with a face full of self-doubt.
Xu Lu anxiously looked around and urged, "Hurry up, push! If you don't, the baby's life will be in danger shortly!"
"No! My baby won't lose its life!"
The pregnant woman grew anxious upon hearing this. After nine months of pregnancy, how could it just vanish like that?
Qiao Qingyun quickly comforted her, "Think about it, you are about to meet your baby. As long as you keep pushing, you won't feel pain right now, only the contractions. Feel the contractions and push with them, and the baby will be born very soon!"
Hearing Qiao Qingyun's words, the pregnant woman seemed instantly energized. She understood very well how to conserve her stamina and then forcefully strained her lower abdomen.
"Hey! It's coming out, it's coming out! The head is about the size of a quail egg!"
Xu Lu eagerly encouraged her, and Qiao Qingyun also chimed in, "You are the strongest, and you are about to become the most magnificent person. You will become the mother of the child in your belly. Boy or girl, isn't it your precious treasure?"
"Ah!"
The pregnant woman clenched her teeth for a final, desperate struggle.
Her physical strength was being consumed at an immense rate, and she continuously found ways to push downward.
After a good while, Xu Lu spoke up again, "The shoulders are out! The shoulders are out! Hurry! Push a little harder!"
"Ah!"
Another scream echoed, followed immediately by the crying of the newborn.
Qiao Qingyun hurriedly checked the pregnant woman's condition. Thanks to the blood transfusion and nutrient solution, her body was in stable condition, so the baby was handed over to Xu Lu.
"Teacher, what should we do with the baby?"
Having never given birth before and seeing a baby covered in vernix for the first time, how could she possibly know where to start?
"Go check if there is amniotic fluid in its mouth and nose. Use a nasal aspirator to clear it—the kind that suctions water."
"Okay."
Xu Lu nodded repeatedly. Together with Chun Cheng, they flurriedly handled the baby and flicked the sole of its foot.
"Waa!"
A loud cry rang out, even louder than the sound when it was just delivered from the womb!
Without spare time to look at the baby, Qiao Qingyun immediately had the two take a simple bath, while she stayed behind to suture the pregnant woman's tear with catgut.
After quite a flurry of activity, Qiao Qingyun finally breathed a sigh of relief. With Chun Cheng's help, she wheeled the pregnant woman into the ward.
When she walked out holding the soft, tiny baby in her arms, Hong Ying, Yuan Zaichun, and Liu Fu had not left yet!
"County Princess, how is it?"
Hearing the intense commotion inside the operating room from downstairs, they hurried over to ask.
The woman proudly raised her chin, "With me here, nothing will go wrong. The baby is born, but due to premature birth, it will probably need even more meticulous care."
"The baby?"
Yuan Zaichun had thought someone was seriously injured, which explained the miserable screams during the treatment.
Upon hearing the word "baby," her feet began to move involuntarily, and she hurried upstairs.
Coming to Qiao Qingyun's side and looking down, wasn't there indeed a little creature resting in the swaddling clothes that hadn't fully grown yet?
"So ugly."
Yuan Zaichun frowned in disgust. Qiao Qingyun glared at her without hesitation, "All newborns look like this. They get cuter as they grow."
"Really?" Clearly, Yuan Zaichun didn't believe it.
"Of course it's true!"
Qiao Qingyun patted her chest with certainty and brought the baby into the ward.
After all the tossing and turning, Qiao Qingyun was physically and mentally exhausted. Unable to worry about Yuan Zaichun and the others, she pulled Hong Ying into the ward and casually found two beds to lie down and rest.
Early the next morning, as Qiao Qingyun opened her eyes, she suddenly heard footsteps in the room. She made a sudden move to get up, accidentally pulling the wound on her shoulder and turning her face pale with pain.
"Hiss!"
"County Princess."
Zhong Shi walked over in a panic, reaching out to support Qiao Qingyun's arm, staring at her with a face full of worry, "How are you?"
"Oh, it's you. You could have given a heads-up when coming in the morning; you scared me into thinking someone was coming to assassinate me again."
Hearing this, Zhong Shi nodded with a hint of self-reproach, "This subordinate was unthoughtful."
"Alright, alright, let's go. Since you're already here, come with me to see that child."
Supported by Zhong Shi, Qiao Qingyun walked straight to the ward.
Pushing the door open, she heard the baby crying. The young mother had a rather good temper and was lowering her head to coax the little doll in her arms.
"Eh? It's you."
The young girl lying on the bed saw Qiao Qingyun and smiled broadly.
She remembered how Qiao Qingyun had encouraged her yesterday; otherwise, the baby might not have survived until now.
"Mm, how do you feel? We used some anesthetic on the tear yesterday. Has the effect worn off yet?"
Qiao Qingyun picked up the record on the side, checked her name, and quickly asked.
"Much better. I don't feel any pain right now, it's just... it seems there isn't much milk."
After all, Zhong Shi, a grown man, had also entered, making it terribly embarrassing to say such things.
"No milk?" Qiao Qingyun frowned, glanced at the furnishings in the room designed specifically for pregnant women and capable of accommodating a baby, and asked, "Have you had breakfast?"