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Caesarean Section

Inside the house, the atmosphere was tense and serious, with only the crackling sounds of burning wood in the fire pot and the busy footsteps of the midwife echoing in the air.

Wei Lan quickly explained the situation to Ming Yi: “The feet are presenting first. The situation is extremely critical.”

Although Ming Yi had little experience in obstetrics, he was familiar with medical books and knew that a feet-first presentation almost always meant disaster, with survival chances being minimal. It often ended in tragedy, with both the mother and child dying. His face grew heavy, and he asked in a low voice, “Do you have a solution?”

Wei Lan pondered for a moment and then bluntly said, “I have a plan that might save the child’s life, but as for the mother… I’m not entirely sure.” A trace of hesitation flickered in her eyes.

Ming Yi urgently pressed, “What method?”

Wei Lan said, each word deliberate, “Caesarean section.”

The three simple words hit the hearts of everyone like a heavy hammer. The room seemed to freeze, and everyone held their breath. The only sound was the crackling of the firewood, which made the atmosphere even more intense.

Ming Yi was momentarily stunned, surprise flickering in his eyes, but soon his expression returned to one of determination. Though the method was filled with risk, it seemed to be the only chance for survival. He stared at Wei Lan and said, “Xiao Lan, I believe in you, and I believe in miracles.”

Li Chuniang’s son, upon hearing this, seemed frozen, his body stiff. He mechanically repeated, “Caesarean… caesarean…” Suddenly, the memory of his wife’s joyful smile when she first learned she was pregnant flashed before his eyes. That happy expression seemed to be relived, as if it had happened just yesterday. Now, they were discussing a caesarean section. Even if the child survived, how would his beloved wife endure this ordeal?

He suddenly screamed in desperation, “No! I absolutely forbid it!” His cry, filled with despair and unwillingness, reverberated in everyone’s ears.

Ming Yi quickly stepped forward and tried to calm him, “Right now, we have no choice but to fight with our lives. If we do nothing, both will certainly die, but if we act, there’s still a slim chance. What will you choose?”

These words were like a blow to the head, but Li Chuniang’s son fell deeper into confusion and helplessness, as if lost in the dark, asking himself if there was truly no other way.

His body trembled uncontrollably, tears welled up in his eyes, and eventually, unable to suppress it, he broke down, sobbing loudly, his voice hoarse as he repeated, “What should we do? What should we do?” In that moment, he could only leave everything to fate.

The other family members, hearing Ming Yi’s words, were already crying inconsolably. Their eyes were full of sorrow and reluctance, their faces etched with despair. Deep down, they had silently prepared themselves for the worst, and in their minds, the image of a sorrowful funeral procession seemed to form, with the sadness spreading like a tide throughout the room, wrapping everyone’s hearts tightly.

At that moment, a pot of boiling water was brought in, steaming hot. Wei Lan quickly went into action, preparing to set up a makeshift operating table, instructing Ming Yi to assist her.

She cleared the items off the bed, leaving only a clean cloth beneath. She moved quickly and skillfully, placing her hand on the location of the fetus’s head and marking the ideal incision point.

She neatly pinned her hair up, put on a cap and mask, and carefully washed her hands several times with warm water and soap, each step meticulous. After washing, she scalded her hands with boiling water, then wiped them with a bit of alcohol to ensure they were sterile. Ming Yi followed the same procedure, their actions in perfect synchrony.

Next, Wei Lan used sterile cotton balls soaked in alcohol to disinfect the lower abdomen, then covered the area around the planned incision with four pieces of gauze to maintain sterility. After finishing the disinfection, they donned surgical gowns, gloves, and prepared for the operation.

Although Wei Lan was not a specialist in obstetrics, during her internship in gynecology, she had assisted in several caesarean sections. Although she hadn’t been the lead surgeon many times, each experience had left a strong impression. She clearly remembered every step, every detail, which would now support her through this operation. Taking a deep breath, her expression was firm, ready to start this race against time.

Ming Yi focused entirely on being Wei Lan’s first assistant, his eyes tracking every movement she made. He held the surgical tools—scalpel, forceps, and tweezers—firmly, ready to pass them at any moment.

The fetus had already stretched the abdominal and uterine walls so thin it seemed like the membrane of a cicada. Despite the urgent situation, Wei Lan proceeded cautiously and precisely. She first made a gentle incision through the skin with the scalpel, light but precise. Then, she cut through the fat layer, followed by the peritoneum. When the blade touched the uterus, her hand trembled slightly, but she quickly regained control, took a deep breath, and continued with precision.

Finally, she saw the fetus’s head, dark and lifeless, as if announcing its arrival into the world. Time seemed to freeze.

Wei Lan immediately grasped the fetus’s head with both hands and gently pulled. The baby was successfully delivered. The umbilical cord was still attached, and the midwife, startled, rushed to cut it.

Wei Lan shouted sharply, “Stop! Stay away!” The midwife, startled, almost dropped the scissors and retreated in panic.

Wei Lan quickly took the forceps from Ming Yi and expertly clamped the umbilical cord, then carefully cut it with the scissors in one smooth motion. After the cord was cut, she swiftly disinfected it with an alcohol-soaked cotton ball, ensuring no errors were made.

However, the baby remained silent, without a cry. Wei Lan handed the baby to Ming Yi, who immediately noticed that the child’s face had a slight bluish tinge, likely due to a lack of oxygen after the amniotic sac had broken. The midwife, seeing this, hurried to prepare a basin of boiling water to stimulate the baby’s rectum in an attempt to make it cry. Ming Yi quickly stopped her, turning the baby face down and gently patting its back and feet.

The father, seeing the baby had been delivered, prepared to celebrate, but the lifelessness of the baby made his heart twist. He clasped his hands together, as if praying for a cry.

The onlookers held their breath, the room so silent that only their rapid breathing could be heard. Some frowned with concern, while others clasped their hands in prayer, silently begging for divine help.

After a few minutes, a faint cry was heard, weak yet full of hope, like the crowing of a rooster at dawn. The room erupted with joy, the father’s face lighting up with relief, his furrowed brows finally relaxing. The midwife sighed with relief, and a smile of contentment spread across her wrinkled face.

Ming Yi handed the baby to the midwife for further care and returned his focus to Wei Lan.

On the other side, after the fetus was successfully delivered, Wei Lan immediately focused on handling the placenta. She knew it was essential to ensure the placenta was fully removed, as any remnants could cause serious complications for the mother. Although gauze gloves provided basic protection, Wei Lan still felt they were not sensitive enough to detect if the placenta had been completely scraped clean.

She carefully examined the uterine walls multiple times. Once she confirmed the placenta was entirely removed, Wei Lan began suturing the uterus. She then moved on to address the abdominal issues. She was aware that during the procedure, amniotic fluid may have leaked into the abdominal cavity. Although she had been extremely careful, in such a crude setting, she had done as well as could be expected.

She used gauze to absorb the excess fluid and confirmed there were no abnormalities in the abdominal cavity before preparing to close it.

At this moment, the young woman awoke from the pain, weak and emitting a faint sound of suffering, as if a blade had cut through the hearts of everyone present, causing a collective ache.

Her husband tightly gripped her hand, his eyes filled with pain as he trembled, comforting her, “Hang on, it will be over soon. For me, you must hold on.”

The young woman clenched her teeth, tears welling in her eyes. For herself, for her husband, for her child, she endured the pain. Eventually, she passed out again, her hand slipping from her husband’s grasp as she fell back into a deep sleep.

Finally, after everything was finished, Wei Lan collapsed to the side, exhausted. Throughout the whole process, she and Ming Yi had worked in perfect harmony. They exchanged a relieved smile, knowing they had succeeded. The mother and child were safe, at least for now, and that was the greatest reward for their efforts.

Wei Lan knew the mother was not out of danger yet. There would still be many challenges ahead for both the mother and child, but for now, there was no time to worry about that. Her immediate priority was to get the mother and child through the current danger. The rest would have to be tackled step by step.

The midwife gently washed the baby with warm water and then wrapped it carefully in soft swaddling clothes. She cradled the new life and hurried to the Buddhist hall.

In the Buddhist hall, incense smoke swirled, and a lone oil lamp burned softly in a corner, casting a gentle light.

Li Chuniang, a devout Buddhist woman, knelt inside, hands clasped in prayer as she recited scriptures. When the young woman’s labor had become difficult, she had hurried to seek the help of Doctor Liu. Now, all she could do was pray for the protection of the Buddha. Her voice was low and steady, reverberating through the hall like an ancient song, expressing her reverence and hope for life.

At that moment, the midwife arrived, filled with joy, to announce the good news: “Congratulations, mother and daughter are both safe.”

Li Chuniang’s tense nerves finally relaxed. She gently took the baby into her arms. The baby looked around curiously, and when it saw its grandmother, it broke into a soft smile, instantly lightening the atmosphere in the Buddhist hall.

Li Chuniang and the midwife exchanged a smile, their faces now full of love and relief.

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