Chapter 27: Cesarean Section

Chu Yue frowned slightly.  In such hot weather, even an ordinary person would find it unbearable to be wrapped in a quilt like this, let alone a weak woman who could die at any moment.

She quickly stepped forward and loosened the quilt around Mrs. Huang, at least ensuring that she could breathe easily.

The midwife and maid wanted to stop her, but Doctor Zhu raised his hand.

“She’s right. Mrs. Huang is already short of breath, and you’ve wrapped her so tightly in the quilt; it’s doing more harm than good.”

Seeing Chu Yue’s skillful movements, Doctor Zhu understood why Shopkeeper Chen had asked her to help.

Although young, the girl was clever and promising.

Xiaolian quickly brought a stool and placed it beside the bed. She then took Mrs. Huang’s hand, placing a handkerchief under it for Doctor Zhu to take her pulse.

After a while, Doctor Zhu shook his head.

“It’s difficult. I can only use acupuncture to wake her up, but she’s been in labor for three days and has exhausted her vital energy. Even if she wakes up, she probably won’t be able to last until the delivery is over.”

He sighed heavily.

He knew, even if he came, it was useless.

For women giving birth, it’s like passing through the gates of hell.  Having been in labor for three days without delivering, the consequences were predictable.

Outside, Magistrate Huang, hearing Doctor Zhu’s words, hurriedly said, “Please, Doctor Zhu, do your best to save my wife. I don’t dare think about the child anymore. As long as my wife is safe, I will certainly reward you handsomely afterwards.”

Doctor Zhu looked troubled. “It’s not that I don’t want to save her…”

Before he could finish, Chu Yue, who had briefly felt Mrs. Huang’s abdomen, looked up. “Doctor Zhu, have you ever heard of a Cesarean section?”

Doctor Zhu’s pupils constricted.

“Cesarean section?” He looked cautious. “I have heard my master mention this method, but because it’s too dangerous, it has never been practiced. I’m afraid it’s not appropriate.”

“I just felt Mrs. Huang’s belly. The baby is quite large, and it will be difficult for her to give birth naturally. The best way is a Cesarean section, which gives her a chance of survival.”  Pausing, Chu Yue said, “But as Doctor Zhu said, this method is extremely dangerous. With good luck, both mother and child will be safe, but with bad luck…”

She looked towards the outside.

“Mrs. Huang’s condition is critical. Magistrate Huang, are you willing to take this risk?”

The midwife had previously told him that the baby was too large to be born naturally.

This girl knew the key point just by touching her.  She was clearly skilled.

He hadn’t expected that the inconspicuous young girl following Doctor Zhu would have such abilities.

Magistrate Huang pondered for a moment, then made up his mind.

“Good, I entrust this to you, miss, and Doctor Zhu. If you need anything, just ask.”

Chu Yue listed the necessary instruments she had already mentally prepared on the way: “A small, sharp knife, a clean pair of scissors, alcohol and needle and thread, boiled and cooled water, and clean cotton cloth. If there’s any wound medicine, that would be even better.”

Ancient wound medicine had a hemostatic and anti-inflammatory effect, which would be perfect for the incision.

Outside, Magistrate Huang nodded hastily. “Yes, we have them all! Steward, quickly get the things the miss needs, and also get the precious wound medicine from the storeroom.”

Inside, Doctor Zhu looked at Chu Yue nervously. “Girl, a Cesarean section is no joke. Two lives are at stake.”

Chu Yue whispered, “I’m scared too, but do we have a better way? Since we have a chance, let’s try. What if we succeed?”

Doctor Zhu stared at her face.

“Child, why are you so bold?” He then asked, “Did you plan ahead for all those things you asked Magistrate Huang to prepare?”

Chu Yue nodded.

“Mrs. Huang has been in labor for three days. She must be exhausted, so we must be prepared for the worst.”

Although Doctor Zhu found Chu Yue’s bold and reckless approach inappropriate, he had to admit that the Cesarean section she proposed was undoubtedly the best option.

Even if they couldn’t save the mother, they could at least save the baby.

But Doctor Zhu apparently overestimated himself.  As soon as he picked up the knife and before he got close to Mrs. Huang, his eyes rolled back, and he almost fainted.

Chu Yue and Xiaolian quickly stepped forward to support him, preventing him from falling.

Doctor Zhu trembled. “I can’t do it. I really can’t bring myself to do this.”

Seeing this, Chu Yue bit her lip.

“There’s no other way. I’ll do it.” She then looked at Xiaolian. “Sister Xiaolian, can you help me?”

Although Xiaolian didn’t know if Chu Yue could do it, seeing her previous arrangements, she felt that she was incredibly capable.

“Okay.”

There was no better option.

Mrs. Huang’s bed had been raised according to Chu Yue’s instructions, making it convenient for the Cesarean section. Chu Yue washed her hands, rubbed alcohol on them for disinfection, and then, holding the alcohol-soaked knife, came to the bedside.

Mrs. Huang was already unconscious, and having been in labor for three days, she likely wouldn’t feel much pain without anesthesia.

With a swift movement, Chu Yue cut open Mrs. Huang’s abdomen layer by layer. Her technique was incredibly skillful.  Chu Yue quickly asked Xiaolian to help wipe away the blood with clean cotton cloth.

During this, Mrs. Huang seemed to sense the pain and opened her eyes drowsily.  Hearing Xiaolian’s comforting words, she fell back asleep.

After two quarters of an hour, the baby was successfully delivered. However, the baby’s face was bluish, and it didn’t cry.

This was because it had been suffocated for too long in the womb.

The midwife skillfully held the baby’s head slightly downwards, patted its back, and as the amniotic fluid flowed out, the baby began to cry loudly.

The midwife let out a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness, the baby is safe.”

After delivering the baby, Chu Yue didn’t stop. She carefully removed the placenta from Mrs. Huang’s abdomen, absorbed the blood and amniotic fluid with clean cotton cloth, and disinfected the entire area with alcohol. Only then did she take the needle and thread that Xiaolian handed her and began to skillfully and meticulously stitch the incision layer by layer.

Fearing that the stitches would be difficult to remove, she didn’t sew them too tightly. Each layer of the wound was stitched with just one or two stitches, leaving the ends of the threads exposed for easy removal later.

With each layer she stitched, she applied the wound medicine to that layer of the incision.

The entire process was handled with extreme care and attention to detail, as she was wary of making even the slightest mistake.

Once Doctor Zhu regained his composure, he stood back, aware that Mrs. Huang was a woman, and he didn’t dare get too close. However, seeing Chu Yue appear so calm and collected, he couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

Looking at the girl’s expression, she seemed as if she had done this before, but considering her age, he immediately dismissed the thought.

It couldn’t be.

It was only because he had heard his master mention Cesarean sections. In ordinary families, no one would dare to let her take such a risk.

However, this girl did have some skill; she was probably born to do this kind of work.

Another two quarters of an hour passed, and the incision on Mrs. Huang’s abdomen was finally sewn up. Chu Yue disinfected the wound with alcohol, applied the wound medicine, and then bandaged it with gauze.

After bandaging the wound and standing up, Chu Yue let out a long breath.

“Mother and child are safe. As long as they get through the night, and the wound heals well, there will be no major problems.”

Xiaolian looked at Chu Yue with admiration.

“Is there anything else we need to do?”