Chapter 175: Childbirth
Wednesday, November 15th – 32 weeks, 0 days
Pregnancy is said to have milestones every two weeks, and with each one passed, the risks of stillbirth or complications go down.
Before 22 weeks, survival is nearly impossible.
At 22 weeks, the chance of survival starts to emerge.
At 24 weeks, survival rates are about fifty-fifty.
At 26 weeks, they surpass 80%.
At 28 weeks, once the baby weighs over 1kg, survival becomes likely.
At 30 weeks, most internal organs are developed.
At 32 weeks, excretory functions kick in.
At 34 weeks, the baby becomes capable of breathing.
At 36 weeks, the baby is almost fully ready.
And from 37 weeks, it’s considered full term.
That’s why I kept telling myself to hang in there for just two more weeks.
Today marks 32 weeks. Two more weeks, and the baby should be able to breathe on its own.
For the past few days, the anti-contraction IV drip has been cranked up to nearly the max.
The side effects are brutal, and I’m just lying in bed like a dead fish.
Alisa weighs 1,680g now, and Alicia is at 1,396g. My belly is visibly stretched to the limit.
Even I’m surprised at how much they've grown in there.
Just two more weeks and they might be able to breathe on their own. If that happens, maybe they won’t even need to be in the NICU.
I know it's cramped in there, but hang in there just a little longer, okay?
Sunday, November 19th – 32 weeks, 4 days
3:00 AM
I woke up in the middle of the night from pain.
It wasn’t a baby kick, nor was it the usual tightness. It was more like menstrual cramps, a deep internal pain that faded quickly.
Just as I was about to fall asleep again, the pain came back.
But it wasn’t too intense, so I stayed still for a bit. When it subsided, I let myself drift back into sleep.
7:00 AM
A strange feeling woke me up.
It felt like... my crotch was wet.
“Did I seriously wet the bed...!?”
I pulled back the sheet. The crotch of my pajamas and the bedsheet underneath were wet.
Ever since my belly got this big, I had started leaking a little when I sneezed, but I’d never actually wet myself...
Still, I’ve heard that bladder control gets worse during pregnancy... It’s embarrassing, but it happens, right?
But then something felt off.
There’s no ammonia smell...?
Then what is this...?
A sharp pain struck my belly.
The same tightening pain I felt during the night—only stronger.
Wait... is this... labor pain?
It even feels like the baby’s moved lower.
Then—
“...Did my water break?”
My hand was shaking as I pressed the nurse call button.
The nurse came quickly, and once I explained the situation, more staff were called in.
They changed my clothes and cleaned the bed while attaching a monitor to my belly. Then the doctor arrived to begin the exam.
“Your water has broken. Your cervix is already 4 cm dilated and the baby is descending. It wouldn’t be surprising if delivery starts at any time.”
Even though I’d sort of expected it, hearing it from the doctor still shocked me.
“Fortunately, both babies are in the head-down position, so let’s try for a vaginal birth.”
“...Huh?”
“We’ll stop the anti-contraction drip. Your contractions should intensify in a few hours. Also, we’ll administer steroids to promote the babies’ internal development. Do you have any questions?”
“Um... so... this isn’t going to be a C-section?”
“A vaginal delivery will be safer in your case. Of course, if things become risky, we’ll proceed with an emergency cesarean.”
“I-I see...”
Just then, another pain came.
“So... this is labor pain.”
8:30 AM
After the exam, I was moved to the labor room to wait until my cervix fully dilated and delivery could begin.
I’d assumed I’d be having a C-section, so I had no idea what to expect with a natural birth. During the pauses between contractions, I looked things up on my phone.
Labor pain happens when the uterus contracts to help with delivery. The pain comes and goes.
Right now, the painful moments last about 30 seconds, but I read that they stretch to a minute as labor progresses.
Currently, I’m having them every six minutes, but that interval shortens too.
So basically: the pain gets stronger, lasts longer, and comes more frequently.
Even in a smooth labor, it usually takes around half a day.
Yikes...
In my case, it seems labor has already advanced quite a bit by morning, so there's a good chance it won’t take that long. That’s the one bit of comfort.
The midwife taught me how to manage the pain. Long, slow exhales help.
She said to relax too—but that’s way easier said than done...
11:00 AM
The contractions are getting stronger. My back hurts now, not just my belly.
Still, since the anti-contraction meds are wearing off, the brain fog I’d been feeling lately has cleared up. I feel more alert.
My mom, dad, and Yuna—who came over yesterday—got the call from the hospital and rushed over.
Having family nearby at times like this really gives me strength.
12:30 PM
The pain is getting even worse.
They brought lunch, but I couldn’t eat in case a C-section is needed.
Not that I had any appetite anyway. I’m sipping fluids in between contractions.
Yuna ate my meal, so at least it didn’t go to waste.
If only I could just use magic to make this pain go away...
Just like with periods, they say it’s not advisable to interfere with the body’s natural responses to pregnancy and childbirth through magic.
That said, I’ve heard that during actual delivery, magical assistance is often used.
The method involves the mother entering a pool-like bath, and delivering underwater with water magic support.
I heard that Alicia herself has assisted with childbirth using that method several times.
But I don’t have the experience or know-how for that, so I’m leaving my delivery entirely to modern medicine.
By the way, the midwife told me, “If you feel like pushing, hold back.”
But... what does it feel like to want to push...?
4:00 PM
Now I finally understood what it feels like to want to push.
It’s a lot like the urge to go to the bathroom—this intense need to push something out.
But apparently, you’re not supposed to push until the cervix is fully dilated.
Wanting to push and having to hold it back—that’s its own kind of agony.
Yuna pressed a clenched fist against my tailbone to help me resist the urge.
I hesitated at first, but it actually helped. And before long, I didn’t even have the luxury to feel embarrassed.
Each contraction now lasts about a minute, with two-minute intervals. Yuna was using an app to keep track of the timing.
Five seconds to go... four, three, two—
“—Nngh!”
No sound came out.
I just curled up and endured it.
The pain was so intense it nearly knocked me out.
It was like menstrual cramps multiplied many times over, slamming into my lower abdomen.
And my lower back—it felt like my bones were being shattered.
“Breathe—hee hee hoo, hee hee hoo!”
The midwife coached me through the breathing technique.
I’d heard of that method before, but I hadn’t realized this was when you used it.
Doing it just like she said seemed to help a little.
I focused on breathing over and over, trying to distract myself from the pain.
My mom wiped the sweat from my forehead.
Yuna was still rubbing my back and pressing on my lower back.
6:00 PM
“AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!”
It hurts.
It hurts. It hurts.
It hurts. It hurts. It hurts.
“GUAAAHHHHHH!!”
I glanced at the clock between contractions—but time had barely moved at all.
When is this going to end? There's no light at the end of the tunnel.
“AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!”
I hate this. I’m done.
Why the hell does a guy like me have to go through this?
Even when I begged the midwife for a C-section, she only told me to hang in there a little longer.
If cutting me open would end this, then just do it already.
With magic, recovery from surgical wounds isn’t that big of a deal.
I don’t care about the whole “natural birth” thing. I just want this to be over.
I broke down and complained to Yuna.
“Alice, you’ve got this, okay? Just a little more and you’ll get to meet Alicia!”
Yuna’s words brought me back to my senses.
Right... I...
“—Nngh... ugh... ALICIAAA!!”
“That’s right! It’s Alicia!”
“...Ugh... uuuugh, AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!”
...
…………
This pain… it’s the pain I have to go through to meet Alicia again.
If it’s getting worse, that just means labor is progressing.
That means I can endure this. I will endure it.
Ugh—
“AAAAAAHHH, ALICIA! ALICIAAA!”
I screamed without even understanding what I was saying.
It hurt too much to stay quiet.
And then, out of nowhere, I felt a sharp kick from inside my belly.
That spot—!
“I’m sorry—I didn’t forget, I swear! Alisa! Alisaaa! I want to see you too!”
My babies.
We’ve been together this whole time since I got pregnant.
They always responded so actively inside my belly.
I’m going to deliver both of them safely.
No matter what.
“GUUUAAAAHHHH! It hurts! It hurts! It HUUUUURTS!!”
7:00 PM
The internal exam finally confirmed that I was fully dilated.
Honestly, the first thing I felt was relief.
Finally, there was an end in sight. I was about to be freed from this suffering.
Accompanied by the midwife, I was taken to the delivery room.
A contraction struck during the move, and I clung to Mom and Yuna, enduring it with everything I had.
We’d already arranged for Mom and Yuna to be present during the delivery, so they both came with me.
I asked Dad to stay out.
I was placed on the delivery table, and two sensors were strapped to my belly—one above, one below.
An IV was inserted into my arm.
I gripped the handles positioned near my lower back.
“All right, go ahead and push!”
I was told to push—but when it came down to it, I didn’t really know how to use my strength.
As I hesitated, the midwife gave clear instructions.
“Take two deep breaths.”
Inhale… exhale. Inhale… exhale.
“Now, take a big breath in—”
I took a deep breath.
“Let out just a little bit, hold your breath, and push!”
I let out a bit, held my breath.
“Nnngh—!”
I pushed with the image of trying to force out a stubborn bowel movement.
...What if I actually poop?
That thought flickered through my mind for a second—but I immediately lost the ability to care.
Because every time I was told to push, it was right when the contractions hit.
Pushing while enduring the pain took everything I had.
I heard later that pooping during labor isn’t uncommon.
It might’ve happened without me even knowing.
Not that I plan to find out.
In the middle of the pain, I just kept following the midwife’s instructions and pushed.
As I repeated it over and over, I started to get a vague sense of how to guide the baby downward.
8:25 PM
“I can see the head!”
The midwife called out.
Still, the baby wasn’t out yet.
9:12 PM
After so long in the hospital, my strength was already depleted, and I was on the verge of losing consciousness.
Hearing Mom and Yuna’s voices, I pushed again—who knows how many times it had been now.
“I’m going to make a small cut,” said the doctor.
I nodded, ready for anything—just wanting it to end.
I could feel the cut being made, but there wasn’t really any pain.
“Okay, push!”
The midwife’s voice triggered a near-automatic response.
“The head is coming out! Just a little more—hang in there!”
“You can do it, Alice!!”
“All right, push!”
Again and again.
“—ngh!”
Not yet... still not yet...
“All right, stop pushing! Put your hands on your chest and pant—ha, ha, ha—like that!”
Stop pushing...? I wasn’t sure why, but I did as I was told.
Moments later, I felt something slick sliding out of me.
“Fnyaa... fnyaa...”
A small voice was heard.
“She’s born! Big sis came out!!”
I just stared blankly.
“You did it, Alice!”
I watched everyone’s reactions.
PM 9:35
“Okay, let’s help little sis out now!”
The midwife’s voice snapped me back to reality.
Only one of them had come out.
It wasn’t over yet.
“The second one will be quicker—the way’s already been paved!”
Those words brought a small sense of relief.
“Little sis is still head-down! Heartbeat is good!”
The doctor shoved their hand inside and stirred things around. They were probably checking the baby’s position.
Ugh… it hurts.
My water must’ve broken—it felt like a splash of fluid rushing out.
And just like that, the contractions came roaring back.
From there, it was like being on a roller coaster.
“Okay, just like that, keep pushing!”
I did exactly as I was told and pushed.
This time, the second one came out in about ten minutes.
“Fuu-nyaa, fuu-nyaa…”
I could hear her crying.
“Ugh… You did it… you did it, Alice…”
“Well done, Alice.”
Yuna and Mom’s faces were a mess of tears.
I didn’t even have the energy to reply.
I was too exhausted to feel anything at all.
It’s over… That’s how I honestly felt in that moment.
But thinking that was premature.
Apparently, I still had to deliver the placenta left inside me, and they pressed hard on my belly.
This… hurts.
Then I felt another weak contraction, and a lump of flesh slid out—it was kind of gross, honestly.
After that, to shrink the uterus, they pressed my stomach so hard an entire arm could’ve fit in there.
That was agonizing—it seriously felt like torture.
And to top it off, they stitched up the place they cut. I guess they used anesthesia, but maybe the tear was worse than expected, because I felt that needle—every stab—ouch!
I’d let my guard down thinking it was over, so I didn’t have the strength left to endure the pain afterward, and I screamed like a pathetic mess.
The babies were taken straight to the NICU right after birth.
I hadn’t even seen their faces yet, but I accepted it—it couldn’t be helped. They were premature, but for now, there didn’t seem to be any major concerns.
Alisa: 1786 grams (about 3 pounds 15 ounces). Alicia: 1501 grams (about 3 pounds 5 ounces).
…I couldn’t keep them in my belly long enough for them to fully grow.
A wave of guilt, mixed with relief that they were born safely.
All I wanted now… was to rest.
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