Chapter 1256: Chapter 1234: The Situation is Bad
If surgery could be avoided, Manbao would always strive not to perform it and didn’t advocate for patients to undergo it either. This was not just because of the pain involved, but also because this era was far from the one described in dical texts, where there were safe anesthetics and effective antiseptics. Here, even a small wound could easily lead to infections.
However, Han Wuniang’s condition was genuinely dire. Her belly was too large. If the baby were just a little smaller, Manbao would have tried her best to assist in natural delivery. But this ti, it was impossible.
Manbao explained these circumstances to them and then said, “What I an by a C-section is to make an incision here with a knife, take out the baby, and then sew it up.”
Eldest Lady Han shook her head. “No, that won’t do. What’s the dicine you ntioned that would make Fifth Lady not feel so much pain?”
Manbao sighed and said, “It’s a type of anesthetic, but I’ve never used it. This dicine is even more dangerous because it hasn’t been tested. Even if it could alleviate her pain, it would still be incredibly difficult for her to deliver the baby. If you don’t believe , you can consult midwives in the capital or even seek out the imperial physicians.”
She added, “Second Sister Fu’s situation was much better than hers. Although the baby wasn’t in an optimal position either, it wasn’t overly large, and Second Sister Fu’s stature was sufficient, with a pelvis wide enough. But Han Wuniang is petite, her pelvis is narrow, and the baby is far too big…”
It could be said that Han Wuniang embodied all the unfavorable factors for childbirth.
Eldest Lady Han’s face darkened as she looked at the two elderly won beside her.
The two won’s expressions were equally grim and sowhat uneasy. However, under Eldest Lady Han’s gaze, they couldn’t help but nod in agreent.
Back in Yongzhou, the midwives and attendants had already examined her and found her condition problematic, which is why they reported it to the family.
The Li family not only called for doctors but also specifically invited imperial physicians from the capital to assess her. All indications subtly signaled that the situation was dire, which had alard both the Han and Li families.
News of Manbao assisting Fu Wenyun’s childbirth had spread widely, so Eldest Lady Han reached out to her for a consultation.
Before this, she had already consulted capital midwives and learned that Zhou Man had particularly small and dexterous hands, which was a great advantage in childbirth assistance. As the midwives put it, if she beca a midwife, she would certainly beco a leading figure in the field in the future.
However, that would require her hands to remain small.
Even so, Eldest Lady Han hadn’t anticipated that Zhou Man would imdiately suggest a C-section. It wasn’t just Eldest Lady Han who was resistant; even Li Sanlang was unwilling.
Manbao also knew they wouldn’t make a decision quickly on such matters, so she didn’t press them. Instead, she instructed, “This happened because she over-supplented during pregnancy. From now on, her diet must be controlled. Don’t let her go hungry, but don’t allow overindulgence either. It’s best to avoid any more tonics.”
One of the elderly won imdiately replied, “We stopped those over a month ago. Now it’s just the normal three als a day and so snacks occasionally.”
Manbao nodded and sighed, “Then let go and check on her again.”
She wanted to gather more data. This was the first ti she had encountered such a case. Since she wasn’t short on points now, she didn’t hesitate to scan her.
Manbao decided to later compare the scanned data with her diagnostic results to see if her pulse-taking skills had improved even a little.
In the end, Manbao didn’t write a prescription but did try to adjust the baby’s position by feeling her belly. She stopped only when Han Wuniang’s face went ashen.
Eldest Lady Han watched silently, then escorted Manbao to the front courtyard, even accompanying her all the way to the carriage. When Manbao stopped in front of the carriage, she turned and asked, “Eldest Lady Han, if you have sothing to say, please go ahead.”
Eldest Lady Han opened her mouth but stayed silent for a long ti before finally asking, “What about abortion…”
Manbao shook her head. “At this stage, abortion is even more dangerous than childbirth. Moreover, the child is already eight months along—aborting now is against the natural order.”
In cases of severe complications where one has to choose between saving the mother or the child, it’s another matter. But to preemptively terminate the pregnancy now—that was sothing Manbao couldn’t bring herself to do, and it was sothing the patient obviously wouldn’t accept either.
Eldest Lady Han frowned deeply and thought for a long ti before finally saying to Manbao, “Thank you, Young Lady Zhou, for coming today.”
She turned to a maid nearby, who quickly brought forward a finely crafted pouch. Eldest Lady Han took it and pressed it into Manbao’s hands.
Manbao accepted it, nodded slightly in acknowledgnt, and then got on the carriage.
After so thought, she lifted the curtain and said, “There’s still ti; if it’s possible, I’ll try to adjust her baby’s position further.”
Eldest Lady Han’s eyes lit up. She bowed slightly to Manbao and said, “Then I’ll be troubling you, Young Lady Zhou.”
Once their conversation concluded, Shao got on the carriage as well. The Li family’s driver would take them back to Jishi Hall.
With the driver present, Shao didn’t speak. It wasn’t until they reached Jishi Hall’s consultation room that he asked, “Doctor Zhou Junior, you seem upset. Is Madam Li’s condition that bad?”
Manbao sighed. “More than bad—I’ve never even heard of a case this dire in my entire life.”
After a mont’s thought, Manbao put down her dical kit and went to speak with Doctor Tao.
Doctor Tao specialized in such matters and might have a solution.
Upon hearing Manbao describe the situation, Doctor Tao shook his head outright. “That’s not possible. In this case, it’s unlikely either mother or child can be saved.”
He furrowed his brows. “Fifth Lady Han? I’ve treated her before—though back then, it was for infertility. She’s petite. During pregnancy, her diet should’ve been closely managed. How did the baby get so big?”
Manbao shook her head. “The attendants around her are quite knowledgeable, so they should’ve been aware of this. But sohow, things still turned out like this. After all, they’re from a prominent family, so I can’t pry too deeply.”
Moreover, the Li and Han families hadn’t yet decided to have her handle Han Wuniang’s case. After all, the thod she proposed was far from reassuring.
Doctor Tao sighed and asked, “Are you still planning to go?”
Doctors, too, must avoid taking unnecessary risks. Han Wuniang’s situation was clearly bleak—intervening too deeply might lead to future bla from both families.
Manbao thought it over and said, “Let nature take its course. I’ll see if I can adjust her baby’s position. At the very least, it might give her a better chance.”
Doctor Tao, however, was skeptical. The problem of the oversized baby alone was enough to spell disaster. He had seen Han Wuniang before. Although she was twenty years old, her stature barely looked larger than Manbao’s.
After seeing Manbao off, Eldest Lady Han imdiately confronted the midwives and attendants looking after Han Wuniang. “Is what Young Lady Zhou said true?”
The midwives and attendants exchanged glances. The midwife hesitated to speak, so the attendant cautiously replied, “The situation is quite serious. The imperial physicians previously ntioned it too.”
Eldest Lady Han’s eyebrows shot up. “Then if you were to assist in childbirth, what are the chances of both mother and child being safe?”
The two stamred and didn’t dare answer.
Li Sanlang, standing nearby, grew furious. “What does this an? Are you seriously considering letting them cut open Wuniang?”
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