Chapter 1714 - 1713: Causes of Difficult Labor

The doctor’s fingers inserted into that place are a mix of sour and thrill for the woman in labor; it’s impossible to feel nothing. Perhaps the patient in Bed No.6 is just numb to the pain.

Regardless, Doctor Peng questioned the student, "What are the results after your examination?"

"The cervix is almost dilated to eight fingers." Xie Wanying said, "Her issue isn’t the labor force but the birth canal. It’s a case of cephalopelvic disproportion, and a Cesarean Section is necessary. Her interspinous diameter is less than 16 centimeters, about 15.5, the anteroposterior diameter of the pelvic inlet is less than 8, around 7.8, and the fetal biparietal diameter is 9.3, showing clear cephalopelvic disproportion. The posterior fontanel sign should be positive, the fetus can’t enter the pelvic inlet, and natural childbirth is impossible."

Dystocia causes generally fall into three categories: First is the labor force problem, which mainly refers to weak uterine contractions, making it impossible for the woman to push the child out by herself. The second is birth canal issues, commonly bone birth canal anomalies, primarily pelvic abnormalities. The third is fetal position anomalies. Bed No.6 obviously stems from the second cause. The mother’s pelvis is small, while the fetal head is developing normally; it can’t squeeze out of the mother’s pelvic inlet, clearly indicating cephalopelvic disproportion.

Also, laypeople call it "abdominal delivery," but medical professionals use the standard surgery name, Cesarean Section.

After listening to her explanation, Doctor Peng immediately asked Doctor Zheng, "Did she see the patient’s medical record?"

"How is that possible? I just brought her in to find you," Doctor Zheng replied.

Handling many patients, Doctor Peng couldn’t remember all clinical data for every patient. She fetched the medical record for Bed No.6 to check, discovering that Student Xie’s figures matched quite closely with the examination report in the medical record.

Doctor Peng raised her head, and both she and Doctor Zheng glanced at the student’s face with four pairs of eyes: How on earth did this happen?

Estimating by sight, the patient is thin, with many protruding bones clearly visible; it’s easy to tell. Yet, guessing accurately and close to the instrument’s measurements is near-impossible clinically for most medical students. Experienced doctors can predict nearly accurately through experience.

Setting down the medical record, Doctor Peng donned gloves and re-examined the patient’s cervix, finding it genuinely dilated to seven to eight fingers. Trouble. If this continues, both mother and fetus will be at great risk. She hastily pulled out her phone to communicate with Director Yoo while running out of the delivery room to talk to the family.

Doctor Zheng brought two students along to follow, worried about Doctor Peng facing that unreasonable family alone and helpless.

"Which of you is Li Taoli’s family? Come here," stepping out of the delivery room doorway, Doctor Peng scanned the family of Bed No.6.

Soon, a young man and two women approached. They were the patient’s husband, mother-in-law, and biological mother, respectively.

"What’s happening to my wife, doctor? Has she given birth?" the patient’s husband asked.

"In her case, Director Yoo previously discussed with you all that induction of labor is not possible. The cervix is dilated to seven to eight fingers, soon entering the second stage of labor."

"Hurry up, let her give birth. We’re waiting."

"Her fetal head is too large, the pelvis too small; if the fetus can’t come out, it will die inside due to dystocia."

"I don’t understand." The patient’s husband waved his hand for Doctor Peng to pause speaking, "If her pelvis is small, how can the baby stay in the abdomen? Don’t think I don’t know what a pelvis is, the pelvis is the bone of the stomach."

Doctor Peng felt the urge to curse internally, thinking why at this critical moment there’s no time to educate the patient’s family on these medical basics. This situation is precisely one of the issues for which the nation requires regular prenatal check-ups to prevent. It should have been detected during prenatal exams, with doctors warning the mother and her family that a Cesarean Section is required.