Page 75 of Whoops-A-Mate From Outer Space
“Ok,” I replied. I swallowed. “I’m going to talk you through this, ok?
He nodded almost imperceptibly.
“You know you shouldn’t deliver naturally when he’s breech, right?”
“Yes,” he whispered.
“Why shouldn’t you deliver when he’s breech?”
He swallowed. “There are too many potential complications, and risks are much higher. I could try, and end up requiring a more intense surgery. One or both of us could suffer serious injury.”
“That’s right,” I murmured. I ran my hand along his jaw. “You know that even the human version is considered mostly safe?”
He nodded into my palm.
“The Lalyllte version should be even safer.”
“I know.”
“And I’ll be right with you the entire time. They let human fathers in most of the time, so I can’t imagine I won’t be allowed.”
“I am still scared.”
“I know.” I paused. “It’s your body, E. I want what’s best for you and our baby, but nobody, and that includes me, can force you to have surgery. It has to be something you consent to. Do you want to try to have a natural birth when he’s breech instead?”
Eashai closed his eyes and swallowed. I couldn’t fight his fear for him; all I could do was trust that he’d make the logical choice.
“No,” he breathed after what felt like far too long.
“Look at me?”
He opened his eyes again and his gaze met mine.
“I love you,” I murmured. “I will fight for what you want. Do you need to go home and prepare yourself more? What do you need to be as comfortable as possible?”
“I think…” he started, voice shaking, “that going home would make it worse. I do not want to think about it.”
“You want to do this now?”
“No… but…”
“If it helps,” Escaluu cut in. “It is not uncommon for people to be worried. I often find that detailing the procedure is a valuable tool to combat these concerns.”
I blinked, then chuckled. “That right there tells me you’ve got better technology than Earth. I think if a doctor here offered to talk about it, it would make things worse.”
He laughed. “Indeed, the procedure is quite safe and routine. Eashai, would you like to know what to expect?”
Eashai closed his eyes tightly. “Yes,” he whispered.
“Thank you.” The doctor paused for a breath. “You will be offered the choice of a general or local anesthesia. If the thought of surgery is too overwhelming, then I suggest general. Most still opt for local so that they may hold their infants immediately, but your comfort is critical. After that, we will clean your abdomen. Surgery starts with a nanite salve applied to the incision area. Combined with scans, they determine the best course of entry. I will briefly review the recommendation, then use it as a guide. I will use a laser scalpel to cut through the layers of tissue. The nanites will temporarily block blood flow during the procedure and use the agreed-upon logic to open in a manner that causes the least trauma. We will deliver your baby via the incision, then make a quick seal. The nanites will form stronger connections and encourage healing. They will have sealed the wound within minutes, and will dissolve naturally as your body restores itself.”
“What complications do we need to worry about?” I asked. “Pain management? Infection risk? Scar tissue and wound treatment?”
“Most bapis report minimal pain, if any, after the procedure. If it is a concern, there are various options to address it. The nanites handle any infection risks along with wound repair. Scarring is possible, but uncommon, and we have effective treatments if desired.”
“How long will it take? And how long until we’d be able to go home?”
He hummed. “The procedure itself is usually under an hour. We would ask you to stay in the hospital for another two to threehours—until the nanites report that they have completely sealed the incision area. Then you will be able to go home.”
