Chapter 137
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 137
Chapter Title: Postpartum Check-up
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After inquiring about her medical history, family background, digestion, sleep, and other details to consider additional herbs.
"Any questions?"
I tossed out my closing line.
"None."
"Great. If anything comes up later, please give the clinic a call!"
Then Nam Hyun-jung suddenly asked as if something had just occurred to her.
"Oh, by any chance, can postpartum tonics be prescribed over the phone?"
"Well, legally it's possible, but since your condition changes so much after giving birth, it's better to be seen in person. If it's unavoidable, feel free to call, or you could visit our Seoul branch."
"Thank you. I have a meeting scheduled with an important guest arriving from overseas right after my due date."
"......"
She planned to go back to work right after giving birth with that body of hers?
"It takes time to prepare the medicine, so I'll prescribe three days' worth of Sheng Hua Tang to help expel the lochia and a week's supply of the standard postpartum tonic, Dang Gui and Chuan Xiong Blood Harmonizing Drink. Ideally, rest as much as possible right after delivery, but......"
"Thank you. It's something I can't delegate to anyone else."
Nam Hyun-jung stated firmly.
I emphasized once more the importance of avoiding overwork before pregnancy and proper postpartum care, but I couldn't tell if it sank in.
I thought I had a good read on patients' minds, but Nam Hyun-jung's expression didn't change a bit.
She was definitely planning to go through with the meeting, at least.
"We'll prescribe it perfectly. Wishing you a smooth delivery. Take care."
Even after Nam Hyun-jung left, I was swamped with work.
Seeing patients was a given, but why had I dug my own grave by promising to organize the manuscript? I couldn't fathom it.
I had written a few books in the murim world too.
Back then, I had a sense of mission that no one else could compile it as accessibly as I could!
But now there were already so many good books out there......!
[Kyaa!!!!!]
As I stared at the computer screen after work, lost in old memories, a message popped up.
[What do I do? It's two days before her due date, but I think unnie's labor has started!]
Before I could even open the app, another message arrived.
It was from Park Se-seon.
[Is this about Nam Hyun-jung? Didn't you register at a hospital that handles deliveries 24/7?]
She must have prepared for late delivery, so no way she hadn't booked a hospital.
Two days was well within the margin of error.
The moment I asked, Park Se-seon's messages continued.
[We're heading there now! Our driver is behind the wheel, but the contractions seem to be getting closer together]
[You were with her?]
[No, she kept trying to work! I was watching her on her husband's request to keep her from it.]
[And then this suddenly?]
[Just now she was about to lie down saying it was probably another Braxton Hicks, and I barely dragged her out!]
Ah, so they're on the way to the hospital.
Since she was texting instead of calling, it wasn't an emergency, but with Nam Hyun-jung in labor beside her, she must have been anxious.
[Hurry! How many minutes apart?]
I hoped for a safe delivery.
I clasped my hands together, sharing Park Se-seon's sentiments.
The reply came much later.
[It was 10 minutes apart when we left, but by the time we arrived, it's down to 5!]
[No way, I labored all night hovering around 10 minutes, suffered hours at 5 before induction. They're saying go straight to delivery at 2.5 cm! Me too!]
[Ah, good, you made it to the hospital quickly!]
[Yes. Gave her some Notusahn on the way. Now it's all up to prayer.]
[I'll pray too.]
Compared to births I'd witnessed or statistics, things were progressing fast.
I hoped the cervix opened quickly.
I wasn't devout, but I prayed to God, Buddha, Primordial Heavenly Worthy—anyone—to hear me.
For the mother and baby to be healthy.
[I don't know why I'm more nervous than when I gave birth Must be how my husband felt]
[The mother is out of it...]
[I really thought I was going insane. All the pain, but didn't want C-section]
[But you didn't go into the delivery room with her, right?]
I suddenly thought to ask.
From the constant messaging, she must be outside.
[Yeah, met Hyun-jung unnie's mom at the hospital, and she went in.]
[What about her husband?]
[Overseas business trip... lololol Due date important or work important, gotta fly 10 hours at full term? I kicked him out cold.]
Socially speaking, wasn't the wife's delivery more important?
Park Se-seon visited the clinic often during the day.
Though as family and executives, workload depended on themselves.
[She loved the director's medicine, said it gave her lots of energy, but unnie's so frail, I wonder if she'll manage.]
[She'll pull through. You've done all you can externally, so now wait!]
[I hope so...!]
Then the messages stopped again.
I couldn't focus on my tasks anyway, so I just stared at Park Se-seon's chat.
[Something wrong?]
Worried something went amiss or they were going into surgery, I asked.
[It's over?]
[Already?]
The reply said delivery was done.
Didn't she just go in? Even if fast...... I checked the clock—two hours had passed.
[It's a girl!!!! Smooth delivery in 2 hours 20 min!!!]
[OMG, huge congrats!!!!!]
I nearly called in excitement but held back.
Hospital must be chaos; it'd be rude.
Instead, I spammed congrats emojis in the chat, sharing the joy.
[Truly truly congrats! Hyun-jung did amazing, Se-seon take care of her now without worry!!]
[Yes *cry* Thank you *cry* So moving *cry*!!!!!!]
Good, it all worked out.
The baby was born.
Just hearing about it overwhelmed me with the miracle of new life.
May she grow up healthy.
A week later.
"Hello."
Nam Hyun-jung visited our clinic.
"Hyun-jung, huge congrats!! Se-seon told me it's a girl! You did so well!"
"Thank you."
I fussed excitedly, but she thanked me coolly, like a wicked mother-in-law congratulating her hated daughter-in-law's delivery.
"But didn't you say you had an important meeting after the due date?"
"It was two days after, and labor came two days early, so I got plenty of rest and handled the schedule. Thanks to the generous medicine, my condition's great."
She'd already done the meeting.
Discharged right after birth?
Postpartum care...... could be at home.
With enough servants, home might be better than a center.
"My husband asked me to pass on his thanks. He returned the day before yesterday and was shocked you're back to normal already."
I knew it was about health, but her cold gaze drew my eyes.
"Glad you're recovering smoothly. Smooth deliveries heal fast, but still, rest plenty with basic exercises."
"It was really quick. Walked two hours after birth. During delivery...... whew, everyone calls it smooth, but it felt like 20 hours to me."
"Oof, you suffered so much."
"Yes. Probably because I haven't had a hard one, but subjectively it was tough. Not planning to experience it again, of course."
I nodded.
Planning to stop at one, it seemed.
These days, one or two kids is standard, so considering her age, not odd.
"......That was a joke."
"Pardon?"
Which part?
"The no more part? Ah, haha."
"No need to force a laugh. Sorry. Please prescribe the postpartum tonic."
No, I really missed the point.
I scratched my head idly.
Time for inquiries......
"S-So, how's your energy level? On a scale of 10 pre-pregnancy, what was it right before birth and now?"
"Hmm, about 12 and 8."
12? First time someone's more energetic before birth than pre-pregnancy.
"Deer antler suits me well. If possible, add it to the postpartum tonic too. Can't take it year-round, right?"
"Of course I planned to include it. Take it fully for three months, then decide based on results. Growth tonics are sometimes taken a year, but dosage adjusts to symptoms."
"Got it."
"No matter how good the medicine, overwork is forbidden. If unavoidable overwork causes severe stress or fatigue, consult separately."
Her qi deficiency was so bad, she felt the high-dose antler strongly.
But never abuse the body relying on drugs.
"Will do."
"How's appetite and digestion?"
"Fickle before birth, now so-so. Digestion a bit slow. No bloating or pain, just a slight fullness."
"Sleep okay?"
"Waking for night feeds. Slept soundly after the meeting day off."
"Doing night feeds?"
Why so surprising?
Of course she could......
Ah, I realized the disconnect.
Rudely, I'd associated her with the Tang family head of Sichuan.
In Sichuan Tang, they locked crying babies in rooms, even surveilling with wet nurses and maids next door.
Apparently modern Westerners use pet cams sometimes.
To me, used to Korean-style holding and soothing till cries stop, it was startling.
"They say colostrum's best, so trying till I can't, then mixed feeding."
"Milk production okay?"
"A bit low. Getting massages."
"Got it. Will consider that. Any back or joint pain?"
Nam Hyun-jung flexed her fingers a few times.
"Come to think, it's fine."
"None at all?"
"Wrists and ankles good. Back a bit more stiff than usual, but not bad."
How to gauge her "not bad"?
Martial artist level seemed excessive.
"Any changes in stool/urine, sweat, dry mouth, palpitations, shortness of breath, etc., from last time?"
"Dry mouth on nights woken multiple times for feeding."
"Got it."
I quickly noted the inquiries and explained my prescription.
"Basing it on Bu Xu Tang with additions/removals. It's heavy on qi tonics and blood tonics already; I'll add deer antler. For milk, Vaccaria and Motherwort too. Details on the script."
"Yes. The prescriptions are so detailed."
"Joint pain might come later, so if it does, pair with local acupuncture."
Nam Hyun-jung nodded.
Checked progress, decided prescription.
"Any questions?"
I threw the closing line again.
"Two things."
Oh, there are?
Half the time yes, half no.
Usually prognosis questions like recovery time.
But with Nam Hyun-jung, I tensed subtly.
"Go ahead."
"Can I get back acupuncture today?"
......But the first was nothing.
"Sure. If prone's hard, side-lying. What's the second?"
And the second was.
"Director, can tic disorders be treated?"
Unrelated to our talk.
Of course, I answered diligently.
"Of course. Short-history kids mostly cured. Adults harder, or tics resolve but habits linger. Who is it?"
"A child. The son of the person I met has tics; interested in Eastern medicine."
Eastern medicine?
That phrasing......
"Foreigner?"
"Yes. Italian."