Dr. STORKS (コウノドリ)

Sano Mariko-san, 43 years old

She's 31 weeks pregnant.

She complained about abdominal pain. There might be bleeding and placental abruption.

Be strong. -Please.

Vitals? -Blood pressure 75/30, heart rate 100.

It's cyanosis. I'm Shinomiya from Obstetrics. I'm taking a look.

It's hard.

It's hemoperitoneum. -Fetal heart rate is dropping too.

Emergency operation! -Contact Neonatalogy.

Call the ER too. -Yes!

Hang in there! -We're turning.

Please support us. -Yes.

We'll begin emergency abdominal surgery for Sano Mariko-san.

Please cooperate together. -Please cooperate together.

Metz. -Yes.

It's a pity. The baby. -Yes.

We never expected it to be a uterine rupture.

It's a possibility during labor

but it's rare for a 31 weeks pregnant mother.

But it's good that we managed to save the mother.

Yes.

Dr. Kase, thank you.

Without your emergency help, the mother could've been worse.

Sano-san seems to have received fertility treatment for years.

They finally got a baby and this had to happen.

Due to the uterine rupture

the bleeding was quite bad.

It was also impossible for us to repair the rupture points.

As such, we were forced to remove the uterus.

No way...

I...

even though I've worked this hard...

Fertility treatment.

I've worked so hard...

At least

let me see the baby.

2 years ago, she had surgery to remove uterine fibroids

after that, she went through countless rounds of in-vitro fertilization.

They were finally blessed with this baby.

Was this caused by the injury during that surgery?

Once a uterus is being operated on, the risk of rupture will be higher.

If only she gave birth 10 years ago.

What? -The patient's 43, right?

10 years ago, the myoma would be smaller and she still could give birth naturally.

It's still better to give birth to kids when you're younger.

Dr. Kase, even for a woman, there are times when you want to give birth but you just can't.

Oh... -Child birth and child raising costs are high too.

When we enter society and pursue our career, we'll reach 30 before we even know it.

Matahara - maternity harassment

Plus, when we're finally pregnant, we might suffer Matahara too.

Mama..ta? -Maternity harassment!

Pregnant mothers get harassed at their workplaces.

Arbitrarily, some are forced to leave or retire too!

Of course I know that much... -It's the same for doctors too.

For example, female doctors get told they're not reliable after giving birth.

Some even after seeing so many pregnant patients they still can't make babies.

We female doctors have to face this kind of reality too!

Do you have a partner to make babies?

I don't but that's not the point now!

Shimoya, Shimoya. You're scary. -That's because...!

There are many female doctors who can't be reinstated too after maternity leave.

The aid for raising kids aren't sufficient too.

In short, giving birth and raising kids aren't as simple as you think it is.

That's right. Dr. Kase, do you understand now?

The desire to give birth and giving birth

are still women's privileges, right?

But in reality, that's not true.

There is time limit for us.

Hurry...hurry.

Oh crap, I'm late.

Did you poop?

Sorry, Mei.

Just a bit more, hang in there.

Good morning.

Good morning. -Morning.

Mei-chan, morning.

Alright, that feels better right?

Today I'll pick her up at 6.30 pm. -Okay.

Mei, be a good girl.

Mei-chan, Papa is working today too.

Papa take care~

Do your best in your work~

Hiro-kun, take care!

Do your best in your work~

Please take care of Mei today too.

Bye.

Night shift's still tough...

Kotteri seabura - ramen noodles in extra rich broth with pork back fat (seabura).

How about we go for ramen and then home? Kotteri seabura is energizing~

That's great! I'm in!

I can't. I gotta go back and sleep.

What are you saying despite being young?

Mayumi-chan, your skin is still smooth even when staying up all night.

As expected from a 20s.

That's not it.

Eh...wait. Excuse me, excuse me.

Eh oh my... I came too late.

There's a lot of patients in the fertility department today too.

Everyone's doing their best early in the morning huh?

The average age of mothers for their first childbirth has surpassed 30 years old.

Along with that, the number of patients receiving fertility treatment has increased.

Nowadays, it is said that 1 in 6 pairs

are receiving inspection and treatment.

Then, for those who were blessed with children...

Takeshita-san, today marks the 36th week.

It's finally the last month.

Another month until the due date.

The baby's doing fine today too.

Ah...that's good.

It's just that the baby's slightly small and

I'm also a bit worried about this sign of proteinuria.

Eh? -Just in case

if gestational hypertension happens, it will be tough for you.

How about being admitted earlier to monitor your condition?

Admission? Is the baby alright?

Yes, it's fine.

Just that, frankly, there is risk at the age of 43.

So we'd like to admit you earlier and

monitor your condition everyday. That way, we'll have peace of mind too.

I understand. -Yes.

My husband and I

are looking forward to meeting this child.

We've been receiving fertility treatment for 5 years and were finally blessed with this child.

This is my first and last chance to become a mother.

Yes, let's look forward to it preciously.

This time I'm planning to give up on giving birth.

I'm put in charge of a huge project now. I can't take any holiday.

Such a chance to level up my career might not come anymore.

So you're planning to do an artificial abortion?

Yes, but in the future, I want a kid.

So if I give up this time

next year and the year after, I can still give birth, right?

Please ask the fortune-teller.

Eh?

Ova/eggs are produced when a female is inside her mother's womb.

The number will not increase after that.

So it's the same as how you're delaying the years

the number of ovum will also continue to deplete.

As the number of ova drops, the pregnancy rate will fall too.

There's no guarantee that you'll be able to conceive next year, or the year after that.

It can't be helped if the project can only be handled by Honda-san alone.

Well, but the only person who can give birth to

the baby inside your tummy is only you too.

So when do you want it to be? -What?

The date of the abortion. When do you want it?

I'm sorry.

I'll consider it again.

Aizawa-san, Aizawa Miyuki-san.

Please enter Room 1.

I'm sorry but the implantation didn't succeed this time either.

Implantation - The early stage of pregnancy where the conceptus (blastocyst) attaches to the wall of uterus.

This morning, my body temperature dropped so

as I expected, it didn't work.

This is your 6th artificial insemination, right? -Yes.

How about giving it a consideration soon?

You're 38 years old now, right?

Department of Obstetrics and GYNecology Doctor Fertility specialist Kishida Hidenori

To effectively use the time

how about stepping up to in-vitro fertilization?

In-vitro fertilization?

Here.

Artificial insemination is a treatment where

Artificial insemination (AI)

good quality sperm are chosen

and then injected into the uterus on ovulation day.

Even though it's called artificial insemination

it's doesn't differ from the process of natural pregnancy.

On the other hand, in-vitro fertilization is a process

In-vitro fertilization (IVF)

where the collected egg is fertilized with a sperm outside the body

and then returned into the uterus of the mother.

But it feels like drifting away from natural pregnancy.

The purpose of fertility treatment is to give birth and raise the child healthily.

So there's no need to feel indebted to the medical treatment.

What's the percentage of pregnancy with this method?

At your age, it's around 30%.

For people above age 40, it will drop to the extent of 10%.

That much?

Regarding the presentation for Takagi Production's OA equipment

can you do it together with Kihara?

Eh? Okay.

Guiding the young generation

because eventually, they will take over. So I'm counting on you.

Take over?

Hey, Kihara! -Yes?

Come here.

Wait a minute. I'm the pioneer for the partnership with Takagi Production.

Mutual trust is also there. -Don't push yourself.

Your performance will be evaluated

but going to and fro to the nursery school

doesn't look good. I'm also put in a hard position.

Senior, please take care of me!

Is there anything..? -I can do this myself.

I will definitely produce results. Please leave it to me.

Congratulations.

Sorry for being late.

Hey, what's going on?

Asari-san is blessed.

Eh, no way. She's pregnant?

Please take care of me.