Caio's hard birth (Story)

Caio's mother, 17, was determined to ensure that he would have the chance to get pregnant since she could no longer have children. From an early age, she took him to the doctor every week for an innovative procedure that promised to prepare his body for pregnancy. Caio never directly questioned his mother, but he always felt deeply uncomfortable with the idea. He found the procedures uncomfortable, but obeyed out of respect.

One day, after another routine appointment, repeating the same procedure where a huge needle went through his abdomen just below the navel, a warm liquid was injected causing discomfort but soon becoming anesthetic throughout his stomach. The doctor asked for a blood test, claiming it would be just a control to check the progress of the treatment. Caio found it strange, but did not question it. A week later, when he returned to the office with his mother, the doctor entered the room with a smile on his face and a piece of paper in his hands.

— Caio, I have news! The pregnancy test was positive.  The procedure was a success! — he announced enthusiastically.

Caio froze. What he feared most had happened. He looked at the doctor, then at his mother, who seemed emotional, and felt a lump in his throat. The world was spinning around him.

— Positive? I... can't... how did this happen? — he stammered, despair taking over.

His mother, her eyes shining with pride, approached him and gently lifted the boy's shirt kissing her son's abdomen. Feeling the warm skin and every inch of that belly that would soon give rise to a new life.

— Son, this is wonderful! We did it — she said tenderly.

Caio panted, trying to take it all in. From an early age, he had thought it was just a waste of his mother's time, and to please her, he had accepted the procedures believing that the result would never change. But now, the pregnancy had happened – exactly what he feared most.

 Caio stood up, dazed, and ran out of the room, overcome by a wave of panic. His mind was in turmoil. "How will this baby grow inside me? How will my body support it? And, worse... how will I push it out? Where... Where will it come out?" The questions echoed in his mind as he ran through the hallways, trying to escape reality. He stopped only when he reached the men's bathroom. Above the sinks, there was a large mirror. Caio stood in front of it, looking at his own reflection with tears streaming down his face, his chest rising and falling with rapid breaths. With a hesitant movement, he lifted his shirt, revealing his abdomen. He observed his reflection, still thin and young, and turned to the side, trying to imagine what his belly would look like in a few months. With a trembling hand, he began to rub his abdomen, running his fingers over the skin. He felt the heat under his hands, lowering the elastic of his shorts a little more, exposing his abdomen completely.  He continued to look at his own reflection in the mirror, and little by little, the despair began to diminish. He was still scared and confused, but Caio finally understood: he was pregnant, he was going to be a father, he would carry a baby for the next few months, even though he hadn't finished high school.

**********

In the following days, Caio began to suffer from severe morning sickness, running to the bathroom every morning to vomit. His mother stayed by his side, massaging his shoulders and offering support. During the vomiting episodes, she also massaged his stomach, trying to relieve the pain and pressure as it contracted with her son's vomiting effort. Panting, he leaned against the wall and sat on the cold floor, rubbing his stomach, wiping the sweat from his forehead, getting up a little dizzy to drink water from the tap, and still having to get ready for class.

**********

A few months later, his belly was already a little prominent, but it already looked rounded and firm, as if his skin was stretched and tight, even though he was only in his fifth month. Accompanied by his mother at all his appointments, he was beginning to connect with the idea of ​​being a father, even though he was still a teenager.

At his routine appointment, Caio was lying on the office stretcher, with his shirt pulled up to his chest. The doctor was rubbing a cold gel on the boy's abdomen, preparing him for the ultrasound.

— It's going to be a little cold, but you're already used to it — the doctor said, smiling.

Caio gave a small, nervous smile as he felt the gel spread. His mother was sitting next to him, stroking his shoulders and tenderly running her fingers through her son's short hair. The doctor began to slide the ultrasound sensor over Caio's belly. The room was filled with the rhythmic sound of his belly's heartbeat.

 — Look, the baby is developing very well — the doctor commented, adjusting the equipment to improve the image.

Caio looked at the screen, still trying to get used to the idea that there was a life growing inside him. But then, the doctor's face became serious, and he tilted his head, observing something on the screen more closely.

— Wait... — the doctor murmured, moving the sensor to one side and then to the other a little deeper.

— What is it? — Caio's mother asked, concern beginning to take over her voice.

The doctor adjusted the angle of the sensor once more, and then let out a small nervous laugh.

— Well, it seems we have a surprise here... — He turned the screen so that Caio and his mother could see as he pointed.

Caio leaned in, his heart racing. On the screen, it was possible to clearly see two fetuses, side by side, moving.

— Twins.  You're going to have twins — the doctor announced, trying to sound excited, but the news fell like a bombshell.

Caio's eyes widened, feeling the world spin again.

— Twins? Two? What do you mean two? — He put his hands on his head, in a mix of despair and disbelief.

His mother, however, seemed delighted. She squeezed her son's shoulders tighter, leaning in to look at the screen.

— Two! My God, Caio, it's a blessing! — she said, tears starting to flow.

— Blessing? This is a nightmare! — Caio exclaimed, still staring at the screen with an expression of pure shock. He felt his hands sweat as he looked back at his belly, which was soon wrapped in the hands of his mother who was rubbing the paper, removing the gel from her son's abdomen with a proud smile, now holding a photo with the ultrasound of the two fetuses and showing it to him.

*********

As the months passed, the baby's kicks began to become more intense and frequent, especially during classes. Caio could no longer ignore the movements inside his belly, which were now strong enough to make his skin crawl. He sat  in class, trying to maintain his composure, but he always end up groaning softly in pain or surprise when he felt a sudden kick, biting his fist to try to stifle his groan.

Caio's mother, upon seeing the movements of his belly, was surprised and amazed. She  often come closer to him to watch, trying to understand what was happening as her son reacted to the kicks. Sometimes, Caio's belly moved so intensely deforming the shape with the movements  that it seemed like it was about to burst.

The heat at the time meant that Caio almost always wear only shorts at home, as the weight of his belly, combined with the heat, made him sweat constantly. Each step seemed more difficult, and he began to have more and more difficulty moving.  Climbing the stairs, which had previously been a simple task, now became a huge challenge. Caio complained about every step, every movement, feeling the weight of the babies inside him like a constant pressure. His mother, attentive to her son's discomfort, helped him whenever she could. She massaged him, rubbed his belly tenderly, trying to alleviate the pain he felt. She knew that the process of carrying twins was even more challenging, and she did everything she could to make Caio feel as comfortable as possible. Despite the tiredness and daily difficulties, there was a growing bond between mother and son. Caio was beginning to understand the gravity of his responsibility, but he also felt a sense of deep care for those two little beings inside him. He knew that there was still a lot to learn and that his journey as a father was just beginning, but his mother's constant presence made him feel that he was not alone.

*********
A few months had passed since the twins were revealed, and now, almost nine months pregnant, Caio was at his limit. His belly, huge and heavy, seemed impossible to carry, and every simple movement was a gigantic effort. He was already exhausted before labor even began. He was sitting on the couch in the living room, next to his mother, while they watched videos on YouTube about childbirth, trying to prepare themselves for what was to come. Most of the videos showed common but difficult, complicated births, with a lot of pain and effort, but there were rarely any records of teenager people like Caio, which made it even more challenging to understand what he should expect. Caio watched in silence, his heart heavy, as his mother tried to explain what could happen, although she didn't know exactly what it would be like either. He rubbed his belly, still trying to understand how the babies would come out. Fear was growing inside him with each video he watched, but he knew that soon, maybe in a few weeks, he would be living that same experience. Every movement of his body, every intense contraction he would feel, seemed to increase his anxiety.  He tried to calm down, but the image of babies coming out of women's bodies on the screens seemed so far from his reality. The pain, the pressure, the fear were slowly consuming him.

His mother watched him tenderly, trying to comfort him, but also sharing the boy's fear and uncertainty. She knew that her son was about to face something very difficult, and that she could do nothing more to prevent the same suffering in her son, but she also knew that he was not alone. She rested her hand on the boy's stomach, who immediately twisted with a kick of surprise.

That same night, while he was sitting on the couch trying to find a comfortable position, he felt an intense pain in his abdomen, much stronger than the mild contractions he had been feeling in the previous weeks. Before he could process what was happening, a warm liquid ran down his legs, soaking the shorts he was wearing.

—Mom!—he shouted, his voice shaking with both pain and panic.

His mother ran to him, immediately recognizing what was happening.

— Your water broke, Caio!  It's time! Let's go to the hospital! — she said, helping him to stand up.

With great effort, and supported by his mother, Caio left the house towards the car. Each step was accompanied by a strong contraction that made him moan and squeeze his mother's hand tightly. When they arrived at the hospital emergency room, Caio's condition caught everyone's attention. His shorts were completely soaked, and the liquid continued to run down his legs. His huge belly was partially exposed, since the shirt was no longer able to cover it all, and his belly button was protruding; it was also possible to see some veins under the tight skin of his belly.

— Please, I think he's in labor! His water broke!— Caio's mother shouted to the attendants, while he bent over with an expression of pain, supporting himself on his knees.

The nurses quickly put Caio in a wheelchair and took him to a delivery room.  He was sweating and breathing hard, clutching his abdomen every time a contraction hit.

—Where’s the doctor?— his mother asked anxiously.

One of the nurses answered quickly as she adjusted the equipment.

—The doctor in charge is on his way, but he won’t be here for a few hours.

—Hours?!— Caio shouted, gasping and crying. —I... I can’t wait! It hurts so much!

The nurses tried to calm him down, adjusting his position on the stretcher and checking the babies’ heartbeats.

—I know it’s hard, but we need you to hold on, Caio. We’re monitoring everything, and the doctor will be here as soon as possible.

He threw his head back, tears streaming down his face, as he felt another contraction rip through his abdomen. The situation was a mix of desperation and urgency. His mother stayed by his side the whole time, holding his hand and trying to reassure him, although she herself was visibly distressed.  Caio looked at the room, at the worried faces of the nurses, at his belly that seemed to be exploding, and wondered how he would be able to endure those hours that seemed like an eternity.


******

Hours had passed since the doctor had finally arrived and begun the procedures, and Caio was already completely exhausted. His breathing was irregular, his body covered in sweat, and the pain seemed to tear at every part of his being. He no longer had the strength to question or resist; he just obeyed the doctor's repeated command, who asked firmly:

—Push, Caio! One more time!

Caio felt his entire body burn, an overwhelming pressure coming from within, but he couldn't understand exactly what was happening. His legs were spread and supported by the support bars of the stretcher, while the medical team moved frantically around him, checking equipment, monitoring the babies' heartbeats and offering him words of encouragement.

The doctor was sitting calmly between his legs, his gaze fixed and focused, looking into Caio's eyes over his belly.

—Very good, Caio. It's going well. Now, take a deep breath and push again, as hard as you can.

 Caio, in a mix of desperation and obedience, held onto the sides of the stretcher and put all his remaining strength into one more push. He felt a tightness and indescribable pain in a part of his body that he never imagined using for something like this. It was then that, amidst the chaos and effort, he realized, with a mix of shock and disbelief, that the birth canal was his anus.

—is it coming out of my...?! But how?!— he managed to mumble between moans and tears, looking at the doctor with a look of fear and shock.

The doctor nodded calmly, while encouraging once more:

—Yes, Caio. That’s where the babies are coming out. This is completely normal in your case. Now, I need you to keep pushing! Concentrate!

Caio felt a new kind of despair mixed with exhaustion. He had never imagined it would be like this, that his body would be capable of something so surreal and painful. Still, he kept pushing, the doctor’s command echoing in his mind.

 He clenched his fists, moaning and screaming as the first baby began to move, each second seemed like an eternity, pain tore through his body with each breath and thrust, the heavy pressure in his anus increasing, as did the bulge around his hole with the baby's head, struggling to stretch the exit a little more, sliding all the way inside even though it had not yet crowned or progressed.

********

Hours passed, Caio was completely exhausted. The pain was intense, and the feeling of pressure seemed endless. Despite his efforts, the process was not going as expected. His teenage body, still unprepared for the demands of such a complex birth, was not responding optimally, the dilation he had was not enough, the ring in his anus was at its limit like a well-stretched rubber band about to break.

The contractions continued strong, but the first baby simply would not move. The doctor, now with a more serious expression, monitored the situation closely while the medical team took measures to help.

— The baby is stuck in the exit. We need to act quickly to avoid complications.

Caio, between moans of pain and tears streaming down his face, did not quite understand what was happening. He just felt that something was terribly wrong.

—Please, get this out of me! I can't take it anymore!— he shouted, his voice hoarse from crying and screaming so much.

 The doctor decided to use forceps to help extract the baby. The tool was carefully positioned, but the process required great precision. Meanwhile, a nurse was performing a birthing maneuver on the boy, pressing his belly with his arms very hard to try to push the baby in the right direction.

—Hold on tight, Caio! I know it hurts, but we’re almost there!— said the doctor, trying to keep the room calm.

Each push was like a torture for Caio. The pressure on his belly was so intense that he felt like he wouldn’t be able to breathe, and that his belly would rupture at any moment with the increasing pressure. Blood stained the sheets of the stretcher, further alarming his mother, who held his hand tightly.

—He’s bleeding a lot!—she said, her voice full of panic.

—It’s expected in cases like this, but we’re monitoring everything. Stay calm,— replied the doctor, without taking his eyes off the procedure.

For hours, the baby remained stuck, increasing the risk for him and Caio.  The young guy felt as if his body was going to split in half, but somehow he found the strength to continue obeying the doctor's commands.

—One more push, Caio! The forceps are in place! Come on, you can do it!—the doctor encouraged.

With a final cry of pain and superhuman effort, Caio pushed as the doctor carefully pulled with the forceps. Finally, the first baby was removed, crying loudly as he was wrapped in the hands of the medical team.

But Caio didn't have time to breathe or celebrate. He still had another baby inside, and his body was already at its limit. The doctor and nurses worked with urgency, knowing that the next birth would be even more challenging.

As Caio cried with exhaustion and relief at the same time, his mother remained by his side, whispering words of support, even though she herself was terrified by everything that had happened. The birth wasn't over yet, but Caio had already been through more than he thought he could handle.  Still moaning in pain and panting, with tears streaming down his face, he looked desperately at his mother, who remained by his side. He held her hand tightly, begging:

—Mom, please! Do a C-section! I can’t take it anymore! Take this baby out of me!— he shouted, his voice choked and hoarse..


Before his mother could answer, the doctor interrupted firmly, but without losing his patience:

—Caio, I understand that this is very difficult, but a cesarean is no longer an option. The second baby is already in the birth canal. We need to keep it up. Be strong! You can do this, boy!— said the doctor as he massaged the boy's thighs.

Caio let out a loud sob, sinking his head into the pillow as he felt another crushing contraction run through his body. He wanted to escape from that pain, from that situation that seemed endless, but he had no choice.

—We're going to adjust the position to make labor easier,— said the doctor.

He turned the levers on the equipment that supported Caio's legs, opening them even more to give him more space. He also raised the supports so that Caio's knees were almost touching his shoulders. The new position was uncomfortable, exposing his hips and butt even more, but it was necessary so that the baby would have a chance to come out with a little less difficulty.

—Take a deep breath and concentrate. It'll work out — said the doctor, trying to convey some calm as he prepared himself again.

Hours passed, and Caio continued to scream in pain with each contraction. His hands gripped the edges of the stretcher above his head as he used all the strength he could muster to push. Each effort seemed useless, as if the baby didn't want to come out.

—He's stuck again!— exclaimed one of the nurses, looking at the doctor with concern.

The doctor nodded, instructing the same nurse who had helped before to apply that maneuver again, pressing on Caio's abdomen to push the baby down. This time, however, the nurse used even more force, throwing practically all of his body weight against Caio's belly, who let out a scream of pain so loud that it seemed to echo through the walls of the hospital, feeling the pressure triple in his stomach.

—Please, stop! It can't go on!— he whimpered, his face bathed in tears, his muscles trembling with exhaustion.

 — I know it hurts, Caio, but we need to keep going. You're almost there! — said the doctor, as he tried to position the baby correctly.

The nurse's pressure on his belly was crushing, making Caio feel as if his organs were being compressed. He kept pushing, moaning and screaming, his body already completely exhausted.

— Come on, Caio! One more time! You're almost there! — the doctor insisted.



A few minutes later, the room was silent for a moment before being filled with the sound of Caio's last scream, hoarse and filled with all the strength he had left. He pushed with everything he had, and suddenly, he felt an immediate and overwhelming relief. The burning in his anus subsided almost instantly. The pressure that seemed to crush him disappeared, and his enormous belly, which seemed to have been an impossible mountain to bear, emptied like a waterfall, with the excess liquids falling off the stretcher, becoming soft and flaccid. The baby jumped into the doctor's arms.

The crying filled the room, bringing a mix of relief and emotion to the medical team. The doctor quickly removed the baby and handed him over to the nurses for cleaning, while the nurse who had been pushing on Caio's belly now rubbed it gently, trying to relieve the pressure and pain he had endured for hours.

Caio collapsed on the stretcher, his body completely surrendered to exhaustion. He could not feel any of his limbs;  It was as if he was floating in a void after all the pain and effort. But at the same time, he felt a strange peace: the pain had disappeared almost instantly, and he could now see the doctor's entire face between his legs, even though his vision was a little blurry. With tears still streaming down his face, he turned his head to the side, where his mother was, and grabbed her blouse with trembling hands.

—I did it, Mom... I did it...— he murmured, his voice broken with emotion. His mother, who was also crying, leaned over to hug her son carefully, kissing his forehead with pride.

—You were incredible, my love... You managed to bring my grandchildren into the world— she said, her voice breaking.

After a few minutes of cleaning and evaluation, the doctors brought the twins to Caio. He was exhausted, his entire body heavy and limp, but his arms trembled with emotion as the little ones were carefully placed on his chest. He looked at their tiny faces and felt a lump form in his throat. Tears began to flow again, but this time they were tears of pure relief and a strange kind of pride.

—My God... They're... so big...— he whispered, almost in disbelief, as he felt the weight of the two babies in his arms. They were bigger than he had imagined, and the mere thought that he had managed to push those two large and heavy creatures out of his body left him stunned. —How did I manage to...?— The twins cried softly, their small hands moving, while Caio looked at them, amazed.

His mother, still beside him, gently squeezed his shoulders, leaning down to kiss his hair, still damp with sweat.

—You are stronger than you think, my son.  I've never been so proud of you— she said, her voice thick with emotion. As she took a picture of her son.

As he watched the babies sleeping peacefully in his arms, Caio felt a wave of gratitude and understanding. Despite all the difficulties he faced and the fear he felt during the process, he couldn't help but feel grateful to his mother. Her insistence on having the procedures done early on, even when he didn't believe it was possible or desirable, now seemed to have been the best decision of his life.

He remembered how, for so long, he had questioned the idea of ​​going through all of this, how, with fear and disbelief, he thought he would never be able to handle the changes. But now, with the babies in his arms, he felt that this was, somehow, everything he had ever wanted.

—Thank you, mom...— he murmured, still holding his children tenderly. Caio smiled, despite his tiredness, his heart overflowing with happiness.  Caio was not just a son, he was a father now, and despite being young, he already felt capable of assuming this responsibility for as long as necessary.