289: Chapter 289 Prenatal Care

Li Ying pulled his hand and pressed it onto her belly: "Feel this, she's moving."

Qin Lin's palm rested on her belly, separated by the thin knit sweater; he could feel the slight bulge of her abdomen and the warmth of her skin. It was quiet for a few seconds.

Then, a light movement came from under his palm.

It was as if something inside had given a gentle nudge.

It wasn't a hallucination.

Qin Lin's fingers tightened slightly.

Another nudge.

Li Ying watched his expression and smiled: "How is it?"

Qin Lin said: "It's moving."

"Duh, of course I know it's moving. I'm asking, what does it feel like?"

Qin Lin thought about it: "I can't describe it."

Li Ying nodded with satisfaction: "That's right, the feeling of being a father is something that can't be described in the first place."

In her voice, there was a rare lack of teasing or playfulness; there was only a calm, gentle, motherly pride.

Qin Lin looked at her and felt that she was completely different at this moment than usual.

It was quiet for a moment.

Su Yuran sat in the very center, looking down at her own belly, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned.

She reached out and gently stroked her abdomen, her movements very light, as if she were stroking a precious piece of porcelain.

When Qin Lin looked over, she raised her head, met his gaze, and smiled.

There were no words in that smile, but Qin Lin understood.

She was also feeling the fetal movement.

Lin Wanwan looked down at her belly, cupping it with both hands, as if holding a fragile dream.

Wang Xiulan was beside her, gently patting the back of her hand.

Lin Xiaoyue also had her head lowered, her hand on her belly, while Lin Fang was beside her, helping her tidy up the hair on her forehead.

Han Qing wrote the second topic on the whiteboard.

"The second topic for today: Nutrient intake."

"A pregnant woman's diet is not only related to maternal health but also directly affects fetal development."

"I will customize your daily diet based on your physical condition and the System's recommendations."

She glanced at Li Ying: "Especially you. Don't look at others, I'm talking about you. You've been sneaking into the refrigerator at night for three days in a row."

Li Ying looked innocent: "I didn't."

"The System has records; all electrical appliances in the The Ark have usage logs."

Li Ying opened her mouth, then closed it.

Han Qing continued: "You can eat snacks, but you must control the amount. You can eat more fruit, but choose low-sugar ones. Desserts are limited to twice a week, and ice cream to once a week."

Han Yurou asked a question that almost made her mother pass out: "Mom, can we eat more of the braised pork that Brother Qin Lin makes?"

Han Qing took a deep breath: "Braised pork... you can eat it, in moderation."

Li Ying leaned back in the massage chair and suddenly said: "Brother Qin Lin, if you make me braised pork every day from now on, I won't sneak snacks anymore."

Qin Lin looked at her: "Is this an equivalent exchange?"

Li Ying blinked: "Yes, braised pork in exchange for my son's health."

"How do you know it's a son?"

"A feeling." Li Ying stroked her belly, "The strength with which he kicks me is greater than what they say, it must be a son."

Han Qing didn't want to waste time on this topic and wrote the third topic on the whiteboard.

"The third topic: Emotional management."

"During pregnancy, due to changes in hormone levels, a pregnant woman's emotions will be relatively unstable. It's easy to feel anxious, irritable, prone to crying, or have a temper. These are all normal physiological reactions and there is no need to have any psychological burden."

"However, excessive emotional fluctuations will affect fetal development."

"Therefore, you need to learn to regulate your own emotions. The methods are: first, appropriate exercise; second, sufficient sleep; third, more communication; fourth, doing things you like."

Her gaze swept across the faces of several pregnant women and finally landed on Qin Lin.

"And also, the expectant father should provide more companionship, care, and consideration."

Qin Lin was standing at the door and felt a bit embarrassed by this sentence.

Several pregnant women looked at him. Li Ying's eyes carried the meaning of "Did you hear that?", while Han Yurou's eyes held the meaning of "It's good that you heard it."

Xu Xue lowered her head with a smile on her lips, and Xia Qiuyan watched her and laughed along.

Su Yuran's gaze was very calm, with a faint smile on her lips.

Lin Wanwan looked at Qin Lin, her face flushing slightly, then lowered her head, twisting the corner of her sweater with her fingers.

Lin Xiaoyue looked at him openly and smiled.

Lin Fang, who was beside her, also glanced at Qin Lin and then lowered her head.

Qin Lin nodded: "Okay, I understand."

Han Qing turned around with satisfaction and wrote the fourth point on the whiteboard, her handwriting neat and firm.

The meeting lasted for an hour and a half.

When the meeting adjourned, the pregnant women all stood up to stretch.

Su Yuran supported her waist and stood up slowly; Qin Lin walked over to help her as a matter of course.

She looked at him and smiled: "I can still walk; I haven't reached the point where I need help."

Qin Lin withdrew his hand and stood beside her.

Han Yurou stretched out in a big way, and just as her hands were above her head, she suddenly let out an "Ouch," bent over, and covered her belly with both hands.

Everyone's eyes turned to her.

Han Qing's expression changed slightly, and she walked over quickly: "What's wrong?"

Han Yurou's expression was somewhat painful, but with a hint of bewilderment: "My belly... my belly hurts."

Qin Lin's heart rate accelerated.

Is the baby about to be born? It's not even the due date yet.

Han Qing helped Han Yurou onto the medical bed, touched her belly, asked a few more questions, then let out a sigh of relief, stood up, and said to everyone: "Braxton Hicks contractions, nothing to worry about."

"Braxton Hicks contractions?" Han Yurou's voice was a little aggrieved, "But it really hurts."

Han Qing took a pillow from the cabinet nearby, placed it under her waist, and dimmed the light at the head of the bed a little.

Han Yurou lay on the bed, her face still bearing the lingering pain, but it was much better than before.

Han Qing pulled Qin Lin over, had him sit by the bed, and said to Han Yurou: "Let Brother Qin Lin stay here and keep you company."

Han Yurou nodded and reached out to hold Qin Lin's hand.

Her eyes were bright, no longer as panicked and nervous as before.

Qin Lin sat down by the bed and looked at Han Yurou.

Her hands were very cold, but they slowly warmed up a little after holding Qin Lin's hand.

"Does it still hurt?" Qin Lin asked.

Han Yurou shook her head: "It doesn't hurt anymore, but Brother Qin Lin, don't go."

"I won't go."

Han Yurou smiled and buried her face in the pillow.

The other pregnant women left the Medical Room one after another.

Before leaving, Su Yuran glanced at Han Yurou and Qin Lin, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned, but she didn't say anything and turned to leave.

Li Ran and Su Yuling also came, standing at the entrance of the Medical Room, holding a bouquet of lilies just cut from the Flower Garden.

Su Yuling handed the flowers to Han Yurou, stood by her bed for a while, and tugged on Qin Lin's sleeve.

The room quieted down.

Han Qing was organizing medical equipment on the table nearby, with her back to them, but she hadn't left yet.