I was at a friend’s birthday party, and he had invited some of his colleagues. One of them, a younger guy, brought along his equally young and rather naive girlfriend.
As the evening went on, I found myself in a conversation with my friend’s wife, the young couple, and a few others. The topic shifted to pregnancy, as my friend’s wife had two kids. She mentioned that she was done having children and didn’t want to go through pregnancy again.
I knew her last childbirth had been rough, but I didn’t know the full extent of it. The naive girlfriend, however, seemed completely unaware of the potential risks of pregnancy. She started making comments like, “How could you even make that choice?” and “Birth is the most beautiful thing a woman can experience.”
My friend’s wife clearly didn’t take those comments well, and I could see the fire ignite in her eyes. She took a metaphorical “hold my beer” moment and proceeded to educate us all, especially the naive girlfriend, about exactly what she went through during her last labor.
Apparently, it was a nightmare from start to finish. Her water broke, but the baby had already passed meconium (pooped in the womb), which created a serious risk of infection. Labor lasted almost 20 hours, and she lost so much blood that doctors were genuinely worried about whether she’d survive. She also tore badly during delivery, requiring extensive stitches. The entire process was one close call after another, for both her and the baby.
As she recounted these harrowing details, the young girlfriend looked absolutely stunned—her mouth open like a goldfish. It was the perfect example of how someone armed with nothing but facts can leave a lasting impression.
Thankfully, both the wife and her son are healthy now, but it was clear that the experience had been life-altering for her. It was also clear that the young girlfriend walked away with a newfound respect for just how serious pregnancy and childbirth can be.
