Betty’s pregnancy arc came to a bleak end, but thankfully not a tragic one. I was as surprised as anyone to see that baby Eugene was born without any complications or harrowing circumstances. Those labor dreams were strange and surreal, but they were drug-fueled, so it’s hard to pin too much significance on them. The overall experience of giving birth in the 60’s looks way more scary and depressing than joyful, doesn’t it? This is coming from a woman who’s had two babies. Trust me, my nurses were sweet and encouraging, and I my husband coached me through it all. I can’t blame Betty for wondering where Don was (“Have you seen him? He’s never where you expect him to be.”) or any bad feelings post-partum. I just hope if she has them, that she reaches out for some sort of help. I was happy to see Francine watching the kids and hope she sticks around for some bonding. She always seemed like the one person with whom Betty could let down her guard.
