Henry is struggling to pass his anatomy class, so he visits his professor, Dr. Smith, to ask for extra credit. With six absences and his scholarship at risk, he cannot afford to fail. Dr. Smith offers him an unusual opportunity: participating in a pharmaceutical study testing a new weight-gain supplement. In exchange for taking the supplement daily and attending regular checkups, Henry is promised an A in the course.
During his initial examination, Dr. Smith measures Henry's waist and monitors his body composition. Henry jokes about being treated like a model but becomes concerned when he learns the supplement may cause weight gain. Dr. Smith reassures him that the changes will be modest and promises to monitor his progress carefully. Henry eventually agrees.
Four months later, Henry returns with a noticeably larger, rounded belly. His shirt no longer fits properly, and he complains of bloating, fatigue and unusual food cravings. Dr. Smith dismisses these symptoms as possible side effects of the supplement, suggesting water retention or a dosage adjustment. When Henry suspects something else is happening, the doctor avoids giving him a clear explanation and insists that he continue attending his appointments.
Over the following weeks, Henry's abdomen grows even larger. One evening, Dr. Smith urgently calls him to the office because the volunteer scheduled for his online anatomy class has cancelled. He asks Henry to take his place, offering to withdraw the study and his promised A if he refuses. Reluctantly, Henry agrees.
During the online presentation, Dr. Smith introduces Henry as a volunteer undergoing a routine prenatal examination. Henry is shocked to discover that he is expected to pretend to be pregnant, but Dr. Smith argues that his enlarged belly makes him a convincing demonstration subject.
Dr. Smith asks Henry to lift his shirt and begins demonstrating prenatal examination procedures. First, he measures Henry's abdominal circumference, explaining its importance in monitoring fetal growth. He then measures fundal height, from the pelvic bone to the top of the abdomen, to assess the little one's development. Henry makes sarcastic remarks about his enormous belly and the absurdity of the situation.
Next, Dr. Smith palpates different areas of Henry's abdomen to determine the little one's position. He eventually announces that the little one appears to be breech, meaning its head is pointing upward. He explains that an external cephalic version could be attempted to turn the little one before delivery.
Finally, Dr. Smith performs an ultrasound. When an actual fetal image appears on the screen, Henry realizes something is terribly wrong. He demands to know whether Dr. Smith has been lying to him throughout the study. The doctor calmly insists that the pregnancy is real and that everything appears to be progressing normally.
Panicking, Henry refuses to believe that he could possibly be pregnant and suggests that the entire situation must be a psychological experiment. Dr. Smith explains that denial is a common reaction and tells him they must begin discussing a birth plan.
To help Henry understand what is happening, Dr. Smith asks him to imagine a water balloon. As it fills with water, it gradually expands until it reaches its limit and eventually bursts. He explains that Henry's body has been preparing for this moment and will eventually reach the point where it can no longer contain the growing life inside him. He reassures Henry that the medical team will support him throughout the process.
Looking down at his enormous belly, Henry is suddenly overwhelmed by fear. For the first time, he begins to consider the reality of giving birth. Dr. Smith explains that during labor, his breathing and heart rate must be monitored closely, his chest must remain accessible for possible emergency procedures such as chest compressions, and his abdomen must remain exposed so the medical team can observe the little one's movements through the birth canal. He emphasizes that these precautions are essential for the little one's safety.
