I gave birth to DS 10 months ago but this still bugs me.
At ante-natal classes we were always told to wait until we were contracting every 3-4 minutes before going into hospital. My labour lasted for about 24 hours but I never had such frequent contractions. They were usually about 6-7 minutes apart. I called the hospital three times during labour (at the beginning, after 12 hours and once towards the end when I was literally screaming with pain) and all the midwives told me I was in early/non-established labour and I shouldn’t go to hospital yet. At the end, we just decided to take a taxi and go anyway and when they examined me at hospital they found out I was well into the second stage. The baby was born 45 minutes after arriving at the hospital.
Giving birth was much easier and less painful than I expected. I am grateful for that and one of the reasons for this was probably everyone insisting I was not in established labour. However, sometimes I still wonder how common my experience is and what would have happened if labour was complicated and the baby was put in danger as a result of the midwives trying to keep me away from hospital. For example, when they broke my waters they found thick meconium and the baby had to be suctioned to make sure he hadn’t breathed any right after birth. If I had waited at home a bit longer and eventually gave birth at home, we wouldn’t be able to do that. I know I sound precious, but somehow I feel that the system has failed me.
IABU to think there must be other women with similar experiences? I am obviously not talking about hard and fast labours where people don’t have time to get into hospital.
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AIBU?
To wonder if anyone else has had an "atypical" labour?
37 replies
bgmama · 28/10/2016 08:40
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