I had bad pains in my thighs too...a nice surprise that was! (two weeks ago) I had to ask DH to push in on them and it helped a little, as did staring at the wall for hours. We had called an ambulance (car was a problem at time and new to area so no family), said they'd be there in under an hour, they took 6.5hrs and i arrived at the hospital in agony 9cms with a lip. I pushed within 5 minutes of arriving and tore badly. The gas and air cannister ran out after trying for a few minutes to get the hang and they didnt have time to change it. So all in all a natural but agonising delivery, still in shock with the stitches whilst getting to grips with bfing in a new area surrounded by boxes.....
I still panic slightly everytime i think of the birth and what state i might be in with stitches (i really cant bare to assess that properly yet).
Best of luck Zo3, you sound like you are doing really well.

Hi, I am new on here.
I have always had pain in my legs. I am now pregnant with baby no.3. I am 35wks+5days. I am having very bad pains in my legs as I speak. I would not be able to say whether I was in Labour or not?
My last child was born too quickly; I had my waters broken because he was two weeks over due. The pain was all in my legs. I did not even realise that I was about to give birth until the midwife realised that I had started to push. Unfortunately I ended up with a third degree tear because it was a surprise to me and the midwife.
It’s good to know that there are others that suffer with the pain in their legs.

And thank you to everyone else as well - I was a bit caught up with my conversation with Mears - sorry for being rude. I feel so much better now and ready to face the consultant like a grown woman not a blubbering wreck (hopefully!)

NSF - thanks!

Mears - thank you so so much. You have confirmed a lot of what I thought. I think I'd better see the consultant since an appointment's been made but I will make enquiries about seeing the Senior Midwife (who as it happens is the one who delivered my DS).

Definitely then the person to speak to is the senior midwife/manager of the labour ward. The consultant will have little knowledge of midwifery care in labour. The midwives need to learn from your experience and how you felt about being denied the use of the pool when you needed pain relief. Their guideline needs changing. Whilst it is true that labour should be established before using the pool for pain relief, many women need to get in before 5cm. The worst thing that will happen if they go in too soon is that the contractions will get less. In that scenario the woman gets out and re-enters later.

It is such a shame that you have had such an avoidable experience. I hope that you are able to see the senior midwife too.

It is obvious that your level of pain was not recognised by the midwife and you were left on your own too long. That is also a contributory factor to your need for pain relief. It also means that your contractions and your response were not being observed. Had that been done, you may have got into the pool earlier. Lying back in the bath would have made your contractions more painful if your baby was back-to-back. The midwife would have been able to see this had one been with you.

I am going now but am happy to answer any further questions you may have. Will check in tomorrow.

Oh twinkle - after my first two I didn't do a birth plan for my third. I completely get what you mean. You just have to make sure that you go in there confident and, well, and , confident. Get yourself a doula if you are going again (really they are SOOOOOOO much less expensive than I thought). It CAN be better the next time.

I can't quite explain how good it was for me the third time. Really. Second would have been better too but for circumstances beyond my control and a really bad night shift....

I think the pool thing is just hospital policy. I'd been told that beforehand.

My birth plan said I was keeping an open mind about pain relief and if I wanted anything more than gas and air I would ask (ie I didn't want to be tempted by something else which I might then regret if I reacted badly to it). I wasn't told when I put the plan together that this in itself could limit my use of gas and air.

When I was 6cm they let me go in the pool and I got gas and air, but as I said I was far too far gone to be able to use it effectively. I think the best pain relief of all was a change of shift and I got the most fantastic midwife who made all the difference.

I've been wondering myself about seeing the consultant. The GP referred me after I completely freaked out when I went for a smear test. She's also referred me for counselling because it's severely affected mine and DH's relationship (ie any pregnancy at the mo would be the immaculate conception). She has said herself that the consultant probably won't be too sympathetic but thought it was important for me to let them know what happened so it doesn't happen to someone else.

I think if (a BIG if) there's a next time, I wouldn't have a birth plan, other than "please let me do/have whatever I feel is right for me at the time, barring medical reasons". You are very much encouraged to make one and I don't think tbh enough information was available to ensure my choices are fully informed. I read lots about natural, active birth and the evils of medicalisation, but I think I needed more practical information about the implications of my choices.

Sorry, that's a long post!

I think that there may be a problem here because of your birthplan. You said in one of your posts that you didn't want offered anything other than gas and air. I think this has meant that the midwife has expected you to cope with the pain and under-estimated how much pain you were in. They have tried to keep you away from using gas and air and the pool too early with the expectation that you might need stronger pain relief later - something you had not wanted in your birthplan.

The situation you were in should have been discussed more fully. In my opinion you should have been allowed to go into the pool and to use gas and air as you were so distressed. There would have been no harm done and you would have benefitted from being listened to.

Was there an issue with staffing? A woman should not labour in the pool without a midwife being present.

The consultant might not be the best person to discuss this with - it would be better to be the manager midwife of the labour ward to be honest.

What happened once you were 6cm? What pain relief did you have then?

And yes I was in the labour ward. I went straight there when we got to hospital and they didn't turn me away. Well, I think they tried...