I had my first baby during the pandemic, and I’ve never fully understood why much of it happened the way it did.
As a bit of background, my waters went at 31 weeks but I didn’t go into labour, so I was induced bang on 37 weeks (with checks in hospital every 3 days to monitor for infection).
I was called in at 9pm for my induction, and by 11am the next day I was having contractions. After several hours I was recording that I was getting three contractions lasting around 60 seconds every 10 mins. I told a midwife to be told just to sit tight. During a 2hr period I pressed my bell three times as I was so sure I was in active labour and every time I was dismissed. By the time they finally said they would check me I was 9cm and rushed round to delivery suite. This was really stressful and at this point I already felt like I wasn’t listened to/ignored and it didn’t fill me with confidence.
As soon as I got in delivery suite I was 10cm and needing to push. I pushed for 1.5hrs before they did a forceps delivery, then and there in the room without an epidural or gas and air.
I still to this day have no idea why I had a forceps delivery. NHS website says to allow up to 3hrs for pushing for first babies.
I’ve since had my second baby and my experience was completely different. It was so much more positive and I felt like I was in control and could have a say in what was happening.
My hunch is that when I had my first baby, they didn’t have any space for me on the delivery ward and so they kept stalling me when I was saying that my contractions were coming close together. And then the only reason I can think of for the forceps delivery is because they needed the room back. Baby had constant monitoring during my labour so I know there weren’t any concerns with him.
What does everyone think? I suffered PTSD following my first birth and had counselling. My pregnancy was complicated and my baby was unwell after he was born so that has a lot to do with it, but the thing that bothered me the most has always been the forceps. I had a birth debrief and when I did my birth plan for baby 2 neither the consultant nor the midwife could give me a reason for the forceps delivery.
I also recently spoke to a friend who’s a nurse and mentioned that I wasn’t allowed gas and air first time, and she said that there was an oxygen shortage during the pandemic, so I guess that could be why they didn’t let me have gas and air 🤔
it’s always bothered me and I feel like I can’t get any straight answers, so would be good to hear what others think.