In labour - need urgent advice!

[Ineedadvicee]

Well.. kinda in labour, kinda not!

Waters broke 27 hours ago, arrived at the hospital shortly after they broke but contractions failed to start. The hospital said that if nothing happens in 24 hours (24 hours after works breaking), they will start the oxytocin drip to get things moving. Apparently they can only allow 24 hours as you are more prone to infection once waters have gone.

Problem is… the 24 hours are up but there are no beds on labour ward so they want to take me in for a c section. I’m gutted because I haven’t even been given the chance to try for a vaginal birth… of course I need to follow their advice but it seems so unfair that the reason for the c section is purely down to lack of beds, not because of anything medical?

I don’t know what to do…

That’s crazy! Can you push them for another bed… do they have private rooms free for you?

Ask to speak to the most senior midwife on duty, they have different names in different area. In most areas they’re called PMA midwives, ask if your hosptial has one. Discuss it with them.

If there’s no beds their hands are tied, you can go to a different hospital though to try for a vaginal delivery if you want to. Ring round your other ones, one of them will hopefully have a bed!

Can you transfer to another hospital?
Can they tell a timeline for a bed can be offered you

You might need to have a tantrum or two if you want them to work for you faster andyou need to be really spot on you will complain over they are going streight to a CS based on ressources not on your medical needs.

I mean this was nearly 8 years ago but my waters went on a Tuesday and they sent me home and booked me in for an induction on the Friday if things hadn’t moved along. (They gave me antibiotics to take and I had to check for a temp every four hours). It was hell I was in proper start stop labour and didn’t sleep. Begged them on the Thursday to come in early but was fobbed off with well you will be kept in the ward as baby will be prem. I wish I had just gone in and did what needed to be done to have baby delivered safely without detriment to my own health (I went into motherhood soooo sleep deprived and traumatised!) Can you see if they can keep you in somewhere else and just be monitored?

The risk of infection to your baby increases and the point of pregnancy is a healthy baby.
I've laboured and had a section and also had a section without labouring.

My recovery was so much better when I hadn't laboured . Take care xx

I would be doing the safest thing for the baby and getting them out quickly given how long ago your waters broke. An ELCS is incredibly safe. Take the medical advice please.

B enefits
R isks
A lternatives
I ntuition
N othing (now).... you might want to re-evalate in 1 hour or 3 hours... or the morning

Also your body, your choice, and advice is advice not orders.

No I wouldn’t be accepting major abdominal surgery because they have no beds. They need to give your body a change with the drip first.

I was going to google and find this. X

If they have no beds then they have no beds. You can’t induce a woman with a drip in the middle of the car park!

If they don't have beds for an induction, how do they have a bed for your recovery after caesarean? That's the question I'd ask.

Could they transfer you to a different maternity unit/ hospital?

The risk of infection rises a tiny amount. You can minimize the risk by not putting anything into the vagina and not putting anything in bath water. You can say no. None of this 'they won't allow' crap. You allow not them. If there are no beds to do the induction imagine what your experience on the postnatal ward when you have had major surgery will be like? If you refuse the caesarean I bet they find a bed.

I will ask about a transfer when she comes back round, I didn’t actually think of that…

I get that they are incredibly busy and they have to prioritise but it just feels unfair.

Could you request that they monitor you and the baby whilst you wait for a spot on labour ward?

I find it hard to believe that they would tie up all the resources needed for a c-secrion when you are a healthy mum and baby, not to mention putting you through unnecessary surgical intervention, rather than adopt a watch and wait approach.

Agree that it would be wise to request discussion with a senior HCP

this is quite a common scenario. It may be worth asking how things are looking after the evening handover (usually about 8pm-ish).... things can change quite quickly on labour wards so a room may become free. Alternative is to explore transferring out to a different hospital - again, it's not uncommon. If they're not able to facilitate starting things off tonight then it sounds like you need a conversation about the relative pros and cons for you and your baby of waiting a bit longer vs having a section (although if they're so busy they can't start an induction at the mo then they may also not be able to do a section that quickly). They can't make you have a section, but if there's no way to facilitate an induction then it's a bit of a rock and a hard place scenario.

This?? I know an operating theatre isn’t the same as a labour ward, but make this make sense!! They have the staff, space, time and resources for a massive surgery and at least days of aftercare, but not labour? This is the most batshit thing I have ever heard?!

you could go straight to the post natal ward after a section - that's what happens where I work.

They don't. But once baby is out antenatal and labour ward see it as their job done. That's why we have such shit experiences so common place on postnatal wards.

What about asking if you can have a pessary first (or gel - what ever they use at the hospital) and go home to see if it kicks things off naturally.
Keep moving as much as possible etc. don't just stay still.

I wouldn't be wanting major surgery because of no beds. One will come up soon.

Take care, this is your decision. Don't let them bully you into anything for their convenience..

Different staff. And done very fast compared to labouring.

OP's having an augmentation, not an induction - it's a different process.

Ah ok, sorry.

I had v birth after 24hours + after waters going, and my baby was very poorly a few days after. Not worth the risk IMHO