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…

Good luck OP. Hope everything went well. 💜

Surely this goes against their and midwifery policies. That C Sec should be a last resort jot because they have no beds. Ask to talk to head midwife and consultant. Not acceptable

This won’t be popular but it’s my experience. Iv’e had five children - 3 vaginal deliveries and two c-sections. I’d go for a c-section every time. But - you do need to go in with a positive attitude and be fully up with breastfeeding and looking after your own needs straightaway.

I would ring another hospital

@Ineedadvicee oh, I am so sorry for you. What a mission!

I hope you’re snuggling a beautiful newborn right now, and all the lead up has melted away into insignificance (at least for now).

💐

I’m the exact opposite. Vaginal delivery first time with a quick recovery. Section second time due to breech presentation. Terrible recovery. Wound and womb infection. Just awful.I was still in pain months later. Wouldn’t wish it on any woman unless last resort.

What would happen if you got someone to drive you to another hospital? Would they turn you away?

If the water broke they have to take baby out within 24h or there are risk of complications…

it is complete madness!!! I hope delivery was safe and you are ok.

Sorry to hear that you are very disappointed in your labour experience! On the bright side, a friend of mine said elective C-section is the best choice she’s made for her 2nd born. She had vaginal delivery the first time round. Maybe it’s for the best.

Not within 24 hours. Women inc the OP are “given” 24 hours to see if labour starts, if not then induction is recommended. Yes women can choose a section or indeed choose to do nothing/monitor.

And the chances of infection rises from 0.5% to 1%. For some women they will think that risk is too great and that’s their right to make an informed decision, other women will be happy that a 99% chance of no infection is ok.

There are options which involve closer monitoring of baby…..their heart rate will increase if they are developing an infection, the woman’s observations will also show signs. Antibiotics are a thing if needed.

This happened to me, my waters broke around 2am Friday but no labour. Got to Saturday and had to go in early hours. I was told if I hadn’t started labour by 7pm I’d be having a C section - so mine was definitely longer then 27 hours l.
BUT I ended up with maternal pyraxia.
My baby and myself got infections and we had to stay in hospital for 7 days.

So sooner the better really.

Hope you are ok 💐🌸🧸

Are you in the UK? Where I work, we do augment labour after 24hours or rupture of membranes if contractions have not started - however, as with all maternity units - they are very stretched and timelines don’t always work. If you had to wait longer than 24hrs, we would admit you to the antenatal ward and you would have 4 hourly observations and your baby would be monitored every 6 hours. Any signs of infection brewing would likely be picked up early and baby delivered in the safest way possible. If no signs of infection present themselves you would wait until a midwife was free on labour ward to take you and start the hormone drip. We often have people waiting 72hrs to be augmented - it’s not ideal - but it’s not often then develop infection. I would do some research about pre-labour rupture of membranes and look at numbers instead of percentages about infection risk - a doctor may tell you that your risk of infection doubles which sounds scary - but the numbers may say you chance of infection goes from 1:100 to 2:100 which looks less scary.
you always have choices - they offer options and you choose to accept - don’t be afraid to ask about all other options. Some have mentioned the BRAIN tool - this is a good tool to help you make a choice.
A csection is a good and safest option for many - but it will impact on your future pregnancies too - that is something to consider.
Arm yourself with as much information as you need before you decide.
good luck.

Gosh, when I had mine 18 years ago, as soon as your waters had broken you had to go in. They were all set to send me home after 18 hours of slow labour (majority at home) and then my waters went and the midwife said oh well, guess you're staying then.

I hope everything goes well for you and the most important thing is your little baby, no matter how they arrive.

Thanks for this useful insight which I can imagine is probably an accurate reflection of what is happening. I really hope that someone is raising this at a clinical governance meeting somewhere though as its just not acceptable really is it.

Absolutely the differences in care is staggering, at times I have left my personal safety and safety of practice has been comprised and received little to no support.
The sheer volume of women through the service and the increasingly acuity of the caseload along with the determination to cut midwife numbers in the units is causing significant issues. So many of these issues could be resolved by simply having more staff on each shift. Many of my colleagues are considering our escape plan.

I had a very similar experience with my first baby 30 years ago this week. It just wasn’t how I imagined things would go at all and I shed many tears. I was Desperately disappointed at the time but over the years have had friends and family who have not been blessed with the same positive outcome as I was and it definitely put things into perspective.

My 3rd ended up spending a week in SCBU with breathing problems, most likely because he was delivered by c/s (necessary c/s as two previously) and it did bring all the feelings back but having them safely here is the most important thing. Once you have recovered and feel strong enough, definitely ask for a debrief (not a thing in my day). I hope everything has gone as well as it can and you are now enjoying newborn snuggles.

Im horrified that your trust want to cut midwife numbers. The NHS is the staff. Without them there is no service.

No way, ask to be transferred to another hospital. The risks of a c section purely because of lack of beds is not a worthwhile thing to do. A c section can determine if you have a vaginal delivery in future or not.

I'm looking forward to your 'skin side' update - hope all has gone well.

And just know that lots of us don't get the birth we choose or want xx (be gentle with yourself x)

Hoping all is ok? I was in the same position only my waters only leaked slightly on the Sunday lunch time rather than a full obvious break.
We waited 24 hours and went in but due to waiting for a bed and slow dilation baby wasn't born until Tuesday late afternoon.
Personally I would have been more worried if a lot of water had been lost and would have felt things were more urgent. They had to break the rest of mine in the end for baby to come - as soon as that happened labour went from a 3-10 in about 2 hours.
It wasn't what I had wanted but in the end I'm glad it went the way it did.
Wishing you all the best.

I keep checking back on this post just to see any updates on how it's all going! Waiting on baby news!

Surely if they have no beds then giving you a c-section creates even more problems? They'd still have to find a bed for you after a cesarian, and you'd be in hospital for a lot longer.
Anyway, good luck with everything, let us know how it goes 💐

4 births here. 3 homebirths, zero pain relief, in my own bedwithin 20mins of placemta being delivered. Amazing.

1 c-section which was horrific in recovery and made it extremely hard for me to connect with my baby.

@Ineedadvicee I was in pretty much the same situation 13 years ago, except I was told I’d be induced within 24hrs and I wasn’t (no labour room free) - and I was never offered a C section. In the end I spent 2 hours going up and down the hospital stairs to try and move things along - no idea if that helped or not but I did start having contractions etc. I had baby about 12 hours later.

to give you an idea - waters broke on a Sunday night, baby arrived 1pm on Tuesday!