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…

You're both safe which is the thing to focus on.

It's not ideal and think it's valid to feel how you do, or course. But I was induced and as many women do, nearly ended up with a c section anyway. As it was I had ventouse and epidural and it was far from the birth I hoped for too.

Hope you get home soon and your husband is ok soon too. Hope you have some extra support from someone?

Congratulations. Beautiful names. Enjoy him

I promise times and care have changed since 1979. 😁. Would 100% not happen now

Congratulations! Don't be afraid to use your call bell to ask for your help, you have had major abdominal surgery and it is okay to request for support. Try to take pain relief frequently, don't wait till the pain comes and try to get mobilising as soon as the staff can assist with that, the quicker you do that the easier it'll be. Hope your first night goes well and you can go home tomorrow. Post natal wards are hellish in my experience and I've had 2 sections. Providing everything okay with you & baby I would personally push to go home tomorrow if they suggest staying an extra night (unless you or baby need medical treatment ofc) as I found both times doctors tried to encourage me to stay an extra night but I knew I'd recover better at home in my own environment.

Congratulations to you!

Theo is a fabulous name.

Hope you get to use it!

Congratulations!!!

My two penn'orth with names is that Theo Isaac flows better than Isaac Theo.

I had an appalling birth with my third and ended up having a debrief with the head of midwifery and then counselling (referred by GP) as I didnt have PPD but I did have PTSD as a result of everything that happened. The HoM explained why things had happened as they did, why they shouldnt have happened, what should have happened and that she would be feeding everything I said back.

Basically, talking it out really helped.

Congratulations 🎊 , I'm glad baby is here safe and well. Hopefully you will feel better soon. Don't be afraid to ask for help that is what the nurses are there for

Honestly OP try not to beat yourself up for not transferring. It was quite likely that you would have gone through all that to transfer and then ended up having an EMCS or hideous assisted delivery anyway. Enjoy the newborn snuggles and congrats to you and your family xxx

First of all congratulations.

Ask for all the help you need and don't let anyone put you off. You've had a csection so should be given the extra help. Once you are home and settled I would contact PALS and ask for a birth debrief and put in a complaint. No woman should feel she should have a section ro make staff's life easier. It is incredibly unethical to put a vulnerable woman in such a position when there is no clinical need. x

So glad you have safely delivered your darling boy. Theo is a great name if that is what you go for in the end. Hope you are home soon and recovering well. 💐

Congratulations, I hope you are both well and healthy and you're not too sore 💜 fingers crossed you will both be ready to go home tomorrow. Obviously it's completely your choice and you might not want to with taking a new born home and everything that involves but I would still feed back to the hospital that you weren't managed appropriately.

Congrats- settle back and look at your boy. Try to focus on bonding for now. You can get a debrief if you want one later. Right now you need to rest and smell that baby’s head!

Congratulations. Both Theo and Isaac are lovely names.

I wanted a vaginal birth and I got one, it was absolutely horrendous, induced, no pain relief, forceps. I felt like I was being sawn in half. So you can never really predict the birth you want vs the birth you get.

Motherhood is amazing. I hope you enjoy xx

Congratulations! Hope you are OK OP - I had a similar experience that left me feeling really deflated - whatever you’re feeling is TOTALLY normal. Go easy on yourself, let yourself feel sad for the birth you’d hoped for, and enjoy your beautiful baby! There’s so much fun to come xx

The mood hit from being in labour limbo for over 24 hours combined with the hormone crash from the fact the baby (well, technically the placenta apparently!) is no longer in you is absolutely brutal. Be kind to yourself and know that it's totally normal and OK to feel whatever you feel. And to be exhausted. And to cry a lot. If you have someone (a sympathetic friend who already has DC?) to talk to in the next few weeks/days please do - it helps so much to get the validation IRL.

And keep chatting on here if you want company. People are up all night which is useful sometimes

Theo, Noah and Isaac are all lovely names!

Congratulations 💙. I have a Theo - he is Theodore though could you maybe persuade him and say you could use Teddy. That’s how I got my way 🤣🤣🤣

AHH congratulations on your baby @Ineedadvicee and I'm sorry you didn't get the birth you wanted. I think the ideal birth is like a unicorn you know. I love the name Theo!

I can’t believe you have been pushed into a major operation for lack of beds honestly the NHS is a bloody shambles sending lots of hugs and congratulations on the birth of your son please get some counselling as it’s a big deal to process xx

Congratulations OP and Welcome Little One!

Congratulations!

I also had waters break and then I had a wait of 3 days as it was weekend, short of staff, etc before a C Section. Massive infection and was so so ill. So I’m glad you did opt to proceed even if the whole situation was pretty sh**. The days after birth are known for their hormonal upheaval. I was alternating between numb and in tears and felt so guilty for not being over the moon.
That was a good 13 years ago. I still don’t like to think back to the birth but I very rarely do - so many new and wonderful experiences with a little one at home, life takes over. Once you’re home and healed and settled with your baby you will feel so much better!

Keep us posted

Congrats on your little man ❤️❤️❤️ hope you manage to get some restful sleep tonight

Yes, I know, I’ve had two. I actually refused a second induction when I didn’t go into labour naturally, and elected for a C-section instead. The keyword here being elected. Not coerced into it because there wasn’t a bed available. It’s not fearmongering to say that a CS is major abdominal surgery. In fact, I’d say we don’t talk enough about how it’s a major surgery, we expect women to just bounce back up and look after a newborn, and often other children, at the same time. We need to acknowledge what it is, and support women accordingly.

tbh, this happened to me - waters breaking but nothing happening....... they did the drip.......nothing..... had a c-section but was dog tired by the time they did it. I wished they done it sooner.

Aww congratulations! I kept this thread open to see how it all went, for names I have a few suggestions just from names I’ve seen and like (I have girls so didn’t get to use any boy names!)

Hugo
Kit
Aiden
Elliot
Milo
Brodie
Sebastian
Mason
Grayson
Jasper