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Original poster

In labour - need urgent advice!

416 replies

Ineedadvicee · 10/10/2025 18:38

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…

OP posts:
Original poster
Ineedadvicee · 10/10/2025 19:04

I just went and spoke to a different midwife and apparently it isn’t looking likely that I’d be able to get onto labour ward tonight. I suggested a transfer, she said that it is possible but not recommended now that the 24 hour period is up.

I said I’d just take another half an hour to think about it. I know it sounds selfish but I am gutted.

OP posts:
Cerialkiller · 10/10/2025 19:07

It was safe for 48 hours after waters broke for me according to staff. (Both pregnancies were spontaneous waters going) Wasn't induced for 55 hours with DD so I wouldn't be overly worried at this point.

In the meantime time, walking and climbing stairs, if you have a breast pump use it. Try to bring on contractions. Our doula brought several scents that apparently started contractions. Otherwise then yes! Ask for other options, transfer etc. are there any birthing units locally?

hkathy · 10/10/2025 19:11

Exactly the same happened to me and I had a c section. If it’s the safest option OP then it’s how you get your baby here safely.
If you absolutely want to wait for labour to begin you are within your rights to say so.
All the best OP, you’ve got this.

Interested in this thread?

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3rd trimester Antenatal & postnatal Childbirth Families
Cerialkiller · 10/10/2025 19:11

It's really not good that they are forced to do a c section from lack of beds. Seems so illogical.

It's the busiest time of year for births unfortunately but mine are both winter and there was a lot of waiting then too. Seems to a universal problem, sorry op.

summerlovingvibes · 10/10/2025 19:13

I'd do some extra research around timings after waters break as som trusts are longer than 24 hours.

I'd also be asking "if I did have a c-section how long would it be until I was actually in?" Chances are that would be another wait - it's not going to be immediate . May be several hours. And in the mean time a bed may come up.

You can change your mind right up until they get you into theatre.

Does the drip have to be on labour ward? Can they start it on the assessment unit?

hkathy · 10/10/2025 19:13

Creepybookworm · 10/10/2025 18:49

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 wish someone had said these words to me

Aknifewith16blades · 10/10/2025 19:14

Ineedadvicee · 10/10/2025 19:04

I just went and spoke to a different midwife and apparently it isn’t looking likely that I’d be able to get onto labour ward tonight. I suggested a transfer, she said that it is possible but not recommended now that the 24 hour period is up.

I said I’d just take another half an hour to think about it. I know it sounds selfish but I am gutted.

Not selfish at all OP, it's major surgery. You've been there all day, and I wouldn't be impressed at their lack of planning.

Going back to another poster, could you discuss :

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

with the midwife.

I'm not a doctor, but it might be that taking antibiotics could support you while you transfer? Or that you decide a C-section is the best option, but you know you've considered your options.

Good luck!

limescale · 10/10/2025 19:15

What would they do with you if you go into labour naturally while prepping for c section? If they have no beds they must be diverting women to other hospitals. Follow them.
It’s shocking that they are trained to strongly encourage women to have a vaginal birth, that women who want a c section often have to really fight for one, yet all of a sudden it’s ok cos they don’t have beds.

QuirkyRobin · 10/10/2025 19:18

My waters were accidentally broken during an internal examination during a (failed) induction. I was subsequently left on the ward for 30 hours and ended up with an EMCS and a stay in the hospital for both myself and baby. Unbeknown to anyone, as they don’t routinely test for it, I had group b strep which caused a massive infection in both me and baby and had started to turn into sepsis. Whilst I would not personally want to elect for a CS again if I had another child, the risk associated with going beyond 24hrs after waters have broken would make up my mind for me in this scenario based on my previous experience. I had started to feel very unwell and it was picked up during monitoring, so if you are going to take the risk and wait I personally would want to be very closely monitored, which unfortunately may not be possible if they have not got a bed in the labour ward (which is a different ward to the one you go to after birth).

Original poster
Ineedadvicee · 10/10/2025 19:18

I’m just so torn. Every response I read I agree with. On one hand I don’t want to go against medical advice, I accept the situation is out of their control and to be honest I’m tired, hungry and emotional so might be best to give up hoping and waiting about. On the other I’ve waited 9 months for this moment, things could still change sooner than expected and I feel like I deserve it to at least try.

OP posts:
summerlovingvibes · 10/10/2025 19:19

@limescale wise wise words here.

Exactly - what would they do? They'd find you a bed!

socks1107 · 10/10/2025 19:19

Ask to speak to a senior midwife or doctor. They’ll be a team on all weekend that can offer a second opinion

inamo · 10/10/2025 19:20

What would they do if someone came in in active labour and just about to pop! Isn't it crazy that there is no room in the labour ward, but there will be a bed available (+staffing) for post C section.

I wish you all the luck in the world, it must be terribly disappointing and daunting too since you're not prepared for a c sec. But best for baby is best for you too.

Shegotanology · 10/10/2025 19:22

Are they turning those in active labour away?

Jellybunny56 · 10/10/2025 19:23

inamo · 10/10/2025 19:20

What would they do if someone came in in active labour and just about to pop! Isn't it crazy that there is no room in the labour ward, but there will be a bed available (+staffing) for post C section.

I wish you all the luck in the world, it must be terribly disappointing and daunting too since you're not prepared for a c sec. But best for baby is best for you too.

They divert you to the nearest available hospital.

One of the local ones closed recently so all the others where we are have been fully booked up for months, I’m due next month and have been thoroughly warned that because of how many women are on their books there is always a chance that if I go into labour I’ll be sent elsewhere. It’s not ideal but it’s significantly safer than allowing too many women & babies in than can safely be looked after.

Edit to add also- post c section you go to postnatal ward, which is significantly bigger & is a ward so up to 6 women per room vs 1 per room for labour.

Greybeardy · 10/10/2025 19:25

If the unit is so busy that they cannot facilitate the work load they already have then they're probably on divert and not taking new admissions. A large part of the point of maternity triage lines is so that women in labour don't just show up at units that currently have no beds - they should be directed to somewhere that does have space. If someone literally shows up on the doorstep by surprise then they just do their best...it might not be a bed in a single room.

WonderingWanda · 10/10/2025 19:25

Is there another hospital you could be driven to? We have 2 within an hour and another within an hour and a half plus 3 midwife led u units.

Jaderebecca · 10/10/2025 19:25

My waters were broke for 100 hours before baby arrived! I was just given antibiotics to reduce risk of infection.

dizzydizzydizzy · 10/10/2025 19:28

I was in a similar situation with DC1 but it was over 20 years ago. I was almost 42 weeks pregnant, waters broke but no labour. Also no room on the labour ward but there was a space on another ward which was for women with problem pregnancies. They put me there because they didn't want to me go home.

They wanted me to have a C-section that day. I wanted a vaginal delivery. We compromised on monitoring and a deadline of 6am the next day for a c-section .

Happily labour started naturally and DC1 was born safe and well at 4am after a 5-hour labour.

MumChp · 10/10/2025 19:31

Ineedadvicee · 10/10/2025 19:18

I’m just so torn. Every response I read I agree with. On one hand I don’t want to go against medical advice, I accept the situation is out of their control and to be honest I’m tired, hungry and emotional so might be best to give up hoping and waiting about. On the other I’ve waited 9 months for this moment, things could still change sooner than expected and I feel like I deserve it to at least try.

Make sure you are walked thorough all options and it's noted in your log what your 1st choice was. And why it was denied on non medical ressons. It's very important to remind them to note this in your log..

I would complain afterward. The staff should have found you another trust hours ago to get you a bed+midwife and time to give birth as you want and not try to sell you a for them convenient CS.

I had my 3rd by a CS after 48 hours of labour (right decision). It's was a really good experience but really I hope you can go for natural birth as you prefer this. It's shouldn't be forced on you not based on a lack of beds/midwifes. God luck!

inamo · 10/10/2025 19:35

@Jellybunny56 I hope all goes well for you and your baby. Best of luck!

MimiSunshine · 10/10/2025 19:36

This might be a silly question and you’ll say ‘duh, yes of course’ but just in case…

are you / have you been as active as you can be? By that I mean walking laps around the hospital or wherever you are and goi h up and down stairs sideways etc? Or are you mainly sat waiting?

if you have been, great, even though labour hadn’t started, if not and for any future women reading this and are in the same scenario.
get walking, you need to be as active as possible to get things going right now.

Simplygreen · 10/10/2025 19:38

This happened to me with my first baby, I agreed with a section but still waited 8 hours for it by which time my contractions started! I did end up with the section though.

Ask what the wait time is for a csection?

Karmakamelion · 10/10/2025 19:38

I'd be really interested to know how many replies are from health care professionals. Mine is

summerlovingvibes · 10/10/2025 19:38

Jaderebecca · 10/10/2025 19:25

My waters were broke for 100 hours before baby arrived! I was just given antibiotics to reduce risk of infection.

Yes I'd be asking if antibiotics was an option if they were that worried about infection. Like others have said, don't let anything go in there - if nothing foreign put in there then very little risk of infection.