to want some peace and quiet on the ward?

[vodkaredbull]

It's 3:30am and I'm losing my mind.

I was admitted to antenatal yesterday morning for induction. So far fuck all is happening and I'm exhausted. In a stupid amount of pain and all I want to do is sleep.

But of course that's not going to happen is it? I'm in a bay with two other beds. Across from me is the snorer but really I could probably block her out. The problem is the other patient who is surgically attached to her fucking iPhone. It's the middle of the night and she's ringing all of her friends for a chat. Who does that when people are trying to sleep?! I don't give a fuck if she's missing a party to be induced. I want to enjoy the totally useless paracetamol they've deigned to give me and try to get a little rest.

The midwife isn't helping much either. She's rather old fashioned and I'm surprised she hasn't locked us in. I tried to go for a walk to escape iPhone girl and she escorted me back to bed.

AIBU to expect a little peace and quiet in here? Seriously losing it right now.

Can't you go out for a nice Sunday lunch and then go back later? That would be far more likely to get things moving. If they aren't doing anything I really wouldn't stay, it's just their 'procedure'.

Is it just that you are overdue or are there complications?

You must be exhausted op! I would see what they say tonight and then ask for a definite plan. I think the worst thing is when they say 'well we will do X then wait and see' I would want to know what the options are after X if y and z don't work etc so at least you know what will happen in each scenario.

Op i was in your position 20 years ago but was in for 6 weeks before induction and had 2 days of inducing then a 24 hour labour. Was in 7 weeks in all. All i can say is i am thankful mobile phones were rate back them and banned on wards. It was noisy enough without people talking all night on phones.
I have a gorgeous DS 20 soo it was worth it in the end

I've got well controlled gestational diabetes and I'm only 38+3 so this was never going to be easy. If I go home I'm doing so AMA so staying for the time being. Managed to waddle to the hospital cafe earlier so doing OK.

Vader I'm by no means typical and it's really just the utter mismanagement that's made this so difficult. No continuity of care and it's taken three long days to get a doctor near me. You'll be fine I'm sure!

I'll be back with an update on my new neighbour Smokey Smokerson later.

I think you should announce that you are going home. You should not be treated this way. After 24 hours in labour I only got to 6cm. They broke my waters and let me labour on and then gave me a section as the baby was started to get distressed. I don't know why they are leaving you so long like this.

Start making demands. You are within your rights.

Oh, I feel for you.

I had an induction like this. Four doses of prostin, hours and hours on a noisy, understaffed ward. It wasn't fun.

My 'noisy neighbour' wasn't a rude girl on a phone, though. The poor woman went into labour in the middle of the night and they didn't have any beds at all in the labour ward, so she had to labour for hours in the antenatal ward in the middle of the night. It was awful (for her, obviously). And very scary for everyone else. I just remember her groans of pain and her begging the midwife for an epidural and being told they couldn't administer that in the antenatal ward.

Sorry, that wasn't a very cheery tale, was it?

I'd tell them I was going home for the day.

I worked myself up to make demands this morning and the lovely patronising doctor shot me down. Which is why we're here - I wouldn't let her try a fourth prostin and she won't entertain a section. This evening I'll request again and see what they say!

I miss freedom! This tiny human really needs to get a move on.

Yeah different people have different views in relation to medical advice, I would personally want to know the exact risks so I could make a decision based on that but it's also totally understandable that you wouldn't want to discharge yourself

It sounds like you are going to need a few good books to get through this.....

pudding that happened in here last night! The snorer suddenly went from 2 to 9cm but they're having a "busy baby week" so no room on delivery. I swear she was crowning by the time they got her into a side room. She's gone this morning so I hope it all went well for her.

' I wouldn't let her try a fourth prostin and she won't entertain a section. This evening I'll request again and see what they say! '

I'd ask for another doctor.

I thought the NICE guidelines said they can't 'refuse' you anything? I thought it was all about patient centred care? It's your body! Gah!

Yeah, I think I'd be going home for a shower, a change of clothes and something to eat minimum, unless I was on constant monitoring.

Do you know if the doctor you saw was a registrar or a consultant? . If it was a registrar kick up fuss and ask for consultant. If cons ask for another cons. The reason I bet they are refusing a section is because they are super busy and want to keep post natal beds and theatres free.

Im really enjoying his live thread. It just shows the different in maternity care across different hospitals and how on the majority of cases it really does need a massive improvement. I swear other wards and departments don't leave patients in agony. I got better pain relief after having my tonsils out than after a section!

I would get up and start making noises about leaving. It's amazing how quickly doctors come around to your thinking if you show you are an informed woman and you are not going to take any of their crap. It's not up to the "lovely patronising doctor" it's up to you. Demand another doctor.

lastone I quoted NICE guidelines and she countered with "they're guidelines, not rules". Very arrogant and patronising.

She was a consultant and the only one available due to an emcs going on. All I've heard since 7am Friday is "we're really busy" and it does feel like you're just abandoned a lot of the time.

I get that it's busy here. The other local hospital is in special measures and maternity is rated inadequate. They've also got a swine flu problem! My own local hospital was taken over by the one I'm in and converted into a glorified outpatient clinic. And my other birthing choice no longer has a maternity ward and was the centre of a scandal that's gone on for a few years. So by default everyone ends up here.

You're right though it does show the huge differences in care in different hospitals. I don't want anyone to judge how its going to go for them by what's happening to me! I know I'm getting shoddy care but I have to believe it's not like this everywhere.

Actually it's a good idea to mentally log everything if you are possibly able to (painful contractions notwithstanding). Times and names and roughly what they told you would be a start. Or just reread this thread when you write your complaint letter afterwards.

Meantime, threaten to go home even if you don't feel you can. This treatment is shoddy and you need action.

Oh and I totally wasn't going to "out" the hospital but today I am. I'm in New Cross in Wolverhampton. Just so people know to steer clear

I don't understand what there is to complain about, except them not making loud girl be quiet?

Its a slow induction/isn't taking which is frtustrating, but have they done anything wrong?

Well, if the consultant is taking the "guidelines not rules" route, there is nothing stopping you going home.

If you wish to stay, her shift will finish at some point and hopefully someone with more care and understanding will turn up. I expect they don't won't to do your c-section today because they haven't go enough staff on at the weekend.

Start taking names, registration numbers and take a photo of your notes (in case they get "lost") for your complaint

Vodkaredbull ask them for their PALS leaflet and also phone numbers. I know you are probably tired now but you need to get the message across that this is not appropriate care for a woman in labour.
I had horrendous care in labour and afterwards and they did a complete 180 degrees when I had had enough and asked for the complaints procedure. I hope it goes well for you. You must be exhausted

Aaaaah NX in wolves. I've just left there after 10 yrs work (not in maternity) and had my son 5 yrs ago. 40 hrs labour which didn't progress. Emcs where epidural didn't work so I felt them cut me and was put under a general and didn't wake properly for 12 hrs. It was horrific.

Please please please contact PALS about your treatment so far. Email them or call - or waddle across - it up the corridor from Greggs. They WILL intervene and people listen. (I had to get them involved about gynae care for different reasons and everything improved massively) I had to threaten to self discharge from gynae just to get someone to come into my room after a cancer biopsy / diagnosis....

It it were me.....I would self discharge after talking to PALS and turn up at the women's in birmingham or telford and shrewsbury. Even stoke is better than NX.

George stoke was actually a possibility at one point! I live in closer to staffs than here and I had very early scans in stoke. Bloody long journey but for some reason the EPAU here wasn't offered.

I should add that I was born here 30-odd years ago and my mom keeps telling me how good they were back then. Although she had a 35 minute labour!