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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be a tad annoyed with maternity unit

472 replies

sstewart2016 · 17/02/2016 19:14

I phoned the maternity unit at 11am today after contracting since yesterday, they told me to come in for 5 tonight. Still contracting and I haven't been checked on
Just on a bed right next to the nurses station where I can here one nurse saying "bed 3 (me) can't possibly be in Labour she must have ate too much" is this standard Confused this is my first so no idea. Just in so much pain and not really sure what I expected Blush

OP posts:
Gisla · 17/02/2016 19:18

How often are the contractions coming? Tbh if you can mumsnet then you might have a little while to go yet. When it gets serious, you don't have time or energy for anything except giving birth.

monkeysox · 17/02/2016 19:18

Ask them to check you and if early on go home for couple hours?

Lj8893 · 17/02/2016 19:24

That's not a very nice thing for the nurse to say (nurse? Are you not in the UK?). However, if your able to mumsnet then you probably are not in established labour just yet, and they will be able to tell from your behaviour and that's why you are not priority just yet. Good luck Flowers

ollieplimsoles · 17/02/2016 19:25

Gisla don't be so sure, I was walking up and down the ward texting my mum 40 mins before dd was born!

imwithspud · 17/02/2016 19:26

I agree that if you can be on mn then you're probably not that far gone. BUT if I had heard them talking like that I would have shouted that if they'd bothered to check me then they'd be able to either move me to the labour suite or send me home rather than me taking up a bed which someone else could be using.

RudeElf · 17/02/2016 19:28

Call them to check you and decide whether to send you to labour ward or send you home.

WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 17/02/2016 19:30

It's quite a standard thing for one midwife to say to another but not good form to say it in hearing.

Oh she can't be in labour she's eaten her dinner/looks too cheerful/is on her phone texting.

Original poster
sstewart2016 · 17/02/2016 19:32

Contractions are at least 8 minutes apart so not close but I'm howling Blush

OP posts:
Ginmakesitallok · 17/02/2016 19:33

I had similar with dd2. Mw obviously didn't believe I was in labour, or that my wayers had broken. Was kept in observation room until she was about to go off shift. She decided to check me so she could update my notes. "Oh Gin, I think you're having a baby!" No Shit sherlock. I was 9cm. Brought straight to delivery room, "were you wanting pain relief?". Had her within 15 minutes. Mw then asked "so, when DID your waters go?"

TwoKettles · 17/02/2016 19:35

Ooooo a birth thread! Massively excited for you

arethereanyleftatall · 17/02/2016 19:35

What I don't get about being in labour, is, it seems to be the one time when the medical staff get to decide if you're in pain or not...
'Not 4 cm yet? You can't possibly be in pain then.'
'Well, I fucking well am.'

RudeElf · 17/02/2016 19:36

Get them to check you. If they keep you in go for a walk, keep moving, do hip circles.

Griphook · 17/02/2016 19:36

You really need to be mooing for anyone to come running.

DinoSnores · 17/02/2016 19:37

"When it gets serious, you don't have time or energy for anything except giving birth."

Ha ha! Yes, I always get told patronising things like this from gisla when I am in labour. First time, I had to beg to be examined because the MW said I wasn't in labour - I was 8cm. Last time they didn't believe me until the baby's head was between my heads and DH had to press the buzzer so someone would come!

For me, labour is relatively calm with contractions about every 7 minutes until the baby is about to be born. Everyone does it differently so, sstewart, from my experience, I'd be asking to be examined to see how things were going.

SquinkiesRule · 17/02/2016 19:39

What rubbish, of course you can, talk, walk, be happy in labour. The nurse tried to say that I could really be in labour as I walked in from the car park, was chatting and happy and didn't seem in pain. Pppffff, I was 6 cm and had contractions every 3 minutes strong ones too when she stuck the machine on. I can talk through everything. Baby ended up c-sec an hour later. I was awake and talked through that too.

jadorecakesnbiscuits · 17/02/2016 19:40

No advice other than what an exciting time! Good luck and if you aren't in labour get AS MUCH SLEEP AS YOU CAN MANAGE Grin

jadorecakesnbiscuits · 17/02/2016 19:40

I had a home birth and was talking all the way through up to 10 cm, wasn't talking when I was pushing though because it hurt a lot and I was worried I was going to poo myself.

Sparklingbrook · 17/02/2016 19:41

Do you have anyone with you?

maybebabybee · 17/02/2016 19:42

My mum was on the phone to my gran having a chat about fifteen minutes before DBRO was born. Everyone is different in what they can and can't do.

LagunaBubbles · 17/02/2016 19:48

I'm lucky I only ever had nice empathetic Midwives with my 3 but I've heard of so many that dont seem to believe what a woman tells them.

winewolfhowls · 17/02/2016 19:58

Good luck!

goodnightdarthvader1 · 17/02/2016 20:02

Christ, you hear this all the time from midwives. I'd complain.

LetTheRiverAnswer · 17/02/2016 20:04

Standard in my experience - I've had 3 dc, and each time had to first convince a very sceptical midwife over the phone that I should come in, then convince the midwife to actually check on me - I've had 3 very fast labours, longest I was in hospital before giving birth was less than 2 hours!! Not sure how you bypass the disbelief stage, but I have had apologies from 2 of my midwives afterwards Grin

NeedsAsockamnesty · 17/02/2016 20:07

I was mumsnetting less than 10 mins before one of my kids was born and chatting on the phone at 9cms with another

WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 17/02/2016 20:07

Sorry, I totally misread what you'd written. I thought the midwife had said you couldn't be in labour because you'd eaten too much. I thought you must have had lunch while waiting to be seen and it's kind of true thag most people when in full blown labour don't tuck into a meal!

To say you must have eaten too much is just odd. Is she inferring you have indigestion?