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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:
Youarentkiddingme · 17/02/2016 21:02

I'd be tempted to say "as I have indigestion and not contractions could you just give me some gaviscon and send me home?"

I think we are very lucky with the NHS but it does annoy me when nurses etc are stood talking about patients being wrong when they could be examining the patients.

Battleshiphips2 · 17/02/2016 21:02

Dont they check you when go in. I've never gone naturally but just assumed they checked as soon as you went in. Bit rude of the midwife to say that. Especially in your hearing!

MiaowTheCat · 17/02/2016 21:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
sstewart2016 · 17/02/2016 21:07

Just had a lady came around and scan me to make sure the baby was right way for giving birth Confused I asked her when I was getting checked she said hopefully before ten, knackered lol

OP posts:
GruntledOne · 17/02/2016 21:08

Have they tried doing the contraction and heart rate trace? I was induced with DS1 and spent the day having contractions on and off - by the evening they were definitely on. However, the MWs decided that nothing was happening, sent DH away and proclaimed that we should start again the next morning. When I asked rather plaintively how I was supposed to sleep given the pains, they offered me Horlicks.

At around 10 p.m. they decided to do the trace which showed very clear contractions and asked me in some surprise "Can you feel those?". I had to restrain myself from swearing when I pointed out that that was what I'd been telling them two or three hours earlier. So then they shunted me off to the labour ward and called DH out of the bed he had just crawled into (he was well pissed off) and I had a busy night till DS was hauled out by forceps at 8 the following morning.

Lj8893 · 17/02/2016 21:14

They scanned you?! They can tell what way your baby is lying by palpating you! What an unnecessary scan! Angry

Ginmakesitallok · 17/02/2016 21:16

Did they explain why they scanned you?? Never heard of that

Original poster
sstewart2016 · 17/02/2016 21:19

To make sure baby was the right way up for labour, another lady on this ward is being induced, she got scanned first so guess they just done it for me too Confused I'm so niave I don't really know what happens beyond here

OP posts:
backonthebikeagain · 17/02/2016 21:19

WTF, tell them you feel like you want to push then they will check you! My labours were short and no one believed that I was actually in labour until I started pushing.

Good luck xx

MagpieCursedTea · 17/02/2016 21:22

How unusual! They can usually tell which way up the baby is by feeling around your bump. Hope you get checked out properly soon!

DisappointedOne · 17/02/2016 21:26

I'm so niave I don't really know what happens beyond here

Might be worth spending the next hour or so finding out. ;)

lynholmerpark · 17/02/2016 21:28

Quite unusual practise to routine scan unless the midwife was uncertain on palpation, but x2 😕 Anyhow I digress, sorry OP. I suspect you've been caught up in the handover progress too and likely new midwife will have to assess and prioritise her workload which is much often more than is obviously apparent to the women on the ward (assume you are on antenatal). Anyway just trying to explain why you feel things are delayed. Also once you are 'checked' guidelines and timescales (eg she should have birthed by xxxx) can come into play. Keep yourself distracted (eg on here) and keep up and about. Good luck!

Original poster
sstewart2016 · 17/02/2016 21:33

Haha no I know I've heard its described like "pushing a melon threw a keyhole" Blush just didn't realise that when i started contracting it'd still ages
Been here 3 hours as it is
I'm stoating about this ward like nobody's business Grin the nursey midwife who made the comment has gone off shift now so I can try to relax

OP posts:
ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 17/02/2016 21:34

As someone who spent 7hrs in labour with DS1 before they realised he was breech, I think a scan if there is any uncertainty is a bloody good idea. I insisted on one with DS2.

DisappointedOne · 17/02/2016 21:37

Not to alarm you but I had 4 days and nights of contractions at home and midwife still said I wasn't close to going into labour! (They found I most definitely was when they induced me.)

Definitely worth having some awareness of the stages. It's nothing like on TV. Did you not go to antenatal?

Lj8893 · 17/02/2016 21:39

Scan if there's uncertainty yes, but by the sounds of it they haven't even tried palpating the ops abdomen to assess position!

Julietee · 17/02/2016 21:40

Remember, birth is something you do, not something that is done to you! Good luck, op.

abbsismyhero · 17/02/2016 21:45

i shouldn't worry i knew nothing with my first and my second was different as was my third never goes the same way

see i always meant to read up on it nearly 16 years later ive lost the book i was supposed to read but managed three babies anyway

Pieface12 · 17/02/2016 21:46

My contractions were a only a few minutes apart and coming frequently when I rang the MBC. They said I wasn't regular enough and couldn't go in then. I rang an hour later, said that I really felt like I needed to be up there and they told me to wait a bit longer.

After 5 more minutes I rang back and they reluctantly told me to come in. They showed me my room and then said someone would be with me soon to check me over. I was in the room for over an hour before someone finally came in to check on me, I was 8cm gone and a couple of minutes later my water broke. DS came not long after.

The midwives face (who I spoke to on the phone) was a picture Grin

HandsoffGary · 17/02/2016 21:51

Trust your instinct, I was 9cm and begging for gas and air and they didn't want to give me an intial check as "it was too soon".

Gluetap · 17/02/2016 22:26

I wish they'd scanned me when I was in labour. Would've saved 36 hours of pain followed by a c section for an undiagnosed breech!

Chattymummyhere · 17/02/2016 22:30

Trust yourself. I rang the mat unit and was told to stay at home have a bath with my first, we went straight to the mat unit and they did the whole your not really in labour but we will check you... Que "oh crap she's 9cm which room is empty!?!"

I will never understand why they won't just check and possibly free up a bed rather than keep you there for ages not all women are text book, I don't do regular contractions or not being able to hold a conversation. With my second I rearranged my whole livingroom including sofas about half an hour before I gave birth.

starry0ne · 17/02/2016 22:37

nothing much to add but wanted to wish you luck.. op

MrsRobbStark · 17/02/2016 22:52

When I went into labour with DS2 my midwives were like this! My waters broke in the morning so I went to hospital. Got checked over and asked repeatedly if I was sure I hadn't just wet myself Angry was left for ages in a room on my own (well with DH) until I had my first really awful pain and some bleeding and DH had to get help. Whip my leggings off and low and behold the midwife could tell me the colour of DS2's hair!

HelenF35 · 17/02/2016 22:58

Midwife told me my contractions couldn't possibly be 2 mins apart. She came to time them and I didn't have one for 8 mins. She flounced off tutting to herself. 20 seconds later I had a huge contraction and my waters broke. I was 4cm dilated and gave birth less than an hour later!