To be a tad annoyed with maternity unit

[sstewart2016]

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 this is my first so no idea. Just in so much pain and not really sure what I expected

I missed that the OP has HG.

I had HG and it was fucking evil, I pushed for an induction because I felt so ill and couldn't face the thought of going overdue and I asked for an induction at 39 weeks. I was refused and went 10 days over.

If I had the option of being induced I would have taken it with both hands.

Hope you've got a plan of either being induced or going home to relax

Thst should say infantalising (Stupid autocorrect!)

Not heard from sstewart2016 for a while, hope this is good news. Otherwise I agree with the others, go home and relax. And have a curry - my second son was born at home in less than two hours after a good curry....

Not at home, being put on another drip because I haven't kept any food down.
No idea about what induction is if I'm honest, that's literally all they've said "we will induce you" I know there's a tablet or a drip but that's about it
I've been contracting since Tuesday and I'm quite frankly exhausted now, luckily I never watched OBEM so didn't expect a baby asap but thought it'd have been over by now

I also think that because of the HG and anemia they want to keep me in to see if I'm resting enough. At home I could end up doig too much? I was told no birth pool because I'm anemic and being in the water would make me more tired and they don't want that? Does this sound true
I just assumed if you were contracting, they check you and if you aren't far enough on you get sent home. None of this extra faff of being in and drips and transfusions

The first phase of induction is usually a sweep, where the MW or Dr. sweeps a finger around your cervix. This can be uncomfy, can be fine and can take a few hours to have an effect.
The next thing might be a pessary inserted beside your cervix which contains hormones to soften your cervix and get things moving. They can try this two or three times over a day or two, depending on how you progress. The baby will be regularly monitored so you might find yourse;f hooked up to a heart monitor for a while.
If they can feel your waters they might try and break them manually (with a crochet hook type tool) which can also speed things up.
The drip is an artificial hormone that is given to you via a tube in the back of your hand. The tube stays in place throughout your labour. It will usually trigger contractions which are quite strong/intense, quite quickly and some women find they want to have an epidural at the start of using the drip, rather than waiting to see how they cope.

They are probably avoiding more VE's because they can be really uncomfortable and intrusive for some women. Most MWs try to do as few as possible for each woman. They will do one if they think you need one, or if you insist that you think you are progressing.

Good luck sstewart, you are doing a great job.

Presumably the drip if to make sure you are hydrated if you are being sick a lot and the transfusion is connected with your anemia which must be quite severe.
When will you see a consultant/doctor? Nag them to get someone to come and see you so you can ask all your questions about what each treatment is for, what their concerns are and to let them know what you want to happen.

Only on Mn would you be told to make a complaint about a nurse saying you aren't in labour....when you aren't in labour.

I don't think that they would keep you in unless they feel it is necessary, they have too much pressure on beds. Just make the most of the rest and relax as much as you can.

This puts my 50+ hours of labour in the shade!
I really hope things start moving for you soon.
for you.

Maybe spend some time googling about induction so you have some idea what's ahead.

Hope you're ok. It sounds like you aren't being given enough/ any info and that's a really stressful situation for you

It also takes away any sense of control which is absolutely not ok.

Is there a senior midwife or doc you can ask to speak to? I think you need a plan of why they're doing what they are doing for you (beyond fitting around other people's shifts/ work loads etc which is NOT a reason at all). And you need a sense of what the different options and scenarios are moving forwards.

They can't crystal ball gaze, but they are highly experienced and qualified and they can absolutely give you a range of scenarios and options for what might happen and what then that would mean.

I think you need to stick up for yourself a little bit OP, though it's so rubbish you have to.

How's it going OP? I hope you're sick free now.

If you're already 2cm they'll be able to break your waters which might be enough to kick things off.

I hope you're ok OP, it's no fun being exhausted and in labour.

No further update, doesn't seem like I'll have this baby on my due date lol

Only about 5% of babies arrive on their due date , although your baby seems to be well on their way.

I am quite surprised that you were expecting to have the baby on your due date.

I know but I've been contracting since Tuesday 😢 not expecting more of a hoping and praying and wishing to God. HG has been absolutely awful and I don't know how many more days I can manage 😢

It really doesn't sound like it is going to be days, you are doing brilliantly and every contraction is helping your baby along in the right direction.
If you are allowed up and about and have some visitors, could you go down to the cafe or shop for a change of scene?
You are allowed to ask for pain relief, although you may find you are offered co-codamol it might help take the edge off things (I managed a couple of nights OKish sleep on co-codamol).

Have any of the HCPs spoken to you about your care yet?

Oh OP I really feel for you :( Hope you get started off soon (I was induced and it took a long time to get going - three or four days in hospital having gel, pessary and contractions before going to labour ward - but then I had a two and a half hour active labour once they started the drip and only 9 minutes of pushing! And it was an awesome experience, try not to panic too much).

Oh and arf at not being able to MN if you're in active labour. I spent an hour at 10cm dilated (thought I needed a poo and was trying to hold it in but it was actually DD) and in that time I was able to use my phone, sing Hakuna Matata with the midwives and tell them to turn question time off as I was not having my child born to the sound of Jeremy Paxman's voice

Fingers crossed for newborn snuggles for you soon!

First labours are so often stop/start stop/start. It's painful and frustrating, especially as then won't take you seriously until you're 3cm.

You'll be on your way by tonight I'm sure! Good luck

Thanks ladies, your comments spurred me to do an even longer walk around the hospital
I spoke to the consultant who advised being induced but haven't seen her since
Miwifes don't seem to be checking on us very often, there's another 3 on the ward one who is 1cm
Haven't been checked since I was 2cm so hoping I've gone further by now

Aww you must be feeling so fed up. Come on lazy bones. It's time to come out and see our world