In labour and alone - hand hold please

[GoTraine]

I was induced earlier today. I just had a CTG and my contractions are between 50-80, every two minutes. Midwife said they'll break my waters as soon as I'm on delivery suite, But, there's no space on the delivery suite so I can't have any pain relief except paracetamol and, even worse, DH has been sent home because he's not allowed to stay unless I'm on delivery suite...and yet, they've made an exception for the only other woman on the ward so her DH is with her.

In my last labour, I was induced and went from them saying the induction had failed and they'd try again the next day to 8cm dilated and contracting like a bitch in less than 3 hours - my pushing phase was only 17 minutes. I'm terrified DH will miss it. I wanted a damn epidural and I'm scared it'll be too late by the time there's space in delivery.

I'm so alone.

Big hugs, OP, you will get through this. Take the mask off if you need to!

Holding your hand. Like you I had a lot of my labour on antenatal ward, my waters broke and they moved me after I dilated 6cm. But honestly in hindsight I'd gladly stayed there longer. I ate food, I watched TV on my phone, I relaxed. No one told me to push. I'm not sure how you're feeling, but try to rest as much as you can. You're doing great.

Here is the calming music link (it’s billed as Christian but is just a nice relaxing instrumental)

They likely didnt make an exception for the other women.

They can ask or even tell you your partner 'should' go but if he isnt doing anything wrong thats a safeguarding issue (like perving on the other women) then they can't phyically remove him.

You are always allowed a personal chaperone regardless of the published visiting hours.

I agree with everybody saying to take that mask off, it's bloody ridiculous to expect a labouring woman to keep a mask on. I assume you've already had a covid test.

I had a C section in October and was asked to wear a mask when up and about walking outside of the ward but definitely not in the cubicle/bed. The wards was boiling hot even then so lord only knows how hot it is for you in the middle of summer.

You can do this. Have another handhold from me ❤️

You’ve had lots of good advice, but just to add I’m a midwife & I also work for a human rights in childbirth charity. They cannot make you wear a mask, take it off! They should have done a covid swab on admission anyway and the results will be back by now, but they absolutely cannot make you (or anyone) wear a mask as an inpatient particularly in labour. Hope you get to labour ward soon and have a more positive experience there, it sounds like your trusts policies are out of date and need flagging to PALs and the head of midwifery.

I also find it strange how this works.

My first my waters broke prematurely and I was taken straight to delivery.

I was moved to delivery at 32 weeks with no dialation just a small heamorrage and kept on the delivery ward being constantly monitored by a midwife for 6 hours as they said I was having constant contractions which I clearly couldnt even feel.

With my next baby I was in labour for over a month (premeturely again), constant steady contractions and VERY slowly dialating from 1-3 centermenter, midwife sent me to hospital twice and they insisted I wasnt in labor.

Then contracts ramped up severely and it was obvious 'now' I was in immediate labor, I was 4cm at the hospital and they sent me home. We barely made it home, turned right back around and rushed back and they still werent taking it serious until they looked and they could litrally see the head right there and they where like ok lets move you to the room.

Still dont understand how they make these decisions, I didnt need a delivery room at the 32 week point and kept telling them I was not in labour and I definately should NOT have been sent home the second time though.

I had remifentanyl and it was brilliant, was up and mobile and totally lucid post birth

Keeping you in my thoughts @GoTraine

take off your mask, get your partner by your side, wishing you good luck and best wishes x

Get your husband back in and have him refuse to leave. I had that nonsense with the woman next to be being able to have her husband there. I can make my guesses as to why the midwives wouldn’t tell him to leave. Get yours back in and tell them to stuff it.

I’m on the delivery suite and with DH!!! I’m still wearing a mask but it’s fine for now.

Great to hear you have your husband with you! Looking forward to hearing your updates! x

So glad your DH is now there.

Won't be long now as they will want you in and out no doubt and will do what it takes!

Great news! Good luck @GoTraine - come on Kezia! We’re all waiting for you. 🙂

so pleased he made it . Now the fun begins

Best of luck OP. I'm 31 weeks and (Im)patiently waiting for my little one so following and supporting from afar. She will be there with you soon🥰 you've got this 💪

Best of luck @GoTraine for a safe birth for you and baby ☺️

Very best of luck to you! #teamkezia

I don't understand why you are wearing a mask? I gave birth in March last year and I didn't even wear one walking into the hospital. I walked past the table with the person checking, they didn't challenge me as I was clearly very in labour. Once in the maternity dept I wasn't once asked to wear a mask even before they checked me. I didnt actually wear one the entire 3 days i was there. I'm shocked you are labouring in a mask, how on earth is that possible? I'd just remove it and plod on, if they ask just say you can't breathe properly in it. Good luck, hope the last bit goes quick and smoothly xx

It won’t be long now. Or maybe you have your little one now! Good luck

So not only were you left in the ward, not topped up with the pills, not checked, forcibly separated from your H and not given any proper pain relief, they also made you wear a mask, even though you were contracting.

Fucking barbaric.

But the op did not mention anything like your experience, I was clearly referring to the op's experience of the induction process being 'typical', not your experience of a 'grubby' overly busy ward. You have completely twisted my post.

FFS, where are you that visiting is still restricted and masks are required? Bloody ridiculous!

I fucking lobe gas and air wooooooooo