Ok my birth story....
Went in for induction at 9am on sunday didn't get the gel in until 12.30pm and was 0cm dilated. Not a great deal was happening so bounced on the ball a bit, went for a wander and sneaked out to go collect our pram and went home to put it together. It was while we were at home I started to feel a bit of pain. Went back to the hospital at about 5.30pm and pretended we had been walking around the hospital
They put me on the monitor again at 6.30pm and as I was contracting every 4/5 minutes they wouldn't let me have the 2nd gel and I was told to either go into labour over night or they'd start the process again in the morning. Very frustrating as I was in no pain. They wouldn't examine me so don't know how dilated I was. We decided dh should go home as not much happening.
About 8.30pm I started getting tightenings every 2 minutes, not that painful but uncomfortable. Mentioned it to the midwife who put me back on the monitor and saw contractions were 5 every 10 minutes and quite strong. I was examined and Was less than 1cm dilated. They were worried I was contracting too much at this point. I was told I have high pain threshold as wasn't in pain really at all.
By 1.30am contractions still very regular and now painful so took paracetamol. By 2am I was 2cm and asked for gas and air. Called dh back at this point. The gas and air was doing nothing and when dh got back he realised the canister was off! No wonder I was in pain! They made the decision to move me to labour ward to pop my waters to relieve the pressure and hopefully get me dilating.
Went to labour ward at 3am as couldn't go to birth centre after having gel even though they said I could when id asked before. Was told I could have water birth on labour ward however when I got up there was told the pool was broken so couldn't use it even though they'd put me in that room :( begged for pethodine at this stage even though had said I didn't want it before. Pethodine did nothing. They then failed to pop my waters as cervix still high and 2cm. Head midwife came and had a go and I screamed the hospital down meaning 4 midwives came running in to see who was being murdered. She managed to.
Awful pain for next few hours with 5/6 contractions every 10 minutes but still not dilating. Got the epidural 3rd attempt eek at 12.30 pm while still only 4cm. Really eased the pain and still contracting strongly but got a few hours sleep.
Examined at 9pm and still 4cm with 'insignificant' meconium. Given the choice to caesarean or wait to see what happens in next 2 hours. Given no progress all day decided to have caesarean. Baby delivered at 11.34pm weighing a massive 10lb 4oz and 39cm head which is probably why I wasn't dilating as he just wouldn't fit down.
Lost 900ml blood and went into shock so dh held baby for first couple of hours while I recovered.
Long labour but definitely worth it :)