Please reassure an anxious granny

[oldergeneration]

My daughter was due last Monday. Started contractions 2.30 am Wed. Taken into hospital (twice), sent home (twice). Admitted 4 am this morning (Fri)to be induced - now 4.45 pm and I'm beside myself with worry. Is this "normal"? Are we unlucky with the hospital she's in? My only experience of birth is my own - she was born 2 months prematurely by emergency caesarean after I'd spent 5 weeks in hospital with placenta praevia. I just want to shout at someone - my daughter is exhausted, she's been in pain for 3 days - why aren't you doing something about it - and more quickly? This isn't some 3rd World country - is there really nothing more that could have been done/done earlier? Is this what to-day's young mothers have to put up with?

This seems to be fairly normal as they only want to keep you if you are in established labour ie over 3 cm dilated otherwise they simply send you home

They may have induced her this morning or they may have given her something to sleep if they have decided that she was just too tired to get on with labouring just yet!!
It may be that she has started herself and they didn't actually induce and that she is a slow burner.
Try not to worry, please! Just apply your make up and get ready for your first glamorous granny photograph
You should be a granny very soon.

Depending on the workload at the unit she has been admitted to it may be that things have been delayed. For example, she may be waiting for a bed on delivery suite but none are available.
Physiologically there is nothing abnormal about having irregular contractions for several days (it is called slow labour or the latent phase) and interventions such as induction carry significant risks to mum and baby so it is absolutely good practice to only induce if the clinical picture indicates this. I understand that it is frustrating and frightening but you would be extremely angry if harm came to mum or baby as a result of an unjustified intervention on the part of the hospital.

typed long post, then it crashed !
induction can be a lenghty process, taking several hours at least, if not days.. if the body is not ready for labour, then there are processes to be followed

a gel or pessary to ripen the cervix, which can start labour, if not, then the waters will be broken once the cervix is ripe, and if that does not start things, then a drip will be given. this can all take place over 12 - 24 hours or more

it is also normal to send mums home to labour and rest and be in their own environment when not in established labour, which is 3 -4 cm with regualr strong pains. labour and ante natal wards don't have hthe space or staff to admit every woman in the early stages of labour

if she is in labour now, she will hvae pain relief

it's not 3rd world, what you describe, it's normal

it's not unusual for a first labour to be at least 12 hours, if not more, and that does not include the part before 3 -4 cm

have you spoken to her, do you know where in the process she is up to ?

if you can find out, i'm sure you'll feel better

Sounds normal to me. Contractions can go on for days and dilation can be slow. Better to be at home with your DH, own bathroom, larder and DVD collection than in some tedious ward - trust me.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor

Im sure she'll be fine - they don't like to admit you any earlier that possible as you could be taking up valuable bed space.

If she was admitted early this morning to be induced it sounds as if she will have been given the syntocinon drip to try and speed up and regulate her contractions. Do you have any idea how far along she is? How many cm's dilated?

Hopefully her labour will progress quickly and she will manage a straighforward delivery - it may be that if she is exhausted she will have some intervention - ie ventuouse or forceps or possibly caesarian depending on what position the baby is in.

Poor love - she will be exhausted - are you close by to visit when the baby arrives?

Thank you so much for your helpful messages. Birth was a nightmare for me and I did so want everything to be straightforward and as pain-free as possible for my daughter. Unfortunately my own experience left me woefully ignorant of what a normal birth would involve. I'm sat at home, worrying. But have now heard that she's got to the "push" stage - so there is progress. I live half an hour away - so will be leaping in the car as soon as I hear that my granddaughter has finally made her entrance.

woo hoo, glad to hear things are progressing. Enjoy your lovely granddaughter.

that's fantastic ! it's not unusual for pushing to be an hour if not more with a first baby, so don't panic if you don't hear for a while!

Exciting stuff! I'd leap into the car now if I were you, then you can burst into the labour suite when your grandchild is only minutes old. My parents did exactly this, and much as I was in a daze and had no idea what was going on, they were delighted and still love the fact that they met DS so soon.
(P.S. You will have to sneak in, no-one is supposed to visit the labour suite, my parents just have no shame, they waited until a Dr went through the secirity door then my dad stuck his foot in to keep it open )

I'd love to - but have been given strict instructions to stay put until I get the 'phone-call from my son-in-law that my daughter and grand-daughter are ready to receive visitors. And if you're thinking "control freak" - well, she takes after me!

WARNING: not all grandparents bursting into the delivery room uninvited unexpected will receive as warm a welcome as Sarah (who is clearly a saint) offered. I know one Grandma who was turfed out on her ear by the DH!

Congratulations OP btw!

Hooray, yippee etc. My darling granddaughter has finally arrived! 7lbs 12 oz and my daughter says she's forgotten about feeling tired etc. because she's so thrilled with her daughter. Visiting time is over but we shall be going to see them to-morrow. Thanks for all your posts - they really did help.

congratulations xxxx

Congratulations Granny

Congratulations! Does she have a name yet?

Chloe Jennifer (Jennifer after me). Still haven't seen her, though my son-in-law e-mailed me a photo. Can't wait.