Going through labour notes with hospital - what should I ask?

[Racers]

Hi,

In June I had an emergency c-section after being induced following waters breaking but no contractions 30 or so hours later. After kick-starting the contractions, there was no softening of the cervix, never mind dilation after 4 hrs and we were told that c-section was necessary given DD's heartrate etc. I had planned a home birth so it was something of a shock to be in such an extremely medicalised situation .

I plan to have a chat with someone at the hospital about what went wrong and what might happen if we have another child (vbac vs. elective c-section). I wondered if I could pick your brains on what questions you asked if you've done this and what you might have wished you'd asked, iyswim!

tia for any advice,
Racers.

Hia,

I belong to a couple of chat groups that would be able to give you suggestions regarding what to ask. The most appropriate one is probably this one

I planned a HB, but due to pre-eclampsia had to abandon that plan. After a few days of contractions, failure to dilate after augmentation, epidural, fetal distress..... ended up having a c/s, so I know where you are coming from. I haven't got as far as going back through my notes yet though. Good luck with that. I'm sure it will help you.

HTH

Thanks Laura, I've requested to sign up to that group. I'm sure it will be really helpful - it looks like quite an active group.

Thanks again

I had a cs for dd2 & at around 36 wks for dd3 & ds4 I had a scan to check the thickness of the uterine wall at the scar to see if it would be string enough to withstand labour. Each time was ok & had quick easy births. Could ask if your hospital could do such a scan?

Ahhh - meant strong enough!!! that's one handed typing for you!!!

LOL at one-handed typos

I'll ask about that, thanks.

It is probably too active! But reading the daily digests is addictive!

I also belong to an independent midwives group, which makes for interesting reading. Probably one to join when you are actually pg and thinking about your options.

You can pay an IM to go through the notes with you and explain things. Apparently, they are more likely to give you an open and honest opinion of what happened, than someone at the hospital.

Best wishes, Laura

Just wanted to say that I spent 2 hours yesterday with the senior midwife person and it was very helpful. I feel a bit better about what happened (including being able to tell her about the disappointing attitude of one MW, but praise every other one I encountered!), and feel more confident that I have choices next time and will have the emotional support I need. Well, in theory at least!
She said she is hoping to encourage more women to have this kind of de-brief and I would urge anyone thinking of doing this to go ahead and give it a try.

Interesting - do you mind saying which hospital it was ?
Thanks

Lancaster (RLI)

Why do you ask?

And I believe a 'welcome back' is in order - I'm new to MN but your reputation precedes you

Thanks Racers - I like to hear which hospitals are trying to improve matters.... Just wished you had not been induced the 1st time. There is evidence to suggest women can stay without an induction for 96 hours after their waters have broken!!! But not many hospitals update their protocols or actually talk/listen to their "patients"... Also I have seen women who had their waters spontaneoulsy break only for the MW to break the bag of water later..........

Yes, it was a shame. I had gone in for monitoring, DD's heartrate was ok at that point. I think I was advised 48hrs was the 'maximum' to wait because of infection risk and as I had a slightly raised temperature I started to worry. I think (I may need to check this bit again with her although it may not even be in the notes) the MW at this point said I was no longer 'low risk' and could not have the home birth I'd wanted. I was at the insensitive way she said it and told person yesterday how I felt about this (and other ways in which this MW let me down), for which she apologised several times! Anyway, I resigned myself to speeding things up. In retropect, maybe we should have waited, but we will never know if things would have happened naturally so I'm not going to beat myself up about that! You do your best at the time, don't you?!

As for this de-brief discussion - I do feel I've been listened to, I hope it wasn't just 'lip service', her responses certainly seemed to be sincere. I will be in touch with this person again, probably fairly informally, to check that she has spoken to the MW who I was unhappy with and maybe to ask further questions. I certainly felt that I could approach her again any time, which is good.

That's great Racer... and I agree about you have no way of knowing if things would have turned out better if you had waited.
Just so that you know for next time, get yourself checked for strepB... and just do not tell them if you waters break for at least 48h. My home birth clients on the whole choose to wait before they alert midwives about their waters.... they do see with all the facts in hand of course.