DH and I are currently thinking about going for baby #2, and it's got me thinking back to the birth of DS. Just wondering what people think about whether my experience was good/bad/par for the course.
Birth plan (ha!) was a water birth at a midwife led unit, but waters broke and contractions didn't start so that was out of the question. Luckily though they did start within 24 hours so I didn't have to be induced.
First stage of labour was very straightforward, midwife was lovely, she examined me and said I was 2-3cm dilated. Then the shift changeover took place!! Contractions started getting much more intense and I told the new midwife that I would like some gas and air. She said that as I had been examined quite recently (about 45 mins previously I think), and had only been 3cm then, she didn't think pain relief was necessary. (Is that normal - shouldn't I have been the judge of that???) When she did examine me again, about an hour and a half later, she said, "Well the good news is you're fully dilated!" At this point I was then offered gas and air.
After that it all went a bit downhill, DS's head was at a difficult angle and so I ended up having an EMCS. To be honest though, by that point I couldn't care less how he was born, and the spinal block taking effect was the best feeling in the world!!
But what I'm wondering is, should I have been given pain relief as soon as I asked for it? Is is typical for midwives to try to 'hold off' as long as possible? Should I have just been more assetive? What do you think?
Sorry for the long post.