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Original poster

Midwives don't believe I am having contractions....

28 replies

Elsathelion · 15/05/2012 16:41

I am having an induction due to crazy blood pressure issues. I was given the first lot of drugs (to "ripen" the cervix) today at 11 am; I am 39+5.

When I was examined, the midwife was surprised that my cervix was already quite soft and a tiny bit open (about enough for one finger to fit in it).

Since about midday, I have been having regular pains every few minutes. The pain is in my lower abdomen, lower back and down through my hips. The pain is very strong but I am not screaming and shouting because I am a hypnotherapist and have spent a lot of time preparing for birth. It is strong enough that I can't move or talk when the pain is at its peak.

Does this sound like contractions?

The MWs are driving me mad saying that it often takes two lots of the drugs to start labour and what I am feeling is probably just "niggles" as the cervix is ripening.

I am a bit worried they don't believe me because, due to my blood pressure, my LO should be monitored during contractions, at least at first, to check she is coping ... But they won't monitor for "niggles."

Argh!

Any advice / thoughts hugely welcome

Smile

xxx

OP posts:
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TheSurgeonsMate · 15/05/2012 16:48

Are you in hospital?

.

Original poster
Elsathelion · 15/05/2012 16:50

Yes have to stay here cos of blood pressure

OP posts:
Staverton · 15/05/2012 16:51

Thats exactly what my midwife said when i had the pessary for dc2.
2 hours exactly after pessary dd was born. 10 mins before she was born- i need to push. MW - are you sure you just dont need to do a poo? waters went - oh youve wet yourself.
not called madwives for nothing

Imnotaslimjim · 15/05/2012 16:52

Can you request a 2nd internal? I've never been induced, but if you're experiencing pain, then maybe you could convince them to check "to put your mind at rest"?

Belmo · 15/05/2012 16:53

Have never had an induction but that certainly sounds like contractions to me! How often are they coming?
Midwife didn't want to let me in or examine me when I went to hospital as I was walking through the contractions so couldn't be far along - I had to walk to cope with them, was fully dilated and starting to push when she grudgingly had a look! Everyone copes differently, sounds like you're doing fab. Can you describe it to them? You might need to get a bit pushy.
Lots of luck! :)

TheSurgeonsMate · 15/05/2012 16:54

Yes, the word used in my case was "tightenings".

I was at home, and the question was how to get them to let me come in. But if you're there already I'm not sure what more you can do.

Not very helpful, I'm afraid. But a bump for you, at least.

PogoBob · 15/05/2012 16:56

I had a similar thing with DD. Wasn't induced but my contractions were never regular so the midwives refued to believe I was in established labour. DH had to fight to get the midwives to let me go in to be checked. By the time I got there was 10cm. Could you play the blood pressure stress card and ask them to at least monitor to check if you are having contractions - surely the stress caused by worrying about it isn't good for you blood pressure?

Good luck

SoozleQ · 15/05/2012 17:00

Fight for the midwives to check you again. They just assume because you aren't screaming and writhing around you aren't really in labour.

A throwaway comment from my midwife along the lines of "oh, I'll just do a quick check but I can tell nothing's really happening because you aren't really having contractions" resulted in DD being born by EMCS within half an hour. I was fully dilated and DD's hand and knee were presenting so there was a very real risk of cord prolapse.

jaquelinehyde · 15/05/2012 17:05

Aaah yes I remember being told I was having niggles after being monitored all night and the machine not picking anything up I was given 2 aspirin and sent to the ward Hmm

Half an hour later I threw up everywhere and a kindly midwife used her hand on my tummy (good old fashioned way) to feel the contraction, fetched the Dr who checked and said I was 6cm dialated and whipped back to the delivery suite as I was a high risk labour and should have been monitored closely from the off set!

Make them check you again!!!

GobblersKnob · 15/05/2012 17:10

Get them to check. After a terrible birth with ds (fought it all the way) I got myself in a much better place with dd, was super calm and relaxed. Went in as my waters had broken. Midwife said well we'll give you a quick check but I can see you are not having proper contractions (they were sodding awful) so we'll probably be sending you home.

I was 7cm.

GobblersKnob · 15/05/2012 17:11

Oh and good luck Smile

Mothership1 · 15/05/2012 18:08

Get them to check you again, midwives refused to believe me and DS was born on the floor of the toilet (as they were too busy to find me a bed or examine me) Angry

Sirzy · 15/05/2012 18:12

Any chance the baby is back to back? I was told I wasn't having contractions because they didn't show on the monitor but that was because he was back to back so the contractions where more in my back/hips

Lulumama · 15/05/2012 18:14

ypou will be checked again... esp as you have started the induction process.

ask them to check or at least monitor you again.

if you are having regular pains that you can't talk through, then things could be getting started

you need to be quite firm, that you are not just having niggles and you would like some reassurance.

StarshitTerrorise · 15/05/2012 18:22

I did hypnobirthing and midwife didn't believe I was in active labour. She was excellent and had the sense not to say so. She sat by the edge of the pool and was very surprised when dd's head popped out.

Wizziebuff · 16/05/2012 15:59

I'm also a hypnotherapist and got to 5cm before they agreed to examine me. I also couldn't talk through the pains and knew instinctively as a first time mother that things were progressing, but found it very difficult to persuade the midwife to the fact. You must try to either be more insistent about them or a doctor examining you, or ask your other half to do so, perhaps citing his worries about you. Alternatively, you may need to be a bit more vocal during contractions, or as my husband suggested 'shout now!!'. Best of luck, it sounds as though you are almost there. FWIW I also found the gas and air to be a huge relief at this stage, it really gave me added confidence in my body, I was already using a TENS machine and I went on to have an epidural later on after discovering the baby was back to back. This was incredible, I actually felt no pain whatsoever and could even have fallen asleep during established labour it worked so well. I wish you well for a safe delivery.

emsyj · 16/05/2012 17:01

"They just assume because you aren't screaming and writhing around you aren't really in labour."

"I did hypnobirthing and midwife didn't believe I was in active labour."

Yes to both of these. At least you're already in hospital and don't need to 'ham it up' to get them to let you come in to be examined like I did! I was told I was going to get sent home but eventually they did agree to examine me and I was 9cm.

Just hassle them to have another check. Trust your own instincts. Best of luck with the birth and baby.

Groovee · 16/05/2012 17:04

A friend complained to the midwives at 5am when her waters broke at 30 weeks, that she was having regular pain. She was told to stop making a fuss, her ds was born at 8am in a side ward where they put her to shush her :-(

scarlettsmummy2 · 16/05/2012 17:07

Midwife told me that too- I was eight centimetres before they eventually examined me and daughter burn less than an hour later. Just tell them you want to be examined!

madwomanintheattic · 16/05/2012 17:08

Lol, yes, I spent the entire day in the hospital being told I wasn't really in labour because I wasn't screaming and yelling. After an entire day of being told I couldn't yet have any pain relief because I wasn't in full labour I asked for something to help me sleep as I was completely knackered. They told me I had to have an internal before I could be prescribed anything and duly sent someone along. 7 cms. still took another 12 hours as he was back to back.

I wouldn't be too smug though. With the next one I mooed like a cow for the entire thing and had jaw ache from clamping too hard on the g&a. Everyone labours differently, and every labour is different.

PoohBearsHole · 16/05/2012 17:12

I cracked my molar in labour with ds.

Sorry not relevant Grin

crazygracieuk · 16/05/2012 17:13

I have been told with all my kids that I can't be in labour as I managed to walk into the hospital and wasn't screaming and writhing. First 2 cases I was 6cm, third time I was 10cm and holding the baby less than 10 minutes later.

They were very sceptical -especially with my first and I had to be really pushy.

madwomanintheattic · 16/05/2012 17:15

So did I, pooh. They still told me I wasn't in labour.

Half of my tooth fell out the day I got home from the hospital.

ifeelloved · 16/05/2012 17:15

Had similar problems. With dd1 they didn't believe that I needed to push as they'd already checked me and I was only 7 cms. Eventually the agreed to check me and then had to apologise as I was indeed about to give birth!

With dd2, when I phoned to let them know I was in labour they wouldn't believe me as I wasn't screaming down the phone at them. They only agreed that I could go in when I explained it was baby 2 so I knew what labour felt like!

I know there is a general idea o what labour is like but I think that they sometimes forget that we're real not textbooks Grin

PoohBearsHole · 16/05/2012 17:16

Bonkers isn't it mad

I got sent home too.............

Think I might have to consider who will pay to fix my molar Grin

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