How did you get through transition?

[OhGood]

I was fine most of the way through labour with DC1 swaying and counting and breathing and all that malarkey. Then when things hotted up at 9ish cms I really started to get scared of the pain, didn't want to have next contraction and felt like I had nowhere to go next - needed to do something different but didn't know what it was, gas and air wasn't working for me, started to panic, and it all rather fell apart.

How did you get through transition / the 9+ cms bit? Did you have a plan or did you just do what worked next?

Awwww, I love this thread and it makes me want to give birth again

With DC1, I had been sent away from the hospital at about 3am, having been told to basically pull myself together as I was in early labour. Back at home, at about 4.30, I paced up and down the landing, OH had gone to sleep. I remember looking down the stairs and thinking 'if I throw myself down there, this might all go away'. But I managed to resist the urge to top myself and went back to the hospital instead. The midwife said she'd examine me but wasn't expecting me to have made much progress. I stripped off completely as we went into the room and got on the bed on all fours. Waters went, pushing commenced. I realised much later that I had experienced the transition at home and in the car.

The next time, I had a HB and was generally much more in control. I think I recognised the transition for what it was, when it came. I was in a birthing pool and all chilled out listening to Nat King Cole, doing lots of good breathing etc. then suddenly I felt the rising panic and couldn't get comfortable, changing position every few seconds. I looked the mw in the eyes and said, pretty calmly, 'I'm really scared'. She asked me what I was scared of and we had a chat about it. I was reassured by the fact she didn't seem to think I was about to die, and then I started some really attractive loud gutteral mooing, just as the 2nd mw arrived. The waters went then and then pushing. Like others have said, I felt ok once the pushing was underway.

4 hour birth. Straight forward kneeling on bed holding metal bed end.

The gas and air worked for me and it all got rather trippy during transition!! I had my first out of body experience and time was jumping backwards/forwards quickly. No pain really and it was quite nice in a mad sort of way.

Each and every time I said I can't do this I can't do this over and over.

The first time I was really freaked out.

The second time dh was wise enough to spot it was transition. Unfortunately at this stage I was still sat on our bed!
Actually just knowing what it was made it much better.

(and I just about got to the birth centre in time to push - only by a few mins though!)

First time I had an epidural so have no idea.

Second time, I bit dh on the thighs (he was standing at my head) and screamed at the midwife to "pull it out because it hurts!" I then pleaded with her to use forceps to "pull it out", which was kind of funny because my birth plan had about half a page stating how I didn't want any kind of forceps or ventouse delivery and I'd rather have a c-section than have anything used to pull the baby out! I also told the midwife I wasn't going to push during the second stage because it hurt too much! She was brilliant though and told me that if I didn't push I'd suffer the pain for the next few hours, so I'd better get pushing. Ds was born after a few pushes.

DC1 after 18 hours of labour I was informed I was "ready" to push as I was fully dialated. I was in a birthing pool. After an hour of attempting to push I got out the pool and mw broke my waters to try and help things along, but there was meconium in my waters so was given one last chance but my pushing was declared "ineffective" so was wheeled into theatre given a spinal and DD was a forceps delivery. I never actually felt the urge to push.

DC2 I was terrified that my pushing wouldn't work again, but luckily had a really experienced mw and a lovely supportive doula. Much shorter labour (6ish hours). When I got to transition I was rather panicky that "it wouldn't work again" and the "baby would get stuck". I ended up on my back on a bed , not through choice but because my mw said she needed to manage the delivery. (Had a rather nasty tear and heamoridge with DD) Was too tired to argue and my doula said I should trust the mw, so I did. I do remember asking them to stop shouting at me when they were all trying to tell me how to push and then they told me to get angry with the baby and push it out, which I refused to do "it wasn't the baby's fault". I did ask if they could help by pulling. They made me feel the baby's head (supposed to be really motivating etc) and I just slumped back saying "Is that all I've managed, there's loads more to go" I was obviously a real wet blanket. I kicked the end of the bed during a contraction and it flew off a cross the room which was nice and dramatic especially as my Doula was trying to leave a voice message for DH. Eventually "I got it" and after half an hour of pushing and a lot of screaming (not just me, also my doula when I dug my nails into her hand, really, really hard) my 9lb 10.5oz DS was born. I do remember though that when I did push effectively the pain stopped, but getting it right was really tricky like to trying to catch a sail in the wind. Once DS was resussitated (cord round neck, scarey but breathing in less than a min) and all OK I apologised to everyone for my behaviour. One mw, who hadn't been at the birth said to me "you've got a good set up lungs on you!"

Didn't notice it.
DD1 I was exhausted and my legs were agony (she stuck her head on my sciatic nerve for about eight hours)

DD2 was a lovely home birth, with loads of moving around, but bugger all gaps between contractions.

They haven't changed DD1 is the laid back head in a book one. DD2 is to be found racing about doing cart wheels.

I think I must be a freak because I don't think I have ever experienced this!. It have had 5 births and every time it goes like this

Midwife checks - I am 6 cm (never been told more than 6)
Within ten minutes I get the urge to push with no change in pain level or feeling
Baby is born suddenly.

Does anyone else have this or just me. Do i have a freakishly stretchy cervix?

had home births and both times I hid in the loo and refused to come out.

screaming at 9cm for an epidural, actually got given it!! back to back labour was not fun! screamed during the epidural at the aneathetist, following being shouted at to keep still as the needle was in my back, to which i responded, less than politely, that i was listening (whilst kicking my legs back and forth in agitated agony), stripped myself naked and started to push whilst sitting up for the epidural (the drip was never attavhed in the end). If you are going to lose it, its a fact of life. your midwife will be in charge during this stage, if you get shouted at just listen and as part of my birth plan my partner was told to be honest with me. so get shouted out. get told to calm down. tell him to be stern because at the end of transition there will be a baby, so get him to remind you its nearly over.

I am a great believer that epidurals slow things down (dd1 arrived after 19hours with epidural, dd2 was 5 hours and dd3 was 2.5 both without) and personally, i wanted it over and done with painfully (because its all gone when its done with) but i am also a believer in taking paracetomol for a headache. you dont need to go through transition if you dont want to and dont feel pressurised to try in pain relief free. good luck!!

Transition is horrible. With my third I had it in the a&E dept on the way to the labour ward. I sort of fell out of the car in front of A&E ( which was the quickest route to the labour ward) and grabbed an ambulance man ( who was on his break) by the ankles shouting 'help me' he didn't They put me in a wheel chair and starting wheeling up the A&E corridor but I got out as it was too uncomfortable to sit down. I remember having 2 massive contractions back to back whilst being watched by some drunks with cut heads, it was quite surreal. By the time I got to the labour ward I was 9 1/2 cm and begging for 'drugs'. I was told it was too late for that. I had given birth half and hour later on the floor as I refused to get on the bed!

I think I tried to run away - it might have worked had I not been flat on my back being monitored, and so high on G&A that I probably wouldn't have been able to stand up, let alone run anywhere
I vaguely remember flailing my legs on the bed as if running, but it's all a bit hazy thanks to the aforementioned G&A - which was definitely my best friend all the way through labour, particularly after DH managed to turn on the canister, which the MW apparently did not know how to do!! (something to do with being in an induction room, rather than the delivery suite, from what I remember...)

Was open minded about what I would need. Said I was happy to have an epidural etc if necessary. In the end I was most of the labour in the early delivery room with another woman. I told the midwife I had such a strong urge to push and she told me I couldn't possibly (first baby DD now 8wks) as I was only 3cm four hours earlier. Kept on telling her that I really needed to push and so they put me in a delivery suite where they realised I was fully dilated and could see the baby's head. No time for pain relief and had only had gas and air until then. I coped by asking for a birthing pool to be filled. Got in, put Classic FM on and breathed lots! In the end the baby's head was stuck and they whipped me out of the pool after lots of blood appeared (didn't know if it was me or baby) and told me to push like mad as they needed to get the baby out. Ended up with a 3rd degree tear but until I was taken out of the pool breathing hard and not paying anyone else attention was the best way to cope. You can do it. I didn't think I could, but it turns out you can. I haven't listened to Classic FM since- I can't stand it .

Like most people said I threw up all over DH then he said it was like I disassociated from reality for a few minutes which scared him then i was right I'm pushing now. My midwives were great I had a student midwife (which following a friends advice I put on my plan I was happy to have )which I highly recommend because they are solely focused on you and they have a mentor who is not delivering babies with them for most of the time once I was in the delivery suite she only left me to nip to the loo and her mentor stayed dh and I both felt secure which I think made a huge difference.

I sort of fell out of the car in front of A&E ( which was the quickest route to the labour ward) and grabbed an ambulance man ( who was on his break) by the ankles shouting 'help me' he didn't

I'm so sorry, but I'm sitting here in tears reading that. Tears of laughter btw! I can just imagine him shaking you off his ankle and turning his back on you. . I'm hoping it didn't happen like that!

Errmm... stark naked and covered in vomit and wee

Also... out of body experience! At one point, I was totally calm and I could hear this woman in the distance screaming hysterically like she was being tortured "poor cow!", I thought. Yeah, after a minute, I realised it was me

I had back to back labour with no analgesia (NOT my choice )

When the midwives had managed to calm me down enough to push, the pain stopped and there was just pressure. Crowning was a slight sting, that's all.

Yes, I was not in control at all!

fakebook he honestly didn't do anything to help, I couldn't quite believe it at the time. He probably only noticed me once I'd grabbed his ankle and assumed I was drunk! What must I have looked like?!

I had something to focus on. With my first I panicked especially as he was in a bad position.

With my second I listened to the sound of running water and it really really helped. (it was the pool filling up!). Dd came very quickly I got going thankfully.

I did not have it

I was dreading it, then Midwife said "push" and baby came

so there you go

With my last birth at home(dc6) he was very late (18days) and the labour had stopped and started all through the day. I was so fed up. Midwives coming, going away, coming back going away.
At one point once the midwives were there(again) and I had been contracting well, it all stopped AGAIN. I went off to the loo, followed by midwives and I couldn't work out why they were trying to get in the bathroom with me, after all I only wanted a pee.
So I had a pee, sighed alot, went back to kneeling over the bed and asked" so do you think I will have this baby today then?"
They said yes but i wasn't so sure!
There was more waiting around and I was quite ready for them to pack their bags up ( again) then it all went a bit mental and out he came.
The strangest labour I have ever had!
I was very grateful for the long 'rest and be thankful" I had with him.

fromparistoberlin yes please.

DC1 induced as overdue, left alone on antenatal ward DH sent home as when examined only 3cm. Told midwife I needed to push about 1hr later, she didn't believe me, examined on bed. Panic as she realised I was fully dilated. Given pethidine as arrived on labour ward as by then I had lost the plot. Slowed everything down and 2hrs of pushing, registrar called as OP presentation, forceps threatened. Then v quick delivery as I pushed like billy-o.

DC 2 induced as overdue but waters broken and immediately went into labour. Realised I was in transition when I couldn't get comfortable and felt like I couldn't carry on. To tall to get fully immersed in water for a water birth. Remember thinking I couldn't carry on. Unfortunately Ds delivered on bed as his heart rate dropped and again he was an OP presentation.

DC3 went into labour without induction! told to go home after assessment on antenatal triage as only 3cm again. Made it to hospital foyer, went back to triage as contractions unmanageable, put in side room on postnatal ward with dh. Left alone.I went into a strange trance whilst bouncing on birthing ball. Then suddenly stood up and announced the baby was coming. Midwife arrived ,told me to calm down and that I needed to relax ,the baby wasn't coming.I lost the plot and screamed I was pushing ,cue hasty exam and rapid transfer on bed to labour ward, with midwife pushing me onto my side and telling me not to push. ds2 arrived 30 secs after arrival on labour ward. I have no idea why on third labour when I told mw I was pushing she didn't believe me. I think if I had been on Labour ward during transition I would probably have coped and not panicked as much.

It only lasted a minute or two and howling like a banshee got me through it but probably frightened the rest of the labour ward into the arms of the closest anaesthetist.

Accupressure on the points at the base of my back. DH pressed as hard as he could through every contraction.

It was amazing and pretty much took all the pain away. I got by on gas and air only.

My accupuncturist taught the trick to me and drew the points on my back in some sort of long lasting pen so DH could find them when it came to it.

I didn't experience transition. Mind you, I'm another one who 'couldn't possibly be in labour', but once they bothered to examine me after 1.5 hours I was 9.5cm dilated. I don't remember feeling any worse around the 10cm mark! I had got up to that point just on a flipping TENS machine and two paracetamol though (as they didn't believe me when I said it was erm, uncomfortable) so maybe transition wasn't that much worse?

I didn't mind my labour actually. It's just a shame my 2 and a half hours of pushing were in vain as DS was malpositioned so it ended up in a forceps delivery. I don't remember feeling panicked at any point but it was a bit grim when I realised that me pushing was totally pointless but I still had the overwhelming urge to push. I also didn't like the ten minutes between them taking away my g&a and getting the spinal block. The whole thing was still easier than the first 6 weeks of breastfeeding though!