Anyone else have a positive experience of hospital birth & interventions?

[Mama12341]

I've read loads of info on the net about unnecessary interventions and the 'horror' of hospital births. My personal experience was very different. Medical intervention saved my sons life and I had a really positive experience in the hospital. So I was wondering if anyone else had a positive experience of an intervention or hospital birth that they would like to share? I hope we can share the other side of the story on this thread to show support for the Drs and midwives who get it right and respectfully support women through complicated deliveries and allow a positive experience.

I didn't have any interventions such as forceps/vontouse (not sure of spelling sorry) but pretty much straight away on the labour ward the midwife noticed baby's heart rate was dipping so I had to have continuous monitoring for the whole time (around 8 hours). This meant I couldn't move around as much and I also had a drip in.

Ideally I would have liked to have been very mobile/ trying out different positions and before labour the thought of being confined to the bed space really worried me but it was actually fine.

I ended up pushing on my back (which I had read a lot of negative things about so I thought being on all fours for example would have been better) but that suited me it felt fine when I was doing it and I was really comfortable.

The only thing horrific about my hospital birth was having to wait seven hours for a couple of slices of crap white toast afterwards. I recently discovered I was actually offered toast straight after, but that clearly got lost in the pethidine haze, and I've been unnecessarily grumpy about my toastless postbirth experience for two years. Whoops.

A bit more about DS' birth. After a prolonged labour and several signs that all was not well we were transferred from the birth centre to hospital where a heart monitor was put on the baby's head. His heartbeat was all over the place and the team of midwives and Drs were amazing. They kept me informed throughout and they always included me in decision making. There was no pressure for them to intervene. Then the baby's heartbeat dropped right down and didn't come back. They handled this so quickly and efficiently and thanks to that DS is now a healthy bubbly baby. I am so grateful to these Drs and midwives for being so professional and on the ball. Despite everything it was a very positive birth experience.

Stormybrid - ?? can't believe u spent all that time thinking u weren't offered toast! Lol

Just want to say thanks for posting this! So nice to hear the 'other side' of hospital birth. I'm expecting twins and this means I'm automatically in high risk category and interventions are far more likely! It doesn't help that you hear so much negative info about medicalised birth from well meaning people when I know I will likely need the extra help, epidural, lots of monitoring etc. I just want a healthy outcome for all and it can be scary when you know you'll need all the things that you're told make labour difficult! I.e not mobile, hooked up to drips!!

I was induced and took 39 hours to get to 2cm, then had my waters broken, was hooked up to a drip, continuously monitored so was stuck on my back, had the ventouse and was rushed to theatre for an EMCS.
On paper it looks horrible but everyone who cared for me was just brilliant, and with each new intervention they took the time to explain to me why it was best and I never felt forced into anything. I don't like to think about what could have happened to my DD if I hadn't gone with their suggestions.
I had my DD at Salisbury and I'll definitely be having any other babies there if I get the chance.

Oh yes. I had induction which took 4 days and constant monitoring. Had every pain relief known to man, lots of internals and ended up with an emcs. I still have very fond memories. All the staff were amazing and I didn't feel at all scared. It was all in all a very positive experience.

Two babies, in MLU, one of which was a water birth. Very laid back. Own room throughout. No problems whatsoever.

My baby was breech and I elected to have an ECV at 37 weeks. I had friends scaremongering me, but I made an informed decision and was really glad I did. It was done calmly and was mostly uncomfortable with the gas and air. LO was successfully turned on the second try. This intervention meant that I was able to have a low risk normal vaginal delivery in our newly opened midwife led centre rather than a ELCS.

Good idea for a thread, it's easy to just hear scare stories about intervention heavy births.

I had a long slow labour which was poorly managed on the ward and DD and I both ended up poorly and rushed into an emcs. The ward might have been shite, but the actual few hours in the CLU where I got my epidural, everyone realised how ill we were, ran invasive tests then rushed to theatre was, weirdly, the best part of it. As PP say, I didn't feel scared. I felt cared for, and had everything explained to me, and trusted that everyone was doing the right thing at the right time because they were calm and professional and showed a real interest in me and how I was managing.

I even had my lovely anethetist giving me a shoulder massage in the middle of my cs because the spinal was trickling down and giving me shoulder cramps

I'm definitely having an elcs next time because that was the only bit of the labour experience I was ok with!

I had a 37 hour labour with my first. I had a drip to strengthen contractions, epidural, forceps, episiotomy, very close to a emcs. DD got whisked away straight after birth to have antibiotics because I had a fever during labour. But I had a great time. Honestly wasn't bothered. I did get PND though so it wasn't all great.

Also, I healed a lot quicker and easier 'downstairs' after my furst birth than I did with my straightforward-no stiches- second birth.

DS was premature (31+5) so I hadn't even started to think about a birth plan - all I had done was half a hypnobirthing course, so I had breathing techniques, and what I had read about pain relief. The birth was monitored all the way through, but my MW supported me as much as possible in staying active (sitting on a birth ball, etc), but there came points where I couldn't do what I wanted because they couldn't monitor in that position. I had an epidural, forceps and episiotomy, but I came away from that birth quite happy about how it had gone, and I knew because of DS' prematurity, it was all for good reason.

With DD, I was 40+5, but induced due to obstetric cholestasis (with the pessary only). DD's heart rate was a little all over the place, so they monitored her the whole time (again), but this time I had written a birth plan, and the student MW looking after me took particular care to follow my plan as much as was possible. I was up on all fours on the bed, when they said they were struggling to get a good trace on DD, so I said I would lay on my side - I was very keen not to be on my back.
It wasn't the lovely birth centre hypnobirth I had hoped for, but for me it was still a great birth. To be honest, it was a bit too fast for any of that anyway!

I've had two great births - both in hospital, with an OB present, and induced.

I foolishly read induction horror stories here before having my first and nearly cancelled the induction. Really glad I didn't as it was honestly a good experience.

Second time round was just as good.

Both inductions have been straight forward and quick. I've been on continuous monitoring with both and laboured on my back in bed, which I thought was fine. I laboured with gas and air, and don't think the contractions were as excruciatingly painful as some report.

First induction was elective done at term, and second was early at my OBs recommendation due to a sizeable PPH.

Hospitals can be lovely, and I'd do the same if I had a third baby.

First birth was a planned homebirth but I ended up in hospital at 37 weeks as I was unwell. I was in early labour due to being ill so we decided to break waters and get things moving as it was a potentially risky situation for the baby.
I had continuous monitoring, IV drip, morphine, epidural. It was fine, although it wasn't what I'd planned, when things start to deviate from normal you just have to go with it. I was lucky that everything happened fairly quickly and I was able to push him out on my own despite the epidural (which was excellent). I can honestly say I enjoyed the whole experience!
Baby 2 was a water birth with just gas & air, also a wonderful experience.

Had medical intervention on all four births . Was happy to be supervised & never felt it was a bad thing.

On ds1 - induction after failure to progres, waters broken , petosin .
On ds2-my waters broke & my labour was started after 15 hours.
He & I were tired & needed forceps & suction to get out. I'm sorry they waited so long to intervene .
Ds3 - was exhausted after long labour so asked them to speed it up. Which they did.
Dd4- had bad spd, requested induction at 38 weeks .

I had no expectations that a birth was anything other than a means to an end. It suited me to have managed births .

I had a failed ventouse and emcs after a very long labour. I was put on the drip and continuously monitored but was still able to move around a bit within the immediate area of the bed. the monitoring straps kept coming off so they put the clip on dd's head which made moving easier.

I felt very well cared for throughout, everyone was lovely and kept me and dh very well informed. a student midwife who was with me for most of the time I was labouring in hospital stayed on well past the end of what was her last shift to try to get me through to delivery, although in the end she had to go home. the next student midwife who took over from her gave me a most fantastic bed-bath afterwards which made me feel a million times better.

not an ideal birth, but it was no-ones fault (dd was in an undeliverable position) and I still view it as a very positive experience.

Such a great idea for a thread - it's really important to hear the positive stories as well! In my case I'm sure the interventions of the hospital were of vital importance.

I went overdue with DD and was begging the hospital not to induce as I was set on a natural birth ideally without medication! i was monitored every 2 days but by 4 days overdue the hospital saw my amniotic fluid was critically low and the placenta wasn't functioning properly. I reluctantly agreed to be induced the next morning with prostaglandin. As I was told it would likely take me 3 days to go into labour, I even asked if I could go home in the meantime but the hospital refused point blank.

By the afternoon the midwives insisted on continuous monitoring as the CTG was suspect. 12 hours after the induction started the doctor informed me the CTG was getting worse and worse and I had to go for an EMCS immediately. DD was born within 30 min weighing just 5 lb 7 but otherwise perfectly healthy. The doctor later told me it was the right decision as DD would never have coped with labour due to her size and the placenta failure.

Even though the birth was totally the opposite of what I had hoped for, I'm so grateful that the midwives and staff acted so decisively and that I followed their advice.

I had ARM with both of mine. First was born 12 hours later (was already contracting but slowing) and second went from no contractions but 4cm dilated to baby in arms within 5 hours of ARM. Both were 9lb+.

It was the anti intervention brigade that left me crippled with a sense of failure - the interventions were fab and life saving.

DD was breech, consultant happy to try vaginal delivery. Labour was AGONY, epidural was absolutely fabulous. DD arrived by EMCS after getting stuck halfway out - can't use forceps on a bum. Recovery a walk in park - out in 36hrs.

DS was normal presentation VBAC - again pools, hypnobirthing did bugger all. Epidural fabulous. Needed a nudge with forceps to get him out, but they put forceps on, tweaked him a bit, forceps fell out and I pushed him the rest of the way. Midwives and doctors all absolutely excellent, will not birth again without lovely lovely epidural.

Yes!

DC1 - pregnancy was perfect, not a single issue, went along swimmingly.
Went in to labour 39+5, had this terrible headache and swelled up like a dumpling, paid it no attention (first baby).
Went to hospital, had seizures in labour (Eclampsia), and thankfully, being where I was, I was immediately sedated and baby was out via EMCS under a GA within minutes.
He did suffer from lack of oxygen and we both spent the week in ITU, but if it had happened at home we would almost both have certainly died.
From what I have heard, the speed that they moved was amazing, I am truly grateful for that.

DC2 - Was going for a VBAC, but developed Pre-eclampsia, hospital checkups meant this was seem quickly and she was delivered by ELCS calmly and it was a lovely experience.

DC3 - booked in for an ELCS in 6 weeks, no ones taking any risks this time. I have EH and am seen weekly at the hospital with scans every two weeks. They are doing a great job of looking after me.

Totally. I had DD 2 weeks ago. At the end I was fully dilated and going nowhere, falling asleep on the birthing stool because I'd been up for 2 days straight. I was whisked from the birth unit to the delivery floor, examined, found to be back-to-back, and told they'd need to turn DD and deliver her with forceps. From then on it was like very quick and efficient - canula in, catheter in, paperwork signed, into theatre, spinal put in, baby pulled out!

The staff were wonderful, kind and reassuring, DD's APGAR score was 10, I felt nothing but a bit of pressure and pulling. It was awesome. I needed the help and I got it straight away. I was so glad I decided to go to our large regional hospital rather than the local birth unit.

I ended up having an episiotomy, which I'd really wanted to avoid, but the stitches are all gone now and it's only two weeks after it was done. It was sore for a couple of days, but I only needed to take ibuprofen and it was fine.

It was a great experience. I was SO HAPPY to have someone help get her out!

Hi,

I had a hospital birth. I originally wanted a home birth but my partner felt happier being in a hospital 'just in case'. It ended up being a wonderful experience and I left feeling very privileged. I did three terms of birthing classes with The Daisy Foundation who really helped me feel prepared and in control of the birth I wanted. When the hospital did in fact want to use an intervention, I knew that so long as my baby was calm and ok that I didn't have to take their advice and could make my own judgement but obviously took on board there professional advice. thedaisyfoundation.com

I wanted a natural water birth with definitely NO epidural. I was terrified of the thought of hospital and not being able to move my legs. I was high risk due to a blood condition, so when I went overdue they were desperate to induce me. I just didn't turn up to induction appointments, so by the time I got to delivery in labour, they kept me in even though I was only 3cm.

That was 11am on Sunday. I'd been 2cm at 4pm on Friday at a sweep, and had been having regular 6 - 7 minute contractions since 9pm Friday night. I was GUTTED at the '3cm' thing, and furious!

I managed to get the pool due to insistence by my doula, but things only sped up a little bit between 11am and 4pm. During most of that time I was debating whether to let them break my waters or not. In the end my temperature started to go up in the water, and it was looking like I'd get taken out of the pool. So, I let them break my waters. Something I very much hadn't wanted. Things ramped up in terms of pain, but I was back in the pool. Was told I was ready to push at 6pm.

Pushed for 90 minutes with nothing happening. In and out of the pool, various different positions.. then there was a change of shift. The new shift checked me out and started saying that I wasn't 10cm, that I'd been pushing on an inadequately dilated cervix, that it was now swollen and I should stop pushing "just resist... it'll only take an hour or two".. they were bandying around words like 'posterior' and 'distressed baby' 'we need to speed this up with syntocinon'.. I totally lost all sense of humour and did some shouting. There was no way I could stop pushing, I wasn't even doing it anymore through choice, my body was doing it.

Through a lot of conversation with a consultant midwife and my doula, I ended up being sped up on a drip, with an epidural (I refused to have drip without epidural at that point). It took another 4 hours to get one, during which it was all pretty shit... me trying to resist pushing and doing a lot of shouting, my boyfriend crying because so many people were suddenly in the room, they put the thing on the baby's head because they couldn't get a proper heart trace, catheter, had to resite the epidural a couple of times because I just couldn't sit still, blah blah.

Do you know what? It was ACE. The epidural hours were amazing... I'd started off calm in the pool for 5 hours, then had 5 hours of panic and fear, then it all just went away. I totally trusted the midwives that it was going to be OK. I had a kip with the drip did its thing and got me properly to 10cm, boyfriend went home for tea and toast and to gather his thoughts, then at 1.30am they woke me up and said it was time to push the baby out.

I did it in about 20 minutes once they'd got me in a reasonable position. By this point I could feel my legs and the contractions, and some of the pain, but it was absolutely FINE. Genuinely a lovely experience... we chatted and laughed while all this was going on, because it didn't hurt like crazy I was able to stop pushing when they told me to, so only a tiny tear. I got up and walked to the shower an hour or so after she was born.

So, epidural, syntocinon, catheter, clip on baby's head, canula etc... but, a great experience.

Had an emcs after 6 hours of quick intense contractions. Felt so relieved when they told me, despite all my fears!
Theatre staff so lovely. Wonderful skin to skin time in recovery. Recovered really well, no pain after 5 days. Good care post natally, very empathetic. Thinkwwill go elcs next time