Lulumama/doulas/midwives, could you help me with a few questions?

[nuttygirl]

I'm currently writing to my PCT regarding my recent birth and could do with the answers to a few questions so any help is v much appreciated.

1. Monitoring (following waters breaking, not yet in labour - did I have to be lying down?

1. Pethidine - at what stage should/can this be given (i.e. can it be given before established labour & is there a point at which it shouldn't be given as it is too close to the baby being born?) Also are there any official guidelines on this?

TIA

Hi Nuttygirl,

You have recieved great replies! I assume that you are using Birth Trauma Assoc and their wonderful volunteers? (you know who you are! )

I have only recently been to actually see my cons to talk over the forceps assist of my VBAC 22 months ago (yes Lulu, I still have to answer your last email on that subject, hope to give you the time to answer soon) and I can only stress how important it is to get the details and procedures clear in your mind. I don't know what pethidne is like, i had diamorphine against my better judgement, but it does take away the recollections and leaves you in limbo, I assume, from my experience.

What ever you are planning to do about complaining I am sure that by clarifying what happened, when and why, will enable you to learn from the experience, accept and move on. I wish you well in getting your answers, as I find that even if nothing can be fixed, it helps enormously to be able to understand.

Thinking of you.

Ohhh, just the enormous weight of responsibility, that's all

Nuttygirl - was this your first baby? If it wasn't, the reason that you were found to be 1-2cms one day and 'not dilated' the next might be because, after the first birth, the cervix never completely closes up. So if the mw was able to do a good sweep, she might have considered you 1-2 cms (because she could manage to do the sweep) but you wouldn't be technically 'dilated' to someone else, iyswim?

It's a bit crap and confusing for you (and slightly irrelevant if it was your first!) but it's one of the problems with having lack of continuity - vaginal exams are not an exact science and different people come up with different results all the time

And lulumama is right (as always ) - there is some anecdotal evidence about cervices 'closing up' if the woman feels she is not in a 'safe place' to give birth.

ooh, is that snaf, the greatest trainee midwife in the world ever ! oh so it is ! LOL!!

yes, Klaw, you owe me an email

nutty - there is not such thing as a silly or stupid question where this sort of thing is concerned, often the 'devil is in the detail' , as it were, and the little things can annoy you , and you need to get answers for all the questions you have...so don;t worry about that!

Thanks all, that's all very helpful. The article was very interesting Yesireallycan and it was my first Snaf.

Ah well, there we go. Ignore me

Hope you get some answers from the PCT. Have you asked for a copy of your notes? As the AIMS article says, it's really useful to have them when making a complaint, etc

How soon after having the pethedine was baby actually born? Just asking as it takes about 30mins to cross the placenta.

The worst time to actually gibe pethedine is actually 2 hours before birth as this is when any effect will be most pronounced on the baby.

Saying that I will give pethedine 2 hours before I think the baby is likely to be born if I think the woman is not going to get through the next 2 hours without it.

Was about 1 hour after being given the pethidine that baby was born. I've requested a copy of my notes.

Thanks for all the help!