Failed induction and EMCS

[heartburnhelp]

Wondered if anyone had a similar experience that they wouldn't mind sharing.

I was induced with the 24 hour propess due to being 12 days overdue. After about 12 hours I was in pain but it was more of a feeling of pressure than contractions. A few hours after that the contractions started and came in frequently but short and sharp - about 5 in ten minutes lasting 40 seconds. It was very very painful for the next 12 hours despite only being 2cm at the end of it.

They decided that they could break my waters but didn't have time until the next morning (about 36 hours after the propess first went in). The pain during that wait was unbearable but when I said this to the midwife it was completely dismissed and I was reminded regularly that people usually stay at home at this point. I was also unable to empty my bladder because of the pain and pressure.

My waters were eventually broken but after 4 hours I was still only 3cm so they put me on the hormone drip. Again, the pain during those 4 hours was immense and I needed gas and air to get though it.

The hormone drip led to a drop in baby's heart rate which resulted in an EMCS. When they put the catheter in the bladder it filled an entire bag.

I'm struggling to understand why it was so painful. Can I just not handle it? I feel like a failure and that people would laugh at me for being in so much pain when I wasn't even in established labour.

What was the position of your baby? My first was back to back. Never known pain like it. Was in agony from first contraction to the last. In comparison my emcs recovery just didn't hurt at all and didn't need pain killers.

Thanks for replying. Funny you should say that as the midwife said that she thought he might be back to back but told us not to worry about it as he had time to move. That was when were at 3cm and she put the hormone drip on. I didn't hear anything more about it and forgot to ask after the EMCS.

Did yours end in an EMCS too or was that a different pregnancy? Did you have any other vaginal births after that? If so was that your choice? Sorry for all of the questions.

I'm also recovering from the EMCS really well.

Not the same situation, but with DS1 I had a failed induction (well, several attempts!) followed by an EMCS. What I can tell you four years later is that no one really cares how they were born, whether you could cope with the pain, or how you felt about the birth at all.

In the immediate aftermath it's a discussion people will try to have with you in the same way they'll ask what baby weighs and whether they sleep well at night. Then this will stop and when you meet people and introduce your baby they won't even think to ask about your childbirth experience.

What is important is how you feel about it. Easier said than done but there's no need to feel that you shouldn't have been in pain. There's no failure, no weakness. You created a human being and got it out your body safely. That's pretty incredible.

I'm glad you're recovering well. Take the time you need to absorb what happened. Talk to people if it helps. Be honest with the health visitor, your GP, your partner, your parents. Let people know if you're not coping.

I was a tearful mess after my experience - I had always assumed I'd have a vaginal birth. But unless I bring the story up no one asks, and there's no feeling that people think less of me in any way.

Well done. Enjoy your baby. I hope you feel better in yourself quickly. Congratulations.

2 emergency sections here. Dh's family all have giant heads and I apparently have a sub optimal pelvis so despite getting fully dilated no amount of pushing or pulling could make ds (first) and his giant head budge from mid pelvis. Dd I booked an elective, went into labour early and went with the flow until she decided to try bungee jumping in her cord and started to get distressed. She was better positioned though and it was considerably less painful. When I got pregnant with her they were very clear I'd be supported in whatever I chose. I erred towards an elective due to my age (over 40) and the fact that my dad had just died, I think I wanted control if that makes sense. Glad with hindsight I laboured with both though but not entirely sure why.

Congratulations on your baby.

@Shelley54 thank you for the kind words, it's really helped and you are completely right

@Dinosauratemydaffodils thank you it's good to hear about your experience at future births, not that I'm thinking about that any time soon!

DD1 was back to back and had a similar experience to you ending in EMCS.

You didn't fail. I expect it was due to the baby's position. From what I understand first time mum's going into induction with an unfavourable cervix have a fairly high chance of needing EMCS

You asked about the next baby. I had DS2 26 months later by ELCS. A very civilised affair - I picked his birthday, was the only person on the list, and was home 25hrs after his birth. I needed control and was too scared of failed inductions and frankly uterine rupture (a risk after my first due to my medical circumstances).

Two kids and not a single contraction.

Being induced is awful. If you think about your being forced into labour and that's gonna hurt. I was similar to you, 12 Day over, no dilation. I can confirm it is awful and unnatural. The best advice the midwife gave me was you made the right decision when I asked for the epidural. I ended up with a emcs as I never got past 3cm. Just wished they'd gone straight to a Cs.

I had a very, very similar birth OP. Including the bladder issues. I was also dismissed by midwives. I had a back to back baby and also had a EMCS.

For years I questioned why it was so painful for me. Over time I realised I had a large, overdue, non-engaged back to back baby. A reaction to the propess pessary. An adrenalised birth experience. No oxytocin to buffer out the pain.

I was sure the second time would be different. But I didn't want to take the risk it wasn't. So I had a ELCS. And I haven't really thought about my first birth since. It's all just shitty luck. I still do an inward eye roll when people have 'empowering' births. Mine was truly the opposite.

Couldn't read and run from this- the experience you described is practically identical. I felt like you at the same stage but now 8 years on I can truly agree with others creating a human is amazing however they are born and the experience of the labour is frankly a battle compared to some! Every birth and baby is different, I opted for elective with my 2nd almost 2 years ago and it really was night and day difference. The midwives also reminded me with my first that others would still be at home. The pain was so intense I was climbing the walls Not sure how they know the amount of pain. My first was back to back and was progressing face first they had me try to push at 9cm but just wouldn't budge. You should be so proud don't let any negative memories tarnish what is an amazing thing you have achieved!

Also, and I'm sorry if this is a bit hippy dippy. But I had the birth I was supposed to have. I was sad mine wasn't a good experience. It was imperfect, painful, I felt let down, I felt weak, scared, abandoned. There was no wonderful feeling of accomplishment. In many ways, I got a nice overview of motherhood in my three day labour.

I had an identical labour to you.

My pain threshold is very very very high and it takes a lot for me to feel anything that bothers me.

I asked for an epidural within 5 minutes of my waters being broken at 2cm, the pain was that horrific.

Everyone's labour is so very different.

You did brilliantly. That's all that matters.

I'm not sure if they are doing them at the moment but you can contact your hospital for a birth reflections appointment, you discuss everything that happened with someone medically qualified, I think it's usually a midwife, but not sure. I think you might find it very healing. Ps congratulations!

I'm so glad that I posted this now. Your replies have made a world of difference to how I am feeling! Thank you so much. I am now going to stop focussing on what happened so that I can bond with baby. I don't want what happened to cause any more negativity.

I had a very similar experience to you. They broke my waters at 1.5cm dilated and had me on the drip for 9 hours and I never got past 2cm. I would have had to have had an epidural if it had gone on for any longer, the pain was awful despite being totally unproductive. But I surprising considering full-blown contractions.

If focusing on your baby helps, that’s wonderful but if, in time, these feelings don’t go away for you, you could try a birth reflections appointment. The Birth Trauma Association is helpful and their Facebook page is great.

I had 4 inductions and epidurals with the first 3!!!! The hours of pain down my legs and around my bump continually for hours and not actually in "Labour"

The last one was fine with just tens and gas & air. What I think the differences were:

I was so much more relaxed, accepted I would be induced at 14 days and have a huge baby and no home birth.

I was more concerned about having a baby with silent reflux again than a 3 day labour.

The first pessary caused pain but I manage with tens & birthing ball. 2 Nd pessary within an hour it start really hurting and I used gas & air too. DC was born 3 hours later.

So the whole build up was more like spontaneous labour in terms of pain build up and I wasn't worried about it etc. I refused continuous monitoring too.

I think a lot of things contribute to how intense the pain is and how you cope with it. Being shattered and sleep deprived really doesn't help!!

Thank you for the replies. I have just looked up the Birth Trauma Association and think I will join them on Facebook. I've had to hide all of the other hospital / birth related groups that I followed as I couldn't bare the reminders.

I don't think it helped that I was on my own for most of the experience due to restrictions on birth partners. So felt very alone and like there was nobody to fight my corner.

A few days on though and I feel loads better already.

Thank you for all of your help.

Please don't feel that way. Our bodies are tired and we can only handle so much.
My DS was back to back and I was induced but thankfully didn't need the hormone drip. They are very painful apparently! I was dreading having to have that

My baby was back to back. Got to 8cm by 36 hours then emcs. The contractions were very painful from the beginning. By about 4cm it felt like my back was breaking with each one. So I do think probably position made them more painful for you!

Be kind to yourself, people generally forget that childbirth can and does go wrong, always had done. The number of maternal deaths used to be shocking it's only the relative modern intervention of safe c-section that drastically reduced it.

Your hospital should do some sort of "birth reflections service" where they go through your notes and you can discuss it all with someone that is trained in counselling around birth trauma. Please ask your midwife about it.

Big hugs, your experience isn't uncommon and anyone that says birth is a breeze is lucky to have not had to experience one that was difficult and painful.

@heartburnhelp, I agree with the previous poster - please be kind to yourself. I’m glad you found the Facebook page potentially helpful. Birth is a big deal and when things don’t go the way we hoped for, it’s natural to find it upsetting or difficult.

I didn’t give birth under current restrictions (which I would have found hugely difficult), but I didn’t feel my partner advocated for me during my first birth and felt very alone, let down and, subsequently, angry about how things unfolded and how I was treated. Definitely find someone to chat to if these feelings persist.