You're not progressing quick enough - Do MW's actually say this?

[LuckySalem]

Has anyone had any experiences of being on the ward and them wanting to start filling you full of drugs to make you progress quicker? (or a C-Section) when there is nothing wrong with either you or baby (apart from being knackered obviously)

Also any other times when they want to intervene medically when there is no danger?

I'm worried about turning up at the hospital and being messed around when there is no need,

[Boysandbeaches]

I was really lucky - I had great births, both times. With DS1, they let me go home twice - he took 24 hours to engage into active labour. As a result, the first time, I saw three different midwives and they were all absolutely lovely and listened to me. The first time, they said go for dinner and come back - I went home and watched the local bats, instead. Just as well, as he didn't appear for 24 hours!

With DS2, I was three weeks late - my dates; the EDD was 10 days over. So, I went for a sweep at home and then, an induction, in hospital. I saw two turns of staff on ante-natal - mostly, lovely. The last midwife, initially, thought I was wimp - until I had DS2 30 minutes later - she then, let my ex stay the night.

But, the whole set-up worked - as in, the teams of midwives were all happy, over-worked, but committed and not completely overstretched. It all seems to depend on the day, on whom you get - the first time round was special, the second was an express train . I just went with it - I had no expectations; just wanted my boys in my arms, even first time round, when I didn't know what to do with him .

What reputation does your local unit have? Are you bolshy? I am usually but have to admit to being totally overawed by the whole pregnant/giving birth/good patient thing.

[expatinscotland]

I'm glad my excellent midwife - Moira at ERI is brill! - noticed this and did something about it.

I'd been pushing for over an hour with no progress at all and no distress to teh baby, though.

She got the consultant.

I had a forceps delivery, but DD1 was face up with hand way up by her head.

I was in a lot of pain and had been in labour for 24 hours.

I was ready for it to be over.

[Tovik]

hi, i would go with your gut feelings. my first birth was a c-section due to failure to progress. so the next two times i turned up as late as possible to the hospital, and stayed v mobile without that belt thing on, and (v important for me) used to dive down the corridor to "go to the bathroom" whenever the doctor was coming. that way the doctor couldn't start looking at his/her watch. not very good medical advice but the midwives were always really supportive. In fact with the third one i told the midwife i didn't want to see the doctor at all and i think she was pretty pleased about it to be honest and she told the doctor not to come. read up loads beforehand to give you confidence. and they're not supposed to use syntocinon if you've already had a c-section (don't know if you have).

[tutu100]

I had a group of midwives reccomend that I had an epidural as I wasn't dialating very quickly and had been in labour for a long time as they were worried that once I got fully dialated (which was going to be a long time off) I would be too tired to push and may need assistance.

I had excellent midwives (saw about 8 different ones it went on for so long). They were all very good at knowing when to help and talk and when to leave me alone. I never felt like they were in my face when I didn't want them there.

I was always asked if I wanted something done and I didn't feel there was any pressure to have anything even if they thought it was the best thing. They were all very concerned with making me as comfortable as possible.

As it turned out I did have to have an episiotomy and ventouse delivery as ds was on his side and I just couldn't push him out (I was glad I'd finally accepted the epidural). There were a few hairy moments, but luckily the midwife had alerted the consultant and I had a room full of all the necessary people to look after ds and I and everything was fine.

My original birth plan stated no drugs if possible and I wanted to leave hospital as soon as possible after delivery!

[SazzaK]

Yes - I had to argue with them and the registrar to let me off the monitor and move around as I was being induced - they wanted to give me a drip. My daughter was born within 1.5 hrs of them taking the blasted belts off me. I did not find the midwives anti-intervention but highly obstetrician led, very wary of making decisions and slightly panicked. This was a night time delivery at C&W. the day MWs were wonderful.

[Tovik]

well done sazza arguing with a registrar.. i used avoidance tactics ie running away from them (though i did tell one doctor to f* off {blush} when i couldn't run away in the throes of pushing)

[Tovik]

(blush) does this work

[Tovik]

this has to work

[LuckySalem]

Went to my antinatal class last night and am now panicking!!

They have a set of rules one of which includes that if the labour isn't progressing quick enough they'll start with interventions (they've got timescales!!)

[Camillathechicken]

you do not have to agree to any intervention, if labour is progressing normally , but slowly, IFSWIM. if baby is ok, and you are ok, then some labours take longer than others

[LuckySalem]

That's what I thought.
There's a big thing about how they say labour takes from 6-20 hours for the first baby and if not progressing they'll use things like a kiwi/forceps etc or even a ceasarean (sp)

[Camillathechicken]

it is ironic really, that the threat of intervention can stall or stop a labour entirely. having to labour under a stopwatch is not helpful. if baby is happy and tolerating labour well, then there is no reason to augment things, that can lead to a cascade of intervention and more change of instrumental or surgical delivery.

[LuckySalem]

That's the worry I've got, When I was in the hospital last night I got some real pains in my stomach which I can't decide if it was down to the baby being in a painful place or if it was the stress of the hospital and listening to the what if's.

[Camillathechicken]

are these NHS classes? if so, it might be worth having private ones either with a local doula or antenatal educator or NCT

[FrostyGlassSlipper]

camilla / lulu - can a doula really debrief you on a previous birth?

[Camillathechicken]

yes, i certainly do it.having knowledge of the birth process and how and why things can sometimes go wrong . also, are generally very good at listening non judgementally and to being able to offer practical and emotional support.

[Camillathechicken]

also, it is preferable when supporting someone in a birth , to have put any previous bad experiences to bed, before embarking on another . also doulas have access to mentors and very experience woman who can offer advice on how best to support women who have had a hard time

[muppetgirl]

My 1st labour was an induction and was 27 hrs it was only in the last pushing stage that I felt there was a sense of urgency from the staff and I found out later this was because my ds was getting distressed. I had a ventouse delivery but felt very much things just 'happened' to me without much consultation with me. I was left feeing very shocked and very much like I had intervention 'done' to me rather than I'd asked for it.

My second birth (4 weeks ago!) was completly different in that although it ended in theatre with forceps (my 2nd 10lb son got stuck as he was a fat knacker!) with a threatened c-section this was done under MY choice. I argued with the consultant as I had been pushing for 40 mins and my son had not moved at all that I wanted assistance as I felt I couldn;t carry on much longer. He wanted me to carry on pushing for another 30 mins at which I point blank refused. I felt I had given it my all and he wasn't moving at all. Also the pressure in my bottom was unbeliveable and very painful.

Assistance can be helpful, it can lead to further intervention. I would just give you the advice to be as informed as possible in order to make the choices you want. Make sure your partner knows exactly what you want also as there may be times when you are unable to speak for yourself and decisions may need to be made and made quickly. (As my dh had to do for me during ds1's labour) I felt much more empowered during my second labour although it technically went worse than my first. I do grow big babies though (9lb 1st, 10lb 2nd and I'm 5" 2!) that my body can't deliver though so I need assistance!

[Flamesparrow]

Not read whole thread, but sort of...

I was in from 8am (went in for an antiemetic and couldn't be arsed to go home, was fairly uncomfortable, contractions irregular but every 8-10 mins or so), by 12 they were muttering that "nothing was happening". 12.30 I asked for gas and air (my first mention of pain relief).

They checked me out and still "nothing happening" - not effaced, dilated or anything. Was told they would give me another couple of hours and then transfer me becuase if I couldn't handle the pain when sod all was happening, I would definately want more than the m/w unit could provide.

2.30pm came and I was a whole 2cms, and they were still muttering about sending me over. DD was born at 7.05pm. I didn't need any more pain relief and the pain didn't get much more intense tbh. It is obviously just the way I do it - DS was the same "nothing" happening for ages, and then all happened at once.

[FrostyGlassSlipper]

Thanks Camilla. Might go back to the birth trauma thread at some point and talk to you about it then....

[Camillathechicken]

no problem, you can always email me if you want to talk privately.

lulumama 21 @ hotmail. com

or CAT me

x