CTG didn't pick up any contractions during labour

acaciabluebell · 2024-01-05T16:15:31+00:00

I gave birth recently and the whole time I was on continuous CTG monitoring, the monitor did not pick up a single contraction. I didn't feel any tightening all I felt was really strong period type back pain. The midwives kept repositioning it but still didn't pick up anything. On my notes they've written CTG not picking up tightenings due to BMI but I find this hard to believe as my bump was super round and hard/tight and you couldn't feel any fat on it at all? My BMI is around 30. Has anyone else experienced this? If you had more than one, was it the same for all your labours? I was never told baby is back to back either.

Starbuck24 · 17/01/2024 11:57

I haven’t experienced this personally but my mum had a similar experience when in labour with me. It definitely happens sometimes when a woman experiences most of the labour pain in her back. Maybe BMI has something to do with it but I doubt that’s the main reason. Medical professionals will blame everything on weight!

Starbuck24 · 17/01/2024 11:59

Edit: I should’ve mentioned, when this happened to my mum, they didn’t believe she was in labour and thought she was being dramatic. She had to push to be examined and then was rushed to delivery lol

CormorantStrikesBack · 17/01/2024 12:01

Did they try a different toco (the bit which goes on you tummy), sometimes the pressure switch in them stops working. Saying that if you didn’t feel any contractions in your abdomen either maybe they were just all in your back?

Anonemouse1 · 17/01/2024 16:17

I had this in my first labour. Was 23 and super skinny back then so not a bmi issue at all. The machine picked up nothing and then the midwife try to feel the contraction with her hands and said she couldn’t. Was about to be sent home but they wanted a quick internal look and when they did my waters broke and I was 8cm dilated. Was speaking to a dad today and he was saying how the midwives didn’t pick up his wives contractions and left them alone for ages and she started pushing without anyone in the room. Luckily they arrived in time to catch the baby.

tothelefttotheleft · 17/01/2024 16:24

I ended up with an unplanned home birth because my contractions weren't picked up by the machine.

Original poster

acaciabluebell · 19/01/2024 22:54

CormorantStrikesBack · 17/01/2024 12:01

Did they try a different toco (the bit which goes on you tummy), sometimes the pressure switch in them stops working. Saying that if you didn’t feel any contractions in your abdomen either maybe they were just all in your back?

They replaced the toco multiple times! Then a midwife had to come and feel my tummy during a contraction and then said 'hmm I'm not sure'. Then the checked me and I was 5cm, they were shocked.

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Original poster

acaciabluebell · 19/01/2024 22:56

Anonemouse1 · 17/01/2024 16:17

I had this in my first labour. Was 23 and super skinny back then so not a bmi issue at all. The machine picked up nothing and then the midwife try to feel the contraction with her hands and said she couldn’t. Was about to be sent home but they wanted a quick internal look and when they did my waters broke and I was 8cm dilated. Was speaking to a dad today and he was saying how the midwives didn’t pick up his wives contractions and left them alone for ages and she started pushing without anyone in the room. Luckily they arrived in time to catch the baby.

Very similar situation to me!! You say first labour, so did it not happen again? And tbh I probably would have been sent home if I wasn't high risk (premature rupture of membranes)

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Original poster

acaciabluebell · 19/01/2024 22:57

Also good to know about your BMI because I don't think that had a big part to play tbh. I know other women much larger than me where the machine picked up everything just fine.

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Original poster

acaciabluebell · 19/01/2024 23:00

tothelefttotheleft · 17/01/2024 16:24

I ended up with an unplanned home birth because my contractions weren't picked up by the machine.

That's scary. I hope it all went okay. I think they would have sent me home if I wasn't a high risk patient. I had been in hospital for a while before giving birth due to premature rupture of waters. And childbirth nearly killed me (severe hemorrhage) so I think if I gave birth at home I honestly may have died. Freaks me out to think about and to think about future labours...

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BertieBotts · 20/01/2024 02:00

They don't usually tell you if the baby is back to back but it would be in your notes.

Midwinter91 · 20/01/2024 03:13

Gosh no similar BMI and my contractions were massive and very evident on monitor

noooooooo · 20/01/2024 06:06

With DC2 I had symptoms of pre-eclampsia so also had constant monitoring. Had my waters broken. An hour later, 4pm, sitting reading the paper, no contractions showing on the monitor but mad pain in my lower back and the sudden urge to push. The midwife actually said don’t push, you’ll damage your cervix, you’re not even having contractions. I was like WTF, tell her to stop it not me 🤣 DC2 was born at 4.45pm.

Like other PPs I reckon BMI isn’t really the explanation, my BMI was 23, but not a single contraction registered. Had DC1 in a midwife unit, no monitor, began in my back but definitely also had contractions in the front, so not the same experience.

Potentially relevant - MW told me afterwards DC2 had begun back to back and had turned on the way out (makes sense, it felt like shitting an alligator)

also - congratulations! 💐

Original poster

acaciabluebell · 20/01/2024 11:23

noooooooo · 20/01/2024 06:06

With DC2 I had symptoms of pre-eclampsia so also had constant monitoring. Had my waters broken. An hour later, 4pm, sitting reading the paper, no contractions showing on the monitor but mad pain in my lower back and the sudden urge to push. The midwife actually said don’t push, you’ll damage your cervix, you’re not even having contractions. I was like WTF, tell her to stop it not me 🤣 DC2 was born at 4.45pm.

Like other PPs I reckon BMI isn’t really the explanation, my BMI was 23, but not a single contraction registered. Had DC1 in a midwife unit, no monitor, began in my back but definitely also had contractions in the front, so not the same experience.

Potentially relevant - MW told me afterwards DC2 had begun back to back and had turned on the way out (makes sense, it felt like shitting an alligator)

also - congratulations! 💐

Interesting isn't it! In my case the conteactions were soooo painful but because nothing was showing up on the monitor, and they wouldn't check me vaginally due to PPROM, they didn't believe I was in active labour so wasn't allowed pain relief except paracetamol and codeine 😭 I was finally checked, I was 5cm, they gave me gas and air and I progressed to 10cm within half an hour of agony! Then they said it was too late for an epidural and I had to push for 2 hours. I just really hope it doesn't happen again...

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noooooooo · 20/01/2024 12:25

Was this your first? If so, one reassuring thing is the next time you’ll be able to say I know exactly what I’m feeling, this is not my first rodeo and they’ll hopefully be more likely to listen. You also know this happened. They tend to assume it’ll be slow with a first as well, good chance next time will be different.

Original poster

acaciabluebell · 20/01/2024 15:39

@noooooooo Yes she's my first. Good point! I hope so x

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tothelefttotheleft · 20/01/2024 16:33

@acaciabluebell

My first left me with a second degree tear and I haemorrhaged and needed two blood transfusions.

Whilst I would never have chosen a home birth it put a lot of ghosts to rest for me as I felt such a failure over my first birth.

tothelefttotheleft · 20/01/2024 16:38

@acaciabluebell

The first was back to back too. They had a head monitor thing cos of trouble keeping the trace.

Second birth was so much easier. Hope if you go on to have another yours is too.