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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Induction/birth experiences / pessary

3 replies

TMH102020 · 10/08/2024 10:23

I had my baby recently and still struggling with my birth and not sure if I am just over reacting. I guess I wondered if people have been through a similar experience and if they forgot about it as many people tell me you do. I am petrified of having any more children in the future.
I had an induction with the Propress pessary and within an hour I was contracting - got Paracetamol and Codiene which didn’t help so pessary taken out and given pethidine due to strong intense contractions. This helped me sleep for a few hours and then the contractions came back. After 7 hrs my waters broke. The midwife said she would come back in half an hour to ‘check ‘ even though they were dripping down when showing her the pad. The contractions were so painful at this point anf agreed for more pethidine which didn’t help and just made me sick . Labour ward was busy and told no other pain relief could be given until I got there ( I had already voiced earlier I wanted epidural due to pain threshold) . This terrified me that I couldn’t have anything else for an unknown time. Was told I was 2-3cm at the point. I was left for a couple more hours on a bay of 6 women writhing in the bed and sweating due to agony of pain. Midwife did not seem to believe how much pain I was in. Only when she saw blood and clots and rechecked me at 8cm that she got me gas and air and rushed me to labour ward. My baby’s Heart rate was distressed and had to have Ventose and episiotomy for a quick delivery. Turns out cord was round neck and head. Thought I was going to die from the pain. Was very sick after and took hrs for anti sickness due to doctors being busy. Did not get much skin to skin initially due to feeling so rough.
spoke to my midwife days after who just said most women have a horrible birth and to focus on the baby at the moment!

OP posts:
MixedCouple2 · 10/08/2024 16:15

Wow!
Unfortunately they gloss over "hyperstimulation" I had that with Syntocin drip. Intold them to stop it or I would pull out the IV! I only proceeded after Epidural!
Hyoer stimulation is horrible, your body is contracting attifically and your can't cope. It is not normal.

I would have loved a natural births but due to health issues I had to agree to induction. Inhad a natural L&D with DS1 and it was fantastic. My body and mind worked together and it was manageable. Inductions without epidural are a no no for me. I would never attempt that again.

Your Midwife sounds very cold. I would ask for a follow up and debrief. Hyperstimulation is not pleasant and it can ruin the whole birth process.

Did they discuss aide affects of each intervention with you? Pessery and syntocin are notorious to create hyper stimulation.

bk1981 · 10/08/2024 17:57

I had a similar, although not as scary experience. I was hyper stimulated after one pessary. I remember feeling very scared that none of the medical staff seemed bothered that my contractions were too close together as I knew this could cause my baby to be distressed.

My assigned midwife disappeared and the shift leader examined me after six hours and finally commented on how close the contractions were but I was only 2cm. She said the doctor would give me something to slow things down. The doctor stood by the door talking to the midwife; I heard her say no and leave. The midwife then gave me pethadine which was no use whatsoever.

I was checked again four hours later and was 10cm. Ended up with forceps in theatre after two hours of pushing and was very upset for a long time.

Your midwife's response is appalling. Mine went to hospital, read my notes and then referred me for a reflections appointment. Just enjoy your baby really isn't good enough! Please do seek out support for how you are feeling. You can self refer for a reflections appointment I think or your health visitor or GP may be able to help.

Al991 · 12/08/2024 06:48

I am sorry to say I went through something almost identical to this. Even more sorry it happened to you too. What you went through was extremely traumatic and it WAS a failure of the healthcare system to care for you properly.

If you are feeling traumatised, depressed or anxious that is a normal and natural response to what happened. Please see if there is birth trauma support in your area, speak to your GP, charities etc because you have every right to be sad, angry etc I promise.

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