POLL - for those of you who have had a baby in hospital...

[electra]

When you went into hospital;

1 On arrival, were you asked to lie down while examined to see how dilated you were?

2 Were you encouraged to lie down / labour on a bed?

The childbirth / pain relief threads have got me thinking about this and in 2001, at my hospital birth nobody told me I might find labour a bit easier if I figured out how to breathe through the contractions.

I am wondering if this was just my hospital / whether today the approach in a hospital has changed at all?

[SpongeBrainedHalfWit]

(mine was 2002)

[Tillyscoutsmum]

2007 - yes - had to lie for examining (although it was only done twice - once on arrival and once when fully dilated). I also had to lie/sit to have the heart rate monitors (?) on

I stood/walked for the rest if it though

[TeenyTinyToria]

DS1 born in 2007, I was induced and constantly monitored, then had an epidural, so was on a bed for the whole time. Pushing was impossible in the sitting position I ended up in - if I'd been slightly less groggy and able to stand up for myself, I'd have asked to be hauled up over the back of the bed and propped up so I could push properly. As it was I ended up with intervention.

With this dc, I will be doing what my mum did, and refusing to go anywhere near a bed until strictly necessary. I found the early stages of labour easier to deal with when walking about or on all fours, so will try to do that next time.

[cory]

Mine is a long time ago (1996) but even then I remember the midwife trying to get me to stay upright more and me feeling too ill and tired and trying to sneak back to that bed...

Though they did examine me lying down- but that was just a few minutes. And it wasn't lying flat either.

[ohdearwhatamess]

1. ds1 I wasn't examined for dilation status on arrival. Induced at 38 weeks. Was hooked up to a machine to check the baby's heartbeat.

With ds2 I was examined. I'd been sent in because the community mw had looked twice and I'd been 4cm dilated for over 24 hours with no sign of action.

1. With both labours I was encouraged to walk around and not to lie down (unless I wanted to).

[naturalbornmum]

I also had a baby in 2001, I was examined on arrival and I was'nt encouraged not to lie on the bed- I did'nt know any better.

Next baby 2004 - I was more in the know and although I did spend a lot of time lying down, I knelt up for deliver. (I had an epidurial hence the lying down)

I am due again in 09 and am planning an active birth, seriously considering refusal of examinations and having baby at home.

[JulesJules]

Yes and yes.

And also was told to put on a backless hospital gown and take my pants off, which meant I couldn't really walk around anyway!! And allowed nothing to eat or drink except sips of water... Then they had to put a drip up and get DH to get me some boiled sweets to suck - Doh! This was 2002.

[electra]

Thanks for replies - this is interesting. Stirrups - surely an idea conceived in hell?!

[electra]

I found them so uncomfortable and was also still needing to vomit because of the ergometrine and still numb so stuck on my back. To be honest I can't ever remember anything quite as bad I do hope my plan to have a home birth works out!

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

2005 - yes but I was induced so had more examinations because of that I think. They were all done lying on the bed though come to think of it.

2008 - no, but he was born within 5 minutes of getting to hospital - I just about had time to get my knickers off let alone have anyone examine me

[colander]

2002 - lie down for exam, but encouraged to find most comfortable position for labour (squatting)
2005 - same - and so relieved I had her in hospital because she needed help with breathing at first. In the words of my doctor "sometimes they come out a bit grey, and the last thing you want then is to be at home miles away from a hospital"

[Horton]

I had my daughter in 2006.

1 I wasn't examined at all until I wanted to push and was found to be fully dilated (this came as a surprise to everyone other than me)

2 Nobody said anything about what position I should be in. I spent about an hour on the birthing ball then lay down to be examined, was found to be fully dilated and didn't want to get up.

[lollipopmother]

I had my dd 4 months ago.

Yes to examination
No, I wasn't asked to lie down but I don't think anyone suggested any particular position. I went in knowing I should keep moving but I ended up sitting stock-still because I couldn't bare to breathe let alone move! I had an epidural in the end anyway so I suppose the 2nd question was only for the actual birth rather than the contractions as a whole?

[piratecat]

2002

yes had to lie down for internal

yes i had to stay onthe bed, she wouldn't let me off it. (bitch). i complained after my bad exp.

[whitenoise]

DS1 2003 ... no, had been examined at home so no need as the same MW came with us and i laboured with her (the same one i had seen thru-out the pregnancy)

Was encouraged to get OFF the bed but i didn't want to

DS2 2005 - no they refused to believe i was in labour

i had to beg to get ON the bed or he would have been born on a chair

DS3 2008 - yes but i had OC and low lying anterior placenta so they needed to keep me on monitors
I was told to stay on teh bed but change of MWs brought a lovely one who showed me different positions ON the bed

[stillenacht]

DS1 - yes and yes

Awful 'birth' (induced, syntocin etc)resulted in emerg c section and blood patch afterwards (where anaesthetist had stuffed up epidural and pierced spinal something or other)

DS2 - elective c sec - was lovely

[sammysam]

DD 2006 only checked me once-i'd been there 12hrs she broke my waters at the same time, was encouraged to use birthing ball and spent lots of time in the bath, at no point what so ever did anyone say anything about breathing-i think it would have helped a lot!

[MmeMoufle]

1. I did lie down to be examined but that was my choice
2. Was allowed to walk around as much as I wanted and assume any position I wanted. In the end, I gave birth kneeling up on the bed, hanging onto the head board (Mond you, despite having gravity very much on side, still took me 40 mins to push her out...god knows what would have happened if I'd been strapped down on my back...)

They couldn't have done more to make me comfortable or as independent as poss

And this was in the consultant-led unit (wasn't allowed in the midwife led unit as VBAC) so was very impressed. Had been expecting Hammer Horror room with me plugged into a dozen machines etc...

[notcitrus]

2008 - examined on my side. Arriving in a wheelchai helped clue them in to my spd. At a previous visit when i was still walking with a stick the mw offered to measure my bump while still seated - she pointed out they have to be able to assess women with disabilities eg can't get out of wheelchair, so it's good to get some practice in.

I was pretty much told NOT to labour on my back - they were very happy i wanted the birthing pool (also happy i had 2 strong chaps with me as they seemed unsure about using the hoist).

[Joolyjoolyjoo]

On arrival with all 3- was examined lying down, and had monitor on for about 5-10 mins, then allowed to get up and walk about (actually with no3, was ordered to get up and walk about!)

[lucykate]

1. yes

1. no, encouraged to keep moving about, use sit on ball etc

the place i went to prefer you to labour at home as long as possible. i was 8cm when i went in with dd, 5cm with ds.