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?

That's why I insisted on my internals. I was about to be sent home to have a bath! I wanted them to know that I really was in active labour and to take me seriously. On the phone to the unit, the MW kept asking me if I could cope, and I was thinking "but I'll cope at home until the baby is crowning and that's not the time that I want to come in".

Of course, it was different for you, as you had a very different experience of the pain the first time around. Just goes to show how important it is to have well-staffed labour units.

1. Yes with ds1 (2005) as induced, even though was already 3cm dilated on arrival for appointment.

No for ds2 (2007) as already needing to push on arrival.

1. No, encouraged to move around, do whatever I wanted, given ball, help with TENS, advice on all-fours position.

Tonnes of midwives who get enough food water and sleep. It's the only way !
Then ones that don't suit a situation could be elsewhere, and ones that thrive on a situation could be well placed. It would cost another 10p on the tax though .
For example, I'm fab with active labourers, I don't find it physically or mentaly tiring, whereas others can make conversation for 10 hours with a lady with an epidural whereas I must come across as dull after 30 mins and they must be so glad when I go for a break!
I'm also good in debriefing situations, whereas that really doesn't suit every type of individual. I believe I am less effective, although competent and up to date, as a postnatal midwife, whereas I see workmates make it look so easy and 'wish I could do that'.

There are occasions where the service does not prioritise well, I hear ya Starlight.

Labours are so so so different. And then even similar 'on paper' labours are felt and experienced in so so so many different ways.

The variables are incredible. I'm on maternity leave and have forgotten half my job I'm sure. Having my 2nd any day....now...now....go one baby....now.... so guess it will all come flooding back.

treedelivery, what's the general policy on mws leaving the room when a woman labouring? DH and I preferred it when we were left alone, but this did not happen when I was laboring with DD1, and we weren't sure enough of ourselves to ask.

It would be very individual iyswim? Some labours need really constant monitoring, like where the fetal heart rate is under close review or there is very raised bp others 15 min, others 30 min, others hourly and so on [in terms of recording observations here - not in terms of support].

Its a very good point you make, time alone can be vital to give people some space. Basic care would dictate that no one be left without the means to call help, i/e the buzzer or competent other to press it for them or summon help if buzzer not available, like at home or some unit designs

Thanks for that, treedelivery - what you say makes a lot of sense

Do it again so you can ask us to go! Good a reason as any!!

Nah, I've got 3 DDs already and the fantastic mw I had with DD3 did leave us alone quite a lot and was just generally totally suited to my birth. I wrote to the head of mws about how wonderful she was