URGENT- having baby tomorrow in confusing circumstances, need help.

[TotallyAndUtterlyPaninied]

My consultant (who is fab) said two weeks ago that today i would have a growth scan, then a sweep and if I hadn't gone into labour 48-72 hours later I'd have to be induced but he'd try to steer clear of this as I had such bad prostin pains last time. This is because the baby is very big and I have a lot of amniotic fluid. She also has an irregular heartbeat but he said that wouldn't be a problem.

Then he went on holiday.

Today I went to the appointment. Scan said 9lb 6ozs, the water was 32-33 and it's supposed to be between 19-26.

Saw a doctor who said that as baby is still free and there's too much water, they couldn't do a sweep as the cord could come first so they need to take me into hospital tomorrow night and induce me and break my waters. If the cord comes first they need to knock me out and get baby out within 5 minutes.

So on my front I'm worried that I've got to struggle with prostin pains (which were horrific last time) through the night, on my own as DH is not allowed to be with me until I'm 4cms dilated.

On baby's front I'm worried that:

1. if my waters go randomly, they're not going to know if the cord's come through or not. It's a busy ward which is understaffed If I call for them it takes them a while to get there.

2. if she's not even engaged yet, which she's not, surely it's going to take forever for her to move down- I will be having prostin pains for ages.

3. they said it is likely to end in c-section. I asked if they could just do one instead of inducing and they said no.

4)I was refused an epidural last time as it was 'out of working hours'. I asked if this would happen this time and the doctor said that's nonsence and an epidural is available any time... so why wasn't I given one last time?

5. they said I might have to have a section with her being too big or if the prostin doesn't work and this would be with an epidural so I would be a awake which is better than being knocked out but doesn't give me much faith that the induction is going to work or that my body can handle it.

I'm very anxious about the whole thing and all the uncertainty which is obviously not the best way to go into labour.

What the hell's going on??

I cannot imagine how she's going to get out safely.

This is one situation I would be stamping my foot demanding a c-section. (and I really wouldn't want one usually) Can you contact your midwife to talk about it?

I agree with Lynette

agree with lynette - I think I would also be putting my foot down and demanding a section. I know it's major surgery but if you are likely to end up with one anyway (which it sounds like you will if baby is still free) then I would get hold of the consultant and if he still says no, ask for a second opinion. make sure you emphasise how anxious/upset the current situation is making you. And good luck X

Let's take it one by one!
If you are in pain you must be given appropriate pain relief. Do not take no for an answer, keep asking until you get what you need. They should start the induction proceedure in the morning, not at night.

1. If your waters go spontaneously you must tell a member of staff immediately, they won't hang about, they will come straight away if they know there is a risk of cord prolapse. This is a very serious complication and they will certainly deliver you straight away if it happens. But the outcomes are very good as you will be in hospital minutes from theatre.

2.Second ( and subsequent) babies often don't engage until labour starts, so don't worry about that.

1. It is pretty much standard to try to get you to deliver naturally due to the potential complications of a section (which I am sure you are aware of).
2. This is either a misunderstanding on your part or an outright lie on the part of your caregivers. See your notes for clarification on this. Your midwife may have been trying to help by 'playing for time' and getting you to deliver without an epidural (an the subsequent associated problems).

5.They have to tell you all the possible outcomes, not like the bad old days where they just said 'trust us, we're doctors'.

Please try not to worry, I know midwives get a bashing on here but in the main we are trying our best to get the best outcome for you and baby and we deal with this kind of thing all the time! Good luck

How do I go about demanding a section? She said not to 'give up hope' on a normal delivery (yeah right).

Just want to scream.

Hokay Breathe...

What number babe is this? How big are you? How big were any other babies? 9lb-ish isn't enormous. Chunky yes but not elephant sized and definately do-able.

It may be that when they have a furtle around you may be dilated enoughght in and pop your waters - bypassing the prostin.

Before they start anything tomorrow can you be assertive enough to let everyone know you want an epidural early on?

This is number 2, last was 8lb 12oz, 2nd degree tear but ok.

They're really not keen on giving epidurals at this hospital.

I just can't do it

Hiya,

don't panic lovey. I'm sure MN can sort this out for you.

Can I ask, ignorantly, why they need to induce? The baby doesn't sound that big, but is it the amount of water that it a problem?

I have heard of something called polyhydramnios, is that it? I'm not sure why it is so dangerous.

I hope one of our midwives will be along in a minute and can advise. It sounds as though everyone who's supposed to be looking after you is rather muddled.

Is there a different hospital you could try and go to? I think you are allowed to choose.

We're miles from any others. She's got polyhydramnos and I have severe SPD, I'm on crutches... I guess that's why but I'm confused

FROM SOMEONE WHO HAS JUST HAD A TREMENDOUSLY TRAUMATIC BIRTH - including induction and eventually EMCS followed by a burst abdomen, followed by wound infection.

Please, please, please make sure you sit down with a consultant or senior midwife (midwife consultant or midwife practitioner) and go through a plan. Tell them what you want (e.g. epidural) and what you dont want. Then let them discuss with you the options given your presentation and history.
I know how easy it is to get swept along with these things (and Im a health professional so no excuse) and then people change shifts and some other person decides to do something else.

MAKE A PLAN
MAKE SURE THE CONSULTANT WRITES THE PLAN IN THE NOTES

Good luck I wish you a happy, healthy and safe birth. Please dont think a c section is an easy option. I had 2 normal deliveries and I would rather give birth vaginally 200 times than have 1 c-section.

oh and I dont mean a birth plan as such I mean the consultant writing:

• we will induce on x day using x
• if no progress we will move onto x
• following this we will do x

etc etc

You can do it. really. you can.

You just need your midwife in hospital to understand how you are and to support your decisions. If you need an epidural that's fine and they need to give you one.

Have yo got a written birt plan? really detailed. copy it 4 times. Staple one t the front of your hand held notes. Ask fopr one to go in your main notes. keep one or yourself and one forspare. and ask any midwife looking aftr you if she has read it.

What sort of birth do you want? List it in points.

And also make sure they know you have SPD - When you have your epidural make sure they don't hoik your legs out too much.

Flight, polyhydramnious can be a problem if the baby is not engaged and there is space for the cord to come down before the baby's head. This is dependant on the amount of liquor they think is around the baby. They may also want to induce because of the suspected size of baby (although scans are notoriously inaccurate tbh), and many women ask to be induced when they have SPD. I don't think they are muddled at all, I think they are adopting the policy that most hospitals would in that they are trying for a natural birth but making plans for any complications. No-one can ever give you any guarantees I'm afraid. I'm sad that they are anti epidurals though, not a very helpful position to take!

I've done my birth plan but they refused to read it last time.

Can I have an epidural for the prostin pains? They were soooooooooo much worse than the contractions last time.

I realise I'm just answering in snippets but I am reading through everything everyone puts. Just trying to make sense of things.

Oh darling it sounds like nobody has told you ANYthing

Please ask to have a proper meeting and go through it all, bit by bit. Say you really don't understand what is going on and feel totally disenfranchised, very scared, and on the point of delivering at home without telling anyone! that will make them sit up

seriously...this needs to be sorted out asap so you know what's happening and WHY.

I have no knowledge of Polyhydra thing, but someone on here will and can tell you the best course of action with this condition.

Hope you can get it sorted out really soon and feel better. Nobody deserves to be flung into a birth scenario they feel they have no control over or say in.

thanks Reikizen - but it sounds as though they have already decided on a CS? That doesn't sound like a fallback for a natural birth, it sounds set in stone.

you should be able to have pethidine for prostin pains (I did). I think its unlikely you'll get an epidural for prostin pains, but I dont know that for sure.
Dont be sure that you'll even get them. I was induced with prostin with ds1 and had terrible pains.
Was induced with ds2 with propess and postin and nothing ... not even a twinge (or indeed a contraction of any sort).
Go in with an open mind but make sure they have a plan for you

Do you think I'd be able to go to the labour ward tomorrow and discuss all of this with someone?

one of my best friends had polyhydramnious and what they thought was a big baby. She was told to call an ambulance as soon as her waters went because of the risk of cord prolape.
She ended up giving birth with paracetamol and gas & air to a 6lb 80z little girl in 38 minutes

Please have a section.

And keep an eye on baby's movements.

I didn't know until after the birth but I had polyhydromnious and was told ds1 wouldn't have survived a vaginal delivery.

The only clue I had in retrospect that anything was wrong was at 37+6 when baby wouldn't move and then while having a scan the next day the sonographer picked up on a problem.

I don't want to scare you but I wouldn't forgive myself if anything happened and I hadn't told you my experience.

I was measuring too big and baby was predicted to be 7lb 12. He was 6lb 12.5oz.

yes you should be able to discuss this with someone tomorrow

simply say sorry you aren't starting to induce me until I've spoken to the doc

I think you should go to the labour ward and demand to speak to someone until everything is clear to you. You sound way too nice for your own good.