Tell me about your labour!?

[JDR97]

I'm due twins in September. This is my second pregnancy, never gave much thought to how my labour would be different. Obviously I know I'm having two,chances are there going to have to stay in. But I mean how it all unfolded for you,my DS was born in lock down so things were a lot different then.

This how it went

I stayed at home as long as I could as OH wasn't allowed in unless I was 4cm+. I finally gave in and went to the hospital where I got checked in a little side room,I was 7cm so was told to ring OH to come up. Within less than two hours I'd had my DS. And less than four hours later I was sat at home having a cuppa snuggling my little bundle of joy. I never got moved on to a ward I was just in the sweet,I know I had it easy but what should I expect this time round?

Induced at 37 weeks to to preeclampsia. Was in hospital for 3 nights before baby was born and 2 nights after he was born totalling 5 nights. Was awful to have to look after him alone for 2 nights in hospital bed with no help and no clue what I was doing and when I felt so weak due to not sleeping for 3 nights and so much blood loss (DH wasn't allowed to stay). Had epidural as the pain was unbearable and had emergency episiotomy due to babies heart rate decreasing and I lost 1.5 litres of blood. He had cord wrapped round him 5 times. It was absolute hell and I hope if I have another baby I won't have to be induced again.

Two labours, both babies born at 40+5 weeks

first was 36 hour labour, horrendous leg pain. Turned away from hospital at 1cm dilated. Tried again few hours later and was 4cm so went straight to delivery ward (Covid rules had just changed that morning so DH was able to come straight into hospital with me). Had an epidural as leg pain was unbearable. Episiotomy. when DD was born she wasn’t breathing so lots of panic in the room, cord cut immediately and emergency button almost pressed and just then she started breathing. Despite this I did feel I had a positive birth experience.

second labour was 14 hours. Straight into delivery ward at 4cm after labouring all night at home. Used the birthing pool throughout the labour and DD was born in the pool, with me lifting him up onto my chest. No stitches needed and back home the same day. A wonderful experience.

First in 2020, just before all the lockdowns, woke up at 5.13am with pains I just knew weren’t right and they got worse - contractions! 41+1. Stayed at home just breathing through them, even doing emails to our useless solicitors about how they’d breached our instructions. Went into hospital about 2pm and deemed as active labour. They couldn’t decide if I was 5 or 8cm! Baby was born at 4.13pm after 20 minutes of pushing, no pain relief or interventions and just a 2nd degree tear that needed stitching.

Second this year, no sign of baby coming. They wanted to induce me via balloon at 41 but I pushed to give myself a few days to see if I’d go naturally. Given a sweep at that appointment and deemed around 2-3cm already so no balloon needed. Lost lots of bloody show after this.
Ended up having to go in for the planned induction after my extra days (41+3) as baby didn’t want to come out! They broke my waters on the morning, lots of bouncing and walking round the room got my second lot of waters out which started proper contractions. They kept mentioning the drip to me but I pushed against it as was adamant I didn’t want it. They let it be my choice to carry on without the drip.

Did get stuck on a bed hooked up as her heart kept dropping with contractions. They thought she was squeezing the cord but she was born with it wrapped round her neck, thankfully all immediately fine.
I only had maybe 3-5 nippy contractions before I needed to push. 6 minutes later and baby was here, again with a second degree that needed stitching but no pain relief or interventions beside the initial ARM. Whole thing was 8 hours in total.
Recovery was amazing this time and felt so much quicker - thankfully none of the awful feeling like my insides were going to fall out through my stitches every time I stood up, second time round!

Sorry - meant to add. First we stayed in overnight due to meconium but they let us stay in our LDRP room so DH could stay all night. Next day they moved us to a ward as they wanted to see established breastfeeding. They were so busy that they could never observe and we both just got very stressed, wasn’t working at all. Discharged us at 11.30pm after I stated I wasn’t staying another night and wanted to bottle feed instead.

Second I had to stay overnight as they said the Dr wasn’t there to do a discharge. Kicked DH out and wheeled us to a ward late at night. Barely anyone in this time and I was out by lunchtime that next day. I found with your second they’re much more keen to just leave you to it and trust you know what you’re doing.

Commenced active labour myself using a breast pump after roughly a 12 hour break from early labour beginning. Spent most of active labour rocking on an exercise ball watching Handmaid's Tale. Transitioned on the stairs listening to drum and bass music. Got in the pool in the lounge, took about six pushes, almost had an en caul birth but one push broke my waters, delivered her myself five minutes later. Took about eight hours.

I honestly wish I could go and relive it again.