@Nic2908
I don't mind sharing mine, but it was a bit hellish and very long, so just a warning if anyone would rather not read it!
I started getting contractions on Wednesday night around 10pm and pretty much straightaway they were coming every 2 mins each one around 30s long. Waited at home for about 2hrs just to see if they'll fizzle out, but since they didn't, I rang the labour line and although they thought I was probably in early labour they wanted me to come in to keep an eye on baby as I was only 36+3. So went in, they checked me out and said I was 1cm dilated and my cervix about 50% effaced.
I carried on contracting every 2-3mins and they did get a little bit longer as hrs went on albeit not much stronger. Then in the morning, I had another exam but haven't progressed, was still only 1-2cm, so I was transferred onto the obstetrics ward instead, thinking the contractions would fizzle out eventually (despite not easing off or slowing down the entire night). Carried on for the rest of the day without any rest as the pain and tightenings were relentless, also had to be strapped in for the ctg continuously as they were worried about babe being so little. I was only offered oromorph, which didn't do anything.Then come the evening they did another exam and I was still only 2cm with my cervix 75%. At this point they said they would either send me home to see if it eases off and I can get some rest, or I they could break my waters and put me on the drip, but were strongly advising against it (mostly as I was 36+4 at that point). We were however told that should we change our mind in the night/morning, we could always be induced then.
So thinking we had that option, decided to go home and perhaps try a walk or a bath to see if it'd help move things along. Also, having not slept for nearly 36 hours at this point, I wasn't sure how I'd cope with full on labour.
Anyway, got home, had a shower and hung out for a bit, then all of a sudden my uterus decided to just go into a complete overdrive - I started getting back to bakc contractions that were at least 30s long with hardly any rest in between. After about half hour of that we got really worried about little one, so rushed back into the hospital (just 3-4hrs after we left) and were immediately put back on the monitoring. Luckily, baby is a tough cookie and was coping just fine, but my uterus carried on for another hour or so before slowing down to 60s contractions every 3 mins. I saw the Dr at that point, who said this could finally be labour establishing and that she would review after another 4hrs.
It's all a bit of a blur from then on as at some point in the next few hours, my body sort of gave up (combination of not sleeping for 2 days and nonstop contractions last 30hrs), I just remember going really blank and feeling extremely nauseous and in pain. My partner says I went really pale and started shaking violently. Got given some strong antisickness and a pethidine injection. I remember feeling really scared after that as they gave me a bit of a horse dose, so it affected me quite badly. I couldn't really see, was super confused and just generally feeling unwell. Luckily, it did finally knock me out and I managed around 3hrs of sleep before waking up and my contractions starting bakc up again. This was Friday morning.
Got put back on the monitors for an hour and as my contractions were back to one every 3mins and lasting 60s, they sent me back to labour ward and let me contract. We asked about the induction at this point, but were told they would not do it (the drs changed overnight) before 37 weeks, so my best hope would be staying on the unit for another 2 days until I hit 37weeks. It sounded ridiculous and I was getting pretty desperate as yet again not able to get any sleep and they would not give me anything stronger than oromorph.
Somehow managed to doze off for a couple more hrs throughout the day, I think my body was just so exhausted I eventually slept through some of the contractions even though they were still pretty painful.
Finally, Friday afternoon I lost my mucus plug and my waters broke shortly after. Had another exam and whilst still only 2cm, at last my cervix was completely effaced. I was left to labour for another 6hrs them thinking the contractions would finally progress. However at 11pm, I have not made it any further which is when my lovely midwife (who in the end delivered my baby) realised there was another bag of waters right in front of babe's head stopping him putting any pressure on my cervix and therefore it not opening any further. So she popped those, put me on a drip and from then on things went very quickly. Sometime around 1am when my drip got doubled for the second time, things started getting a bit much and I was literally screaming for an epidural. Luckily, it worked and by 2am I was 9cm. After that it took maybe another 2 hours to get to 10 and then after only about half hour of pushing little one was finally born.
Afterwards, my uterus wouldn't contract properly (I don't blame it after contracting for over 50hrs) and I ended up with a postpartum haemorrhage and got taken to theatre.
So yeah, not the most straightforward labour, but am just glad little man arrived safely and we're both recovering okay.
Just a note to anyone unsure about the epidural - I was not at all keen on it, but I don't think I could've delivered without. I'd say if you end up on the drip, make sure to ask for it soon as things clearly progress very quickly and sitting still whilst nearly 9cm dilated was possibly the hardest thing I have ever done in my life.
I really really hope none of you ladies have to go through anything similar, but just to reassure you - looking at my little man next to me I would do it all again in a heartbeat. He makes it all worth it :)