Blood pressure/birth disappointment

[Trufflepuffpuff]

After a low risk and relatively easy pregnancy, I've found my blood pressure is slightly elevated and the doctors have put me on labetalol. I went into hospital for monitoring and they said they're not particularly worried but to keep an eye on it and watch out for any symptoms.

It sounds likely now that my vision of a calm water birth in the MLU is very unlikely - they'll likely instead want me to go to the labour ward for continuous monitoring.

I'm feeling quite disappointed and a bit of a failure. There's so much pressure to have a very natural and holistic birth - perhaps that's just my experience of NCT and local mums to be but I'm scared to tell anyone about my situation now. I'm trying to be positive but I feel a bit down about it.

Has anyone been in the same situation and able to provide any reassurance? I wish I knew someone who'd faced something similar - it feels a bit lonely right now.

There's definitely a huge emphasis in the books and classes I've been recommended on aiming for as natural a birth as possible, and for the pain relief methods to be a last resort

You are so right OP. But let's get real, everyone can work out that childbirth could be really painful. And scary, lots of people still die where medical care is of a low standard. No one would recommend pain relief as a last resort for someone who had broken a bone or who was recovering from surgery or the like. It's laughable really and it sets people up to fail as it's an unrealistic standard.

I planned a water birth for my first in the midwife led unit.

When I went into labour I had a bleed so that was out the window. I had to go to the labour ward and be monitored.

I had a wonderful midwife who usually worked on the birth centre. She had me up and about as much as I could. She made it a really good experience. Ok it wasn't a water birth, but compared to most of my NCT group I had a great birth.

I actually only know 1 mum who got the birth centre for her first baby. She got group step b though so ended up in hospital for a few days after.

Everyone else was like me and either had labour ward or a c section.

Hey OP.

I see a lot of negativity on here about ‘busy labour wards’. I’ve given birth in labour ward twice and MLU once and it didn’t make that much difference.

With my most recent labour I had planned a home birth but got a call telling me I had group B strep whilst I was in labour. Had to transfer in for IV antibiotics and was 8 cm when I got there.

I only had one midwife in the room for the 45 mins before I have birth - a 2nd came in while I pushed. Lights were dimmed, I had electric candles on and my hypnobirthing affirmations playing and the midwife was very hands off apart from adjusting the monitoring equipment. I refused to get on the bed and gave birth standing up and they were 100% respectful of my choices.

I had done a hypnobirthing course and I felt like it had really given me skills to cope with what happened and with my birth not going to plan.

Of my 3 babies this was by far the best labour and I felt so proud feeding back to my hypnobirthing teacher because I had used the skills she’d taught me. There’s nothing to be ashamed of in doing what is safest for you and your baby and you can still have a holistic birth experience even if you birth in a car park because that is something you control. Believe me, half of your NCT class will end up having sections so please don’t feel like you will be the only one not to achieve the ‘perfect birth.’ I think your birth experience is very dependent on your state of mind and you can still make it a wonderful and positive thing.

Out of my nct group of 8 only 2 (possibly 3) of us got to be in the midwife unit and one of those had to be transferred to the doctor led unit mid way through.

I was one of them but prior to going into labour I was told I had to be on the doctor led unit. When I went in the midwife on duty reviewed my notes and was happy to accept me in the mlu.

We had our reunion last week, I know we all set out wanting the least intervention possible but we had a mix of forceps, inductions, emcs, water births, and ventouse. We had labour's were a few hours, or days in latent labour and 4 day induction.

It is easy in the run up to get carried away with ideal plans you won't be the only person whose plans go awry. Don't feel embarrassed or uneasy about talking about the alternative birth you might have. It's important (if you want to that is) to talk about all births. All are perfectly valid ways of bringing a new life into the world.

How are you now?

Hope you're ok and concentrating on you and baby. Doesn't matter what others think or say- you have to think of your needs.

I had v high bp towards the end and was kept in for monitoring. Eventually it was a 4 day failed induction then a cs and at the end I honestly didn't care how baby got out as long as it was safe! I had hoped for a water birth though like you but honestly it's about both of your safety.

Not sure if it's just what I've found but having met a lot of new friends at baby groups etc then in time meeting some of their friends, the 'nct' group of friends mostly come across a bit snobby! Not all as like I say my friends are obviously a part of that group too but there really does seem to be a 'type' from some who I have met. The reason I'm saying this is because I'm hoping you don't feel pressured by anyone x

@Trufflepuffpuff I’m in the exact same situation! I’ve had a low risk pregnancy throughout then suddenly at 34 weeks my blood pressure was high and I was put on labetalol. I got a growth scan the same week the high blood pressure was diagnosed and baby is growing perfectly but my consultant booked me in for a further scan when I’m 38 weeks and said they may consider induction. I’m assuming its an induction at just under 40 weeks rather than letting me go late, however, of course baby could decide to make her appearance before induction.

I’m 37 weeks now and had a midwife appointment a couple of days ago. She talked me though the induction and although I’ll go straight to labour ward/suite rather than the MLU she said that as long as all is going well I’ll still have the freedom to wander around, bounce on the ball etc because the monitoring of the baby will be wireless. She also said birth pool can even still be possible. At the moment I’m still feeling really calm about it all and I never really had a set birth plan my only thing was I really didn’t want to be stuck on my back the whole time!

Keep positive

Just had number 4 5months ago and would loved to have mlu with birthing pool but when I went into labour middle of the night was already in use. By that stage in the through of full blown labour I didn't care tbh and I really couldn't have planned a better birth the midwives I had were the best ever out of all my births and amazing had a brilliant experience and wouldn't have been the same in the mlu. Rooms in labour aren't as nice but I had my birthing ball brought it down with me from upstairs and gas and air. We don't always get the birth we want but honestly the more open minded and relaxed u go into it easier it will be

You have not failed in any way! Unfortunately the whole thing some NCT groups peddle (or so I am told) that your body knows what to do and all will go well is just nothing but a big fat lie. Mothers and babies have been damaged or died in childbirth throughout history. Where help is advised, take it. Only one thing about the birth matters....you both coming out ok.

Hope things go really well for you, don't let any of the modern day hype about being 'natural' spoil anything for you. You are doing the right things for you and your baby.

Oh @AC1991 your situation sounds exactly the same as mine! I had a growth scan at 34 weeks and have another booked for 37. They haven't mentioned early induction yet but they have hinted they won't let me go too far over my due date. Good to hear you're keeping positive! It's really reassuring to hear people's comments and I absolutely agree that the reality of the birth won't matter as much once the baby is here, but I've just felt this increasing pressure to give birth a certain way over the last few months. I'm glad I know now though, so I can prepare a bit for the birth I might have. I'm leaning towards an epidural now after reading some experiences on here.

@Trufflepuffpuff I’ve had two children so far. First child I went into labour at 36 weeks, he was back to back and my birth experience wasn’t as calm as I’d liked, other than strep B no other complications but it all seemed very ‘medical’ and I felt I wasn’t in control of anything (I did have an epidural due to him being back to back it was just excruciating)
Anyway, fast forward to my second pregnancy. I developed high blood pressure at about 33 weeks and I was put on Labetalol. It did rise and the amount had to be increased but other than that it was kept under control. I was induced at 39 weeks due to reduced movements and my birth experience was a million times better than with my first.

I knew with having high blood pressure I’d need to be induced at 40 weeks so I asked if from 38 weeks I could have sweeps whenever I went in to kick things off naturally, consultant agreed and although the sweeps themselves never made me go into labour they did help with the induction process. I went in to be induced at 39 weeks, the pessary they gave me sent me into labour within a couple of hours so no need for the hormone drip. I did have my blood pressure monitored, it went off every now and then but to be honest I didn’t even notice.
Although I wasn’t on the midwife led unit like I’d have liked to be, the experience itself was just Lovely.
I would say, if you can speak to your midwife or consultant if you have one, let them know what Type of birth you are hoping for so if it comes down to induction it can be as close to your ideal birth scenario as possible. My hospital were great in getting me in for multiple sweeps as I was determined to go into labour on my own. The fact I only needed the pessary was good enough for me! In my experience,giving birth on the delivery suite isn’t too bad, I liked having the midwife there for support because it helped me know that everything is going as it should. My midwife just left me to breathe through all contractions and didn’t try to interfere with anything. I remember her saying she wanted to break my waters and i insisted she didn’t need to, she trusted me and 40 minutes after only being 4cm my baby was born.

I hope you get a birthing experience that you look back on and love. It can be so unpredictable but I wouldn’t write off having a lovely birth because of high blood pressure, especially if growth scans and monitoring go well.

Good luck!!