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Original poster

Waiting for waters to be broken … no beds at the inn !

109 replies

PeachyGreen95 · 22/10/2023 21:28

I had the gel inserted yesterday at 3pm to soften my cervix, another at 9pm and this morning I was 2cm dilated. They’re ready to break my waters but there aren’t any beds available. They can’t provide a timeframe either. Since then I’ve had irregular contractions and a bit of spotting. Does anyone have any similar induction stories? Or advice on how to keep sane when trying to relax on an induction ward? I’m running on 4 hrs sleep and feeling pretty deflated 🥲

OP posts:
tunapokebowl · 22/10/2023 21:56

So sorry you're going through this, it is truly rubbish. I was waiting on the ward for 48 hours, after already waiting at home for 24 hours after my waters went. Totally fed up!

I found reading and listening to music/podcasts the best thing, though hard to focus when you're so excited for your baby.

Hang on in there, the waiting on the ward is horrid but will be worth it when baby arrives.

If you can, get some ear plugs and an eye mask so you can get some sleep. The hospital shop may sell them if you don't have any.

ReluctantFishLady · 22/10/2023 21:59

Is it an option to go home to get some shut eye and go back in the morning?

Jazzmine952 · 22/10/2023 22:02

do they just have you sitting on a normal chair in the induction ward? I'd try to get checked over and go home if possible

Wowzel · 22/10/2023 22:03

This happened to me, i sat there for 4 days. By the end i was miserable from waiting with what felt like no plan

Then suddenly a midwife ran in and said quick!! There's a bed on labour ward, run down and lie on it so no one else gets it!

I spent as much time as i could asleep to take my mind off it

Original poster
PeachyGreen95 · 22/10/2023 22:06

Once you’re in you have to stay here apparently. Home is only 10 minutes away in a car too but im happy I’m receiving regular monitoring etc. Luckily I have a bed but on a ward amongst other people having contractions, snoring, watching their phones on loud and FaceTiming friends isn’t much fun. Really hoping we get to head down soon to have my waters broken, they don’t seem to be doing anything naturally!

OP posts:
Legoblockskillfeet · 22/10/2023 22:09

I was in your exact position. 3 hospital's maternity units closed because of capacity issues and I was left for 3 days.
I spent nearly all of the time in the bath which helped hugely.
If you can get some earplugs and an eye mask it helps a lot with sleep and it will be important that you are rested. Make sure that you eat.
If I was to do it again, I would honestly make more fuss. I was left until my waters went naturally because I was quiet, the woman who was screaming the place down was taken off for her waters breaking even though her contractions were less regular than mine.

Original poster
PeachyGreen95 · 22/10/2023 22:13

@Legoblockskillfeet funny you should say that! Someone next to me was in bed for 2 hours screaming non stop at 2cm dilated and has just been wheeled downstairs. I’ve stayed quiet 😟

OP posts:
Legoblockskillfeet · 22/10/2023 22:20

PeachyGreen95 · 22/10/2023 22:13

@Legoblockskillfeet funny you should say that! Someone next to me was in bed for 2 hours screaming non stop at 2cm dilated and has just been wheeled downstairs. I’ve stayed quiet 😟

Ahhh. That really sucks.
It is so hard to advocate for yourself in these situations but I so wish that I had been more vocal.

elm26 · 22/10/2023 23:06

Feel for you OP, I waited 2 days for a room in delivery and had been being induced for a whole week, I was fed up and exhausted by the time I was in active labour.

Hope you go soon and good luck! ☺️♥️

Original poster
PeachyGreen95 · 23/10/2023 06:15

No update on a room but managed to get some sleep last night which is good. Please keep your fingers crossed for me today ✌🏼

OP posts:
Legoblockskillfeet · 23/10/2023 08:07

Glad to hear that you managed some sleep and everything crossed that you are having baby snuggles by tea time.

soxthecat22 · 23/10/2023 08:09

I waited 5 days, sorry OP induction is rubbish!

lifehappens12 · 23/10/2023 08:36

Good luck for shift changeover time 7.30. I was in a similar position for my induction. Mid morning when nurse checked me she said I was ready for induction. No beds but at shiftchangover at 7.30pm they found one.

Once on labour ward it all goes much quicker!!

lifehappens12 · 23/10/2023 08:36

Sorry I meant ready for my waters to be broken not induction

DaftyInTheMiddle · 23/10/2023 08:40

7 days it took me. Sorry OP, luckily I was at home though. It was a horrific week of phoning every morning at 8am in the hopes a bed would be available.

Isthisexpected · 23/10/2023 08:44

Regularly of contractions doesn't mean shit to those of you berating a mum for being loud. I've always gone from irregular contractions (sometimes hours apart) to delivery within an hour of waters breaking. How about just having compassion for a fellow woman in pain?

Just make sure you know at what point you might want a C-section OP. Inductions are much more likely to end up this way if you just sit in a bed from exhaustion once it's all started. I'd go home if I was you.

Danikm151 · 23/10/2023 08:45

induction Is boring. I was lucky that mine took 24 hours but turns out I was in labour 2 hours before they realised. I was having bad back pain and they were about to insert another pessary when they realised I was 4cm
they had all the stuff ready to break my waters but they broke on the walk to the delivery room.

I had to wait 9 hours for a bed on the induction part. No proper privacy and the other woman in the room was treating it like a holiday. Not the best way to relax.

if you have a book read that with headphones on and block everything out if you can.

Original poster
PeachyGreen95 · 23/10/2023 09:02

@Isthisexpected not berating someone for being loud. There are plenty of women having contractions and in pain on this ward, just saying it seems as though when you’re fairly quiet you’re not attended to as much and sort of kept out of sight out of mind! I’m open to a c section if need be but will see how everything else works out first….

thank you everyone for sharing your stories! Fingers crossed I’ll be heading down soon. I know it can take a while, apparently I’m next on the list for a bed but that can take a long time, with emergencies coming in etc.

lost my mucus plug this morning so hopefully things are moving along on their own .. who knows. 😅😅

OP posts:
TallulahBetty · 23/10/2023 09:08

Keep active. Walk, walk, walk. Bounce on a birthing ball.

annlee3817 · 23/10/2023 09:15

Hope things get moving on their own, I was in the same situation last year, for me the pessary went in late Tuesday evening, contracted for 12 hours, 2cm dilated and it all just stopped, I then waited for a bed on labour ward to have my waters broken. In the end was rushed round on the Sunday due to issues with DDs heart rate as had had three nights where it had dropped. So it was a long wait for me unfortunately, they needed 18 midwives on the labour and induction wards and had just 11, really felt for them despite it being frustrating for me. I watched lots of movies, went on lots of walks around the hospital and tried to catch up on sleep in the day, as nights were quite active on the ward.

cruciverbalista · 23/10/2023 09:18

This was me about a week ago and it was miserable. Watched a lot of TV on my laptop and eventually began to feel some kind of camaraderie with the rest of the ward (thanks oxytocin). After a couple days another woman showed up also waiting to have her waters broken, and I got so annoyed at the idea she might get a bed first I think my labor escalated out of spite lol. Once my labor got more active and painful i stopped caring, which was about when I finally got a room in delivery suite. Still ended up with obstructed labor and c-sectioned but all good now and going home finally with baby was the happiest moment of my life. Anyway, good luck and I can definitely commiserate xx

Original poster
PeachyGreen95 · 23/10/2023 10:27

I’ve been told this morning that I’ve been getting bumped further down the list due to people needing the bed before me. Do you think elective c section is an option in this case? I’m so drained and exhausted already I’m not sure if I can wait a few more days

OP posts:
Autumn1990 · 23/10/2023 10:46

I would ask for an elective section. You can ask at any point and that includes labour
I had a labour that started naturally but didn’t progress, waters were broken not much happened then the drip ( get an epidural first) then an emcs. I was exhausted it was 7 days from start to finish.
My emcs was an elective one by maternal request ( actually it was DP who said enough was enough after 7 hours on the drip). Child would not have come out any other way. You will need to be quite determined or get someone else to advocate for you

Original poster
PeachyGreen95 · 23/10/2023 10:54

@Autumn1990 ive just spoken with a doctor who said she can add me to an emergency c section list or I can wait a few more days to either get a bed or wait for labour to start naturally. I feel mentally exhausted and it has been 2 days so really unsure of what to do. 😟😟😟

OP posts:
mumtotwox · 23/10/2023 11:11

@PeachyGreen95 Do you have a cafe/shops in your hospital? Can you take a walk down there or even outside for fresh air? I found walking and going up and down the stairs brought things on for me!