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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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 🥲

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Original poster
PeachyGreen95 · 23/10/2023 18:40

@Olika I’ve spoken to a consultant who has agreed to put me on the list for a c section. I’m classed as category 3 so could be a 2/3 day wait. She said she’ll try to squeeze me in within 24 hours but can’t make any promises due to emergencies of course. More waiting but feeling way better than I did

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Original poster
PeachyGreen95 · 23/10/2023 18:42

@Legoblockskillfeet exactly that!

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Olika · 23/10/2023 18:44

That's a bit more positive situation than this afternoon. 👍 hopefully you don't have to wait 2-3 days. 🤞🏼 good luck!

JollyHostess101 · 23/10/2023 18:46

This was me back in July we watched loads in the I pad and finally sent husband home to get some rest after 3 days of being told you’re going to about ward for water breaking next only to be delayed by the bed earmarked for me to be taken by someone in active labour and he’d just got home and they actually moved me 😱

I walked ALOT and bounced on the ball and did a pregnancy inducing workout too to try getting things more moving!!

I was so fed up the 4th time we were told we weren’t actually going I had a bit of a meltdown and the doctor came to apologise and gave me a sweep!!

Original poster
PeachyGreen95 · 23/10/2023 19:06

@JollyHostess101 well done for lasting 4 days. I’ve lasted 2 and have already requested a c section !!! I’ve been a nervous wreck sat at the edge of my bed all day. I think hearing the lady next to me gave me a fright - first child and all. I knew it was bad but Jesus !!

Thank you @Olika , will be sure to update

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JollyHostess101 · 23/10/2023 19:25

I was so knackered I was about to ask for a c section too!! I said yes to an epidural straight away as I was so over it despite not really wanting one- but I got to sleep for 5 hours before pushing which was bliss!!

But when it finally got going it was super quick ( first baby but that’s what they told me)

Legoblockskillfeet · 23/10/2023 19:47

@PeachyGreen95
I think it's a good call. Either you will be taken down or your c section will come around in a couple of days but better to be on the list now than asking later and being further down the list.
I ended up with an emcs because ds and I were exhausted by the time I got to pushing and his heart rate started doing funny things.
Given the opportunity now, I would have requested the section too. I went from low risk to being monitored and not allowed to move off my back because of the wires so had a much harder labour.

Everything crossed that thinks move along quickly for you.

Itwasamemo1 · 23/10/2023 19:53

Am so sorry you are going through all this stress . I hope you have your baby for a cuddle asap.X

Flittingaboutagain · 23/10/2023 20:06

Every time they suggest something ask your partner if you can't think straight to answer these questions:
What are the benefits?
What are the risks?
What are the alternatives?
Ask yourself and the doctors what is my instinct telling me?
Then make sure to ask what happens if we do nothing and see for an hour/night/day etc?

How we feel about birth is so much about the perception of having made informed choices at the time rather than being done to.

Marylou62 · 23/10/2023 20:16

Seems like things haven't changed much..
26 yrs ago I was induced on Monday morning and had my baby Saturday afternoon..
Similar to you..no beds
I didn't spend all that time in labour but on and off.
I was diagnosed with PTSD when my DS was 3 years old..
It was a horrible experience and I feel for you.

MariaVT65 · 23/10/2023 20:22

They are taking the piss OP. Deffo make your voice heard and ask for a c section asap, or ask to be transferred to a different hospital if needed.

I was induced at 42 weeks, no staff to break my waters, only got to 3cm after 2 days and ended up with an EMCS as my son was getting distressed.

Ithinkitstimeforbed · 23/10/2023 20:26

Poor you! What a tiring wait!

I know you said that c section recovery is awful and obviously everyone’s different, but I had an elective with my son 2 years ago and recovery was much better than expected. I slept upright for a few nights and kept on my painkillers but could stop taking them after 5 days. The scar would burn when I stood up but I was expecting to be out of action for weeks- obviously I took it easy but it was nowhere near as bad as everyone told me it would be. 3 of my nct friends have gone on to have electives following a vaginal birth and all of them have had a smooth recovery too.

Hope it all gets sorted soon and enjoy your new baby 🥰

acupofteamakeseverythingbetter · 23/10/2023 20:45

Sounds like a rubbish situation, sorry you're going through it. I had a cat 1 C-section with my son and the recovery was very straight forward, I know women who have tears and stitches that find recovery really tough. Of course it's tough but for me it was straight forward and I'll be having a planned c section for my next one too. Best of luck to you I hope you'll have your little babe in your arms in no time!

Original poster
PeachyGreen95 · 23/10/2023 20:57

thank you all! They’ve offered me a c section but under cat 3 so obviously that can be pushed back and back and back. They’ve told me to start fasting now and I have gestational diabetes so not sure how long I can actually fast for. Apparently someone else on the induction ward has been waiting 3 days for a c section but I’m not sure of her circumstance! It’s crazy how many of us have been through it. I really hope she’s here soon. The end doesn’t seem to be in sight 😭😭😭

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ginandvomit · 23/10/2023 21:32

Thinking of you today, you're doing so well given the situation. It really makes me cross women are treated like this during labor.

How many babies are compromised with these delays and women with PTSD?

My NHS stories are of similar scale mishaps with an undiagnosed breech and foot-first delivery. I now live in a country where women mostly have private rooms, are treated with dignity and 50% elective C sections and wonder "what if" I'd delivered my DC's here...

Continue to advocate for yourself like you have been doing. I will be checking in to see how you go and hoping you get a bed or theatre slot very soon.

Jfw82 · 23/10/2023 21:45

Just read your thread and feel for you - my first I was in for reduced movement. Had pessary (nothing happened !) then waited another day for them to break my waters as no space on delivery side and finally baby arrived with epidural (and drip) to help things along

My second had section for baby being breach

However it happens I hope all goes well- I do remember with number one my endless laps of the hospital trying to get things moving 😂

Original poster
PeachyGreen95 · 23/10/2023 21:51

@ginandvomit agreed. I spoke to one of the midwives earlier and she said it’s dangerous as they’re still admitting people in for inductions, knowing they haven’t got the space to continue with them downstairs if they progress to labour. Luckily, I wasn’t someone that had a ‘birth plan’ and have always been quite open minded but I’ve been riddled with anxiety over the last couple of days & that’s definitely not the experience I wanted. Thank you so so much. P.S love your username, hopefully that’ll be me when I leave here and enjoy a celebratory drink

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JollyHostess101 · 23/10/2023 22:03

Oh and not sure why you were induced but we played the last week we were told we SHOULD VERY PROBABLY get induced because baby wasn’t growing and on day 3 my husband asked why was there such an urgency to induce and own there’s apparently none to actually have the baby…..

Isthisexpected · 23/10/2023 22:07

The CQC are inspecting maternity services right now. I'm guessing this one is in the 50% that will be inadequate. Sounds awful.

Blughbablugh · 23/10/2023 22:09

Sorry to hear you are going through this. Happened with both of my babies but only had to wait a couple of days at the most. I remember how frustrating it was.

Original poster
PeachyGreen95 · 23/10/2023 22:13

@JollyHostess101 so true. I’m being induced because I have gestational diabetes which was discovered fairly late into the pregnancy, baby is measuring big and quite small so they pushed towards getting her out early. Now I’m here I wonder why, I’ve put so much stress and anxiety on myself over the last 48 hours it has probably done worse than waiting at home and going full term when the baby is ready. I had heard some horror stories about induction but decided to ignore them and go for it. I don’t think I’d ever put myself through this again 😟

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Maraudingmarauders · 23/10/2023 22:20

I waited 3 days after being admitted with high blood pressure before I got the pessary. Thag got removed after 4 hours as baby didn't like it. Another 24 hours before moved onto labour ward to have waters broken. Got hooked up to the monitor and cannula put it... and they rang the emergency alarm and I ended up in a cat 1 EMCS as baby was in distress. He's 4 weeks old now and okay, but a horrible start.
It's an utter scandal how overwhelmed our maternity wards are. I should have been induced days earlier than i was.

Madwife123 · 23/10/2023 22:26

Sorry to hear about this experience.

As a midwife can I ask all of those who have experienced this to PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE complain to the ICB.

Maternity services are in a mess. This is happening every day all across the country and no one listens to the midwives!

Women don’t complain about maternity services in the same way they would other hospital care as they are busy with motherhood, recovering, have a newborn etc. and so the problem is ignored. When midwives say there is a problem we are told complaints are minimal and so those in charge can carry on ignoring it.

Hoping your little one is here safely soon.

Ally1992 · 23/10/2023 22:27

This was me back in May, went in on a Thursday, had the pessary in for 24 hours then told it was a 36 hour for waters to be broken. They woke me up at 2am on the Sunday to take me down to the L&D ward. I was so tired by the time I had him with the constant monitoring as well so really feel for you!