Good morning ladies!
I do not have the updates I would have hoped to give you this morning, but here we go.
After 24h of 40s-1min long, every 3-4 min frequent contractions and finally getting reassessed in the MAU, it turns out my cervix has barely tilted and thinned a bit, but has not dilated more at all since the first assessment 12h prior.
Was quite a blow for the heart, not going to lie, as the contractions had become borderline unbearable pain wise by then. I've also been labouring in this tiny uncomfortable MAU room for 5 hours, which didn't help the morale.
It was already past midnight at this stage. I did have a little cry as I told them I can genuinely not birth our little one on the drip at that time, even with my best intention - I was absolutely exhausted. I asked to be considered for a c-sec today instead.
I was now talking to an obstetrician about my plan. The doctor I talked to was extremely lovely and basically talked me into getting an epidural overnight before anything, to help me rest, and then still trying the drip induction. She explained to me about the increased risks indeed of baby being stressed from the more powerful contractions whilst on the drip; about the increased instrumental delivery intervention risk and the existing potential end in c-sec after all (hence my option to skip all the drama and go straight to c-sec). But, she also explained that the risk of instrumental delivery to baby is smaller than the c-sec risk, and that they would monitor baby's HR continuously for the hormone drip readjustment, if needed. Also because this is my first baby, and would like one other, she would still strongly recommend to try natural birth even if via epidural+drip rather than c-sec. Also for c-sec I would have to wait another 18h minimum, whereas the epidural I would get then, in the night.
I accepted,..Only to wait 2h more in MAU, to then be told by the midwife that actually there is no spot available for me to be moved on the delivery suite through the night and get the epidural. So, they would transfer me on the antenatal ward overnight, where my hubby would not be allowed to stay, and then be picked up by delivery suite hopefully in the morning.
I will add this following bit of the story if helpful to anyone, but: I asked what are the advantages of being transferred on a ward overnight that is not relevant to my plan of intervention (we live 15 min drive away from hosp)? The answer was that they are worried about baby's infection risk since my waters have gone for 72h, and I would also get 24h access to.. paracetamol (!?).
I asked ok, so are you starting me on antibiotics now if I stay overnight?
No.
Do you monitor baby during sleep?
No.
Can I get any other pain relief on that ward rather than paracetamol at least?
No.
Do I lose my priority for delivery suite in the morning if I am not in-hospital?
No, you'd still be first in line.
At this point they've just given me a dihydrocodeine, so I self-discharged to go home and have a much better night sleep in my own bed, cuddling with hubby. I saw no advantage being in hospital, if I would feel sick overnight it would take us no time to get back to hospital. I've just woken up by contraction pains as the medication has worn off enough I cannot sleep through, and I think I made a good decision to rest at home. I feel much more rested, I am so grateful to have slept in my own bed. I also feel grateful that baby is still ok and I am ok too, that's all that matters.
Going into the hospital at 8:30, hoping for the last time without returning with out baba 🥹
On a distinct side note I was reflecting on the "birth plans" I had to write and it's just so crazy that, my journey already started with a parallel narrative altogether, cancelling everything in the original vision of it, due to my waters breaking and then my body deciding to not quite start any contractions for so long. I could have not predicted any of this would happen of course, and one would always plan for the most likely (?) possibility, but it's still wild.