"My birth story"

I was informed at a scan that my baby was weighing on the big side and that he had extra fluid around him. So was advised to be induced early by the doctor but the midwife I seen advised to get a sweep and maybe induced the week later. I went into Hospital to be induced on the Thursday I wasn't properly explained to what would happen and the ins and outs of the induction itself.

I was given 3 pessary's between Thursday and Friday and told that after the 3rd pessary it hasn't worked and would need an examination which was horrible as I didnt feel staff were very gentle with me during these procedures. I started the next 3 pessarys over the Saturday and Sunday as I had to give 24 hours break. I was examined after the 6th pessary and was told they could break my waters but it would be tricky but it could be done.

I was taken down to the labour ward at 3am Monday morning and immediately got an examination they said they would be breaking my waters so I got a cannula put into my hand and my waters were broken. I was in alot of pain so got Gas and Air when that wasn't cutting it so got morphine into my cannula when I couldn't handle the pain anymore I got given an epidural. Throughout my labour I could still feel pain on my right side and was in agony.

They put a monitor onto babies head. When it was time to push one of the midwives said I was doing great and she could see the Fetal Scalp Electrode Attached  to My babies head. When I kept pushing and nothing happened a doctor came in and explained that I would need to come to theatre to have forceps to get baby out and if that didn't happen it would be a c section. To which I agreed. I was wheeled down to theatre and they examined me again after numbing me and realised I would need to have a c section as the babies head was still in my stomach.

In theatre I was given a spinal block also. During my C Section I was left with bruising on my left arm from a blood pressure machine which was left on and ripped off by one of the midwives when I said my arm was sore as it was blowing up. I feel I shouldn't have been told in the labour ward that they could see my babies Fetal Scalp Electrode and therefore his head was coming when this simply wasn't true.

They also kept stressing I was doing well, My Mother could see on the monitor my babies heart beat was dropping. My mum was in theatre with me and witnessed 2 staff indict with their face that I was a larger person, So unprofessional at such a scary and dramatic time, majority of staff were great but some, it was like another day in the office, people skills and care factor were non existent. 

I am traumatised from this labour experience as a first time mother. When I was in recovery I was left holding my baby which I struggled to do due to constantly having my blood pressure checked. I also contracted the start of cellulitis after I came home and had to go back up to the hospital where I sat for 5 hours waiting for antibiotics. I would also like to add my mother also stated I was saying to her, Am I going to die. I don't recall this due to all the drugs I was given. She also witnessed me nearly falling from operating table on a no of occasions, and vomiting when she was laying she's alerted them to lift my head as I could have choked on my vomit

I had all ideas how my birth plan would pan out but I'm sorry this was a sheer nightmare which really has to be addressed an with something as serious as giving birth there should be qualified staff assisting labour.

I must add I understand you were short staffed but I feel I was neglected and just left to student nurses. Some of the midwives were lovely throughout my stay but I felt others weren't very accommodating. 

When I was induced I was told that my mum who was my birthing partner couldn't stay and had to go home but other people who were having the same thing as me were allowed their partners to stay with them.