A Positive Induction Story…

Hi Lauren,

The past 4 weeks have gone by in a blur, I wanted to send you a message when I had time to write a bit about my birth story because I am happy to report a very positive induction birth story and think its important to share that.

I went into Treliske DAU on 28.7.23 at 1pm, was met by a really friendly midwife who explained the whole process to me once showing us to my bed, I had a whole bay to myself - I was the only one in the room of 4 beds.. which made it feel nicer. They put the pessary in at 2.45pm and checked if I was dilated at all - I was not. Strapped me to the monitor for 30mins to check baby is happy and off I went for my walk around the retail park opposite Treliske, went back at 6pm for my obs check and then off I went again to McDonald's and for another walk. Period like pains had started from 4pmish but manageable and better when walking/moving. Got back to the ward 8ish and played a few rounds of card games with Sean before visiting hours finished at 10pm. By 1.30am I was in what felt like quite alot of pain, I couldn't sleep through it.. I asked for some paracetamol and watched some trashy TV on my phone or walked around my room to try and distract myself, at 2.30pm I was significant amounts of pain, to which the midwife offered and ran me a bath. Following this the pain started to take my breath away, I remember asking the midwife "is this too early to be feeling this level of pain". I was then strapped to a machine again for monitoring to check the contractions pattern and strength. At 4am the midwife said I could have my partner there as the bay was empty and I was 'distressed' we contacted him at 4.30am and he arrived 5.20am ish. I was then examined following my request. The midwife examined me and I was 6cm!! dilated!! They contacted the delivery suite and I was up there about 6.30am to a lovely lovely midwife. My waters burst all over her when she was explaining the process of bursting them to Sean - she was sat at the end of the bed - but my body decided to do this for her and covered her in them! The doctor came in because they kept losing baby's heartbeat during contractions, interventions were discussed and I asked for them not to happen until I was out of a contraction, my midwife also would suggest we did a couple of contractions before making the descision and by the end of each of these contractions my body was doing what it needed to and interventions were not needed. At 7.43am on 29.7.23 Oscar Robin Merrett was born with no interventions and 17hrs after the pessary was put in. I had no interventions, just 2 paracetamol and some gas and air for the last hour of labour, the midwives on the delivery suite were so lovely and did not push any interventions on me, I feel they listened to me and my body and am happy to report a positive birth story with an induction.

Hope you and the group are all ok and had a lovely August. Definitely used some of my yoga techniques on DAU to help with the comfort levels. Thank you for your support throughout my pregnancy and for checking in afterwards.

Love, F. x