Labour - Sam's Story

By Laura Yates on Jul 16, 09 06:40 PM

The student midwife didn't believe Sam when she said she needed to push because she was only 2cm dilated.. she was proved wrong when Harrison was born half an hour later. Labour doesn't always go by the book!

I woke up at 4:15 in the morning and felt a puddle in my jammy bottoms! I knew what it was and was terrified! All I could think was ... If I go back to sleep it will go away! After 5 minutes I gently woke my partner by telling him to get me a towel!

After I cleaned myself up I phoned the triage ward who advised me to come in to be checked over as I hadn't felt baby move. They assured me that I would be allowed home! No such luck; my blood pressure was very, very high and had protein in urine (both of which I had throughout my pregnancy).

They decided I was to be induced, but when they got hold of the doctor at 9am he said not to due to my blood pressure.

However, at 9.30am I was given a pessary which took effect immediately! By the time dp was back from the car I was having really bad cramps.

At 10:30am I went into the birthing pool. Things were going good and at around 12pm I started on G&A.

A while later, at around 2pm, I was taken out of the pool and checked (2cm dilated) and given a shot of diamorphine. Then I had a sleep for half an hour. At around 2:45 I was up and down to the loo because I felt like I had to do a pooh!

For half an hour I constantly told dp to go get the midwife as I felt I had to push - she was a student midwife and told me to stop being ridiculous: "this baby wasn't coming till at least 8pm tonight!"

At 3:10pm I knew she was wrong and on the loo felt a horrible urge to push and had a feel and.. yes! I could feel the head! Told dp again to go and get mw as I could feel the head! With a few huffs he went on his way and said to the student mw.

She again said I was being ridiculous and there was no way I could feel the head as I was only 2cm dilated!

The midwife in charge overhead and said: "you should always listen to your patient!" She came in and popped me up on the bed and yes baby was crowning!! With a few pushes Harrison was born at 3:31pm weighing 6lb 15oz!

The shocked student mw was in the background constantly repeating "That shouldn't happen it's not textbook!" to which the midwife replied "No it's real life!"