"Induction and Birth"

I was induced due to concerns over a big baby. Went into ward 23 in the afternoon for a balloon to start the induction. The midwives were lovely but they didn't tell me before the procedure that there was a chance this could burst my waters. The balloon was inserted and my waters immediately broke. The midwife didn't fully explain what was happening and I went into a bit of a panic but it was fine.

I chose to stay on the ward overnight and was told if things hadn't progressed I'd be checked again 24hours after water breaking. Around 4am my contractions were 2-3 minutes apart and intense, I knew myself that baby was coming. When I buzzed the midwives to ask to call for my partner and I felt baby was coming I was told I'd have to wait until the afternoon to be re-examined due to infection risks and offered a bath. This made absolutely no sense to me so I lay down in bed in the hopes to slow down labour. 

My husband came in at 9am and I tried to go for a walk around the hospital but contractions were 1 minute apart and so intense I couldn't make it past the end of the corridor. Again midwives told us we'd need to wait until the afternoon to be re-examined. I became angry at this point because my baby was absolutely on the way. I felt like I was being dismissed because I wasn't asking for pain relief as I have a high pain tolerance.

We were moved to the labour ward only when a different midwife walked past and heard my breathing and recognised that I was in labour. I was very glad to be away from ward 23 at that point. I'll add that baby was born 3 hours before the time that I would have been allowed to be re-examined if not for the different midwife (whose name I forgot to ask).

The midwives (and students) on the labour ward were absolutely amazing, they helped us and really turned our experience around. I can't thank them enough for their care and support. 

We were moved to ward 22 for a night to get help establishing breastfeeding. The team here were absolutely fantastic and took great care of us and really prepared us for going home and having a successful start to our breastfeeding journey.