"Early Labour"

I recently gave birth to baby number two and reflecting on this now wanted to share feedback on my experience in the induction/triage ward I visited whilst in early labour. 

I attended the unit after spending 9 hours at home in early labour and being unable to cope with the pain. Baby turned out to be back to back and the pain as well as contractions I was experiencing was extremely painful and I just was not coping. When initially examined I was only 3cm dilated meaning I was not eligible for labour ward and very little pain relief. I was given Dihydrocodeine and offered a bath which I took. The pain kept increasing and after nearly 2 hours begged the midwifes for more help. 

Being examined again, I was 6cm so eligible for labour ward. Midwife went to arrange this  and also give me some Morphine. They were very reluctant to give me gas and air however did supply me with this. Ten minutes later, my waters broke with meconium in them and I was feeling the urge to push, suddenly things ramped up and it was a huge rush to get me to labour ward with baby being born minutes later. 

I suffered with very little pain relief after asking for this numerous times. I also felt I could have really done with the reassurance and time of the midwifes to help me through this stage of labour. I appreciate how busy and stretched they are but constant midwife care at this stage felt as important as being in labour ward.  Being in the triage ward through the night there was no other patients around/ normal activity going on. 

The pain still haunts me to date and my husband and and I felt quite alone and left to it which I think the service really need to improve on and more pain relief to be available on this ward.