"Being in labour"

Lawrence ward nottingham city hospital

I went into labour at home after 14 hours of self help, the pain was getting too much so I contacted the labour department at city hospital. On examination I wasn't dilated enough to stay on labour suite, so they transferred me to a ward. Once on the ward I was put in a side room with my 2 birthing partners, no one came to discuss my care with me, to explain what was going to happen, what I wanted to happen! I was just left in agony!

My partner went to ask for codeine off a nurse and she came 40 mins later with it. I felt I had lost control of what was happening to me. I wasn't empowered or supported to make decisions about my labour. Something that I had documented in my birthing plan.

I remember sitting on the floor in the shower with the water running on my back, (desperate for pain relief). I asked for a water bottle, but they are not allowed on the ward. Instead the nurse brought a warm wheat bag. When she came I told her I needed more pain relief! She said I could have diamorphine tha'ts it. I explained I didn't no whether to have it because I wanted to have a water birth. That's when she told me I wouldn't be going to the sanctuary suite or going in the pool, when I asked why she said because I was measuring big for dates so I wasn't allowed!

I was devestated that not only what I wanted to happen wasn't going to, but more importantly this hadn't been discussed with me. The nurses lacked communication, compassion and empathy. As a nurse myself I couldn't believe that this was happening.

From the moment I stepped on the ward I lost all empowerment and I know this had a direct impact on my labour experience. I hope this is disscussed on the ward with the team to prevent it occuring again. This occured november 2016 but only now have I been able to discuss the care I received.