Labour. The one word to get most pregnant women biting their nails and breaking out in a cold sweat. Perhaps it’s the fear of the unknown, or the known if you have already been through it. Having experienced it twice I’m still not sure which is worse! No two labours are the same and over the coming months the RMF team will each be sharing their own experiences with you. The good, the bad and the ugly. Don’t worry, we aren’t aiming to scare you or put you off your cup of tea but we do want to try and bring you an honest account of what labour can be like.

I never had any real thoughts about what I wanted my labour to be like. I didn’t make a birthing plan and didn’t have strong feelings on the the use of drugs, intervention and so on. I guess I thought you never know what might be needed to get baby here safely. Turns out I was right.

Molly’s arrival ended up being via an induced labour. I had a very straightforward pregnancy but at 35 weeks I found out I had developed a rare pregnancy complication called Obstetric Cholestasis. This is a rare liver condition which you only get in pregnancy and is very dangerous to baby as it can be linked to still birth. It was a scary time and following two weeks of blood tests and constant monitoring I was urgently told to come in to the hospital to be induced. So we rushed in that morning, bag and car seat in, only to be sent home again at the end of the day as the labour ward had been too full to fit me in. Before they sent me home they gave me a sweep in the hope of starting labour naturally. Quite possibly one of the most painful things ever and not a very pleasant experience. This is most likely due to the fact that I was quite early. It was a sleepless night as I knew the next day I would be having a baby, all being well, and that coupled with the effects of my illness meant facing labour with very low energy reserves.

So the following day, Sunday, we arrived at 2pm ready for my induction. I had chosen to have my husband Edd and my mum at the birth which I liked and found both to be a calming presence. Luckily I had been told that I was favourable to have my waters broken and so didn’t need to have a pessary which I’d heard can be quite a lengthy process. I was taken straight in to the delivery suite and the midwife started getting everything ready. It felt a bit odd as I had no idea what was coming. Perhaps that was for the best.

I am not going to lie, having your waters broken is not a nice experience. Think of a crochet hook and that is pretty much it!

I was then put on the drip that contains the hormones to induce labour. This is obviously an artificial way to start labour and baby isn’t necessarily ready to be born. I knew it was for the best though due to potential complications if my pregnancy continued. Due to the danger to the baby I also had to constantly be hooked up to the monitor to track her heartbeat. They started the drip at 5:30 pm and every half an hour they would up the level which released more hormones in to my system. In theory as the levels increase it should start labour. This stage was quite boring to be honest, for both me and Edd. I couldn’t move around easily so had to just sit. I read a magazine, ate a banana and drank lots of water! Just waiting. Edd even called his brother to bring over his iPad and other paraphenalia as he was so bored!

By 10:30 pm I was only experiencing mild period type pains and I had a couple of paracetamol to help ease the discomfort. I also found that the drip in my hand was hurting me more than anything else so they had to get the anaesthetist back to redo it as it was so painful. By now I had reached level of 10 on the drip, which was the maximum that the midwife was allowed to administer. A consultant was then called and his recommendation was “up her to level 12”! Within an hour I had gone from no contractions to 8 in a minute. The pain was immense and there was no rest. Obviously this wasn’t good for my body or baby so they reduced the levels back down and by now I was in established labour.

The thing I struggled with most was the lack of movement. I had always thought I’d try and walk around during labour as knew that this was one of the best things for you but being hooked up to a drip and a baby monitor meant this wasn’t possible. Every time I moved, even on the bed, they lost the heartbeat and so I had to get back in the same position. I couldn’t even turn from side to side which is not easy when you are having contractions. Due to the high risks to baby they didn’t want to loose the heartbeat even for a few seconds.

By now I had started on the gas and air to help relieve the pain. I wasn’t a huge fan of this as although it helped it did make me feel very queasy. I persevered though as I didn’t really want to have any further pain relief.

By about 12 30 the pain was unbearable. The Midwife asked if I felt ready to push but I didn’t and I asked how long I might be like this for. They said a few more hours and I made the decision that I wanted an epidural as I had no energy and didn’t feel like I could cope for much longer. I really had wanted to try and get through without one but I just couldn’t. In came the anesthatist and proceeded to go through the risks associated with an epidural. In truth I wasn’t listening that much as was concentrating on the contractions and breathing my gas and air. I just remember him saying ‘and you may never walk again’* (or something along those lines!!). I glanced at Edd and he shook his head as if to say no. Yes please Mr Anethatist. Give me the drugs. And off he went to get ready.

As I was waiting for him to come back the Midwife asked me again if I wanted to push. I was about to say no when suddenly I thought, actually yes I do! And so it started. I don’t remember too much about this stage other than it was blinkin hard work. I followed the midwifes instructions and pushed when told, breathing gas and air in between. After 20 minutes the baby’s heartbeat was dropping and I could tell the midwife was getting a bit more urgent with her demands for me to push. Edd and my mum knew too and were really trying to make me do it. I just had no strength, or so it felt. After a few more minutes I knew things were getting worse. I remember seeing the midwife move away, I think to hit the panic button, and suddenly the room was full of people, all urging me to push. The midwife told me she needed to perform an episiotomy to help get the baby out. At this point I didn’t really care, or think, just do what it takes.

At 1:45am Molly Rose Manns arrived, weighing 6lb 6oz. And all with a few paracetamol, some gas and air and no swearing or shouting from me! I honestly don’t remember hearing her cry, I’m still not sure she did. My mind was a fuzz and she had been rushed away to the other side of the room to be checked by the team of consultants and nurses who had swooped in to the room. After it was declared that she was well she was handed over to me for those first little cuddles. I didn’t have that initial moment of my baby being given to me but at least I knew she was all ok. Turns out she wasn’t actually and a few hours later went to Neo Natal where she spent her first few days but I’ll save that story for another day.

After the birth all you want to do is lie and cuddle that little bundle but there is a bit more hard work to go. The delivery of the placenta is quick for some and harder for others. I was so wiped out that I really didn’t have one ounce of energy left. Somehow I managed it and then they set about the task of stitching me up. There was quite a bit of anaesthetic and a fair amount of time involved here but I can honestly say that it was easy compared to the last few hours. The Midwives and team who looked after me were fantastic and I couldn’t have asked for more.

A few cuddles, and a warm bath later, and I was transfered to the post natal ward. Edd was sent home and I crawled in to bed longing for sleep. I should have known that a new born doesn’t allow that!

Do/did you have strong views on how you would like your labour to be? If you are having an induced labour and have any questions fire away!

*This is by no means a medically correct. Just my gas and air fuddled brain!