Interview case study
I was overdue by 5 days with my first baby when my waters broke in the evening. I went in to the hospital so that the baby and I could be monitored. I was told that I would probably not go into labour naturally and was booked in for induction the next day, 24 hours after my waters had broken. I was then sent home. In the middle of the night, my contractions started but I was able to go back to sleep. By early afternoon my contractions were strong and close together so I phoned Triage and they invited me to go into hospital.
Once in Triage, I handed over my notes. I was left on my own in a side room for a short time. I wasn't sure if I was meant to be there or in the main ward area so I didn’t use the bed. Instead, I got down on the floor to manage my contractions whilst I waited for the midwife. The midwife examined me and said my cervix was 5cms dilated so I would be going down to delivery suite. She left again, came back through shortly after and was very abrupt with me because I hadn't told her my waters had broken the previous evening. I had told triage midwife on the phone that my waters had gone the night before, but this midwife did not ask me about my waters when she was assessing me and I didn't know I had to tell her.
I went to delivery suite and managed to get to 8cms before needing pain relief but was too far on for it to be an option so just had gas and air. Monitors were picking up my baby’s heartbeat but it was dropping for too long after each contraction.
After around an hour of pushing, I was struggling and asking for help. I was continuously told I couldn't have any help or intervention. My baby’s heart rate was still dropping and staying low for too long.
Not long after this, it seemed like everyone was rushing into the room telling me they had to intervene and they were taking me to theatre. They weren't sure if it was going to be a forceps delivery or caesarean but I would definitely be having a spinal block and they had to get me to theatre ASAP.
My baby was born by forceps late that evening. I was given an episiotomy which extended into a 3rd degree tear.