My experience of hospital birth - focus on number one. (Hospital Births)

Member Name: HonestBob

Product:	Hospital Births
Date:	06/01/09 (72 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Experienced professionals on hand in case anything goes wrong.

Disadvantages: Can be clinical - but I find the drugs outweigh that!

I'm a dab hand at giving birth, having done so five times in three different hospitals (plus anti-natal care in a fourth before moving house pre-birth).

My first pregnancy was pretty uneventful. I was only 20 (21 at the time of the birth) and in my third year at university. I'd already 'discussed' with my tutor the fact that I was not leaving university, even though the baby was due in the middle of my finals, so we established a compromise. I would sit my finals two weeks before everyone else on my course and then leave quietly (I should have signed a document agreeing to keep the questions secret, but it was never presented to me and I never told anyway).

I duly sat my finals in a hall with students on different courses from myself. Male dominated courses. The tutor leading the exam procedures looked terrified when I entered the hall and waddled, 38 weeks pregnant, to my seat. He then proceeded to keep my water glass full for three hours. After an hour I raised my arm and he rushed to my side, convinced that I must be in labour. But no, I just needed the loo after all that water!

But enough of this. What about the birth? I hear you cry!

After sitting all my exams my parents collected me and my stuff and took me home. A place I had been glad to leave 3 years previously and never wanted to step back in on a permanent basis again (do a search on 'Marsh Farm' to see why).

Eight days later, and 39+1 weeks pregnant. I found myself struggling to get comfortable whilst watching the Bill (it was on at around 8pm in those days). Earlier that day I had seen a midwife and complained of back ache. She felt the baby and said it was resting on a nerve, she then offered to 'move' the baby if the discomfort got any worse. At this point you have to appreciate that my mother was secretary to the community midwives and had them all on speed dial. So she rang the midwife on call and summonsed her to the house (the midwives were all terrified that they might be the one who ended up delivering my mothers grandchild!).

The midwife arrived, chatted to my mum (and occasionally me) for a bit and then casually said.... shall I examine you then. When seen that morning (did I mention that the midwife came to my mothers house for the antinatal visit?) I had laid on the sofa. This time she insisted we went somewhere more 'private'. Some how we ended up in my parents bedroom (I guess mine was too untidy!) and she then proceeded to perform my first ever internal examination on my parents bed!!!

If that wasn't bad enough, she said "You're 7cm dilated, do you want to stay here and have your baby or go to hospital"
She wanted to deliver my baby on my Mum and Dad's bed! (at 21 I found this idea horrific, now I find it comical).

"No thanks" came my swift reply. Get me to hospital.

So, my Mum phoned my fiance (later husband, now ex-husband) who put the phone down on her in a panic. His mum had the presence of mind to call back and find out where he needed to be. He had to travel from the west midlands to Befordshire at great speed.

Dad then drove me and my mum, like a madman, to the hospital.

Another perk of being the midwives' secretary's daughter, was that I was allowed to deliver in the midwife unit rather than the labour ward delivery suite. This had its perks - wallpaper and floral bedding (lol!) but also its downsides (no gas and air in the gas and air tank!). This side ward was usually reserved for second time mums, but I was allowed to deliver in there. Lets face it, I'd almost delivered on my Mum's bed!

25 minutes after arriving at the unit my daughter was born. Well, ejected actually, she somersaulted into the world! No pain relief. Not through choice, but through lack of gas in the tank and no time to fetch a replacement (no time for the midwife to get her gloves on either!). My mum was with me. Daddy arrived just as Eldest little HonestBob was crowning, Nanny-to-be asked if she should leave and the midwife said 'Grab a leg', hence my Mum got a view of me that she'll never forget!

The following morning we went home. (and three months later we went to our 'proper' home, our first family home in the midlands).

19 months passed and the next Honestboblet arrived. Once again in hospital. Not quite so quickly this time and with the help of a full tank of Gas & Air (wonderful stuff!). Three more followed. All hospital births. All different.

Number two took longer to labour, but arrived in 4 minutes flat. He tried to appear while I leaned over a chair to be examined and I had to be lifted by midwife and husband on to the bed on all fours. Not what I had planned, but actually a fairly easy delivery. Certainly better on my back.

Number three decided to keep us waiting. I went in to be induced with her, refused to have a Friday the 13th baby so went in on the Thursday. Little madam held on to her cord and squeezed with every braxton hick. Doc refused to induce so I went into labour (secretly - doc was threatening a C section) the following morning and my Friday the 13th baby was born.

Number four laboured for even longer, but appeared so quickly that he left me shaking and unable to hold him straight away.

Number five had to be induced and was 2lb 5.5 oz bigger than my next largest baby. (I'll write about my experience of induced labour some other time). I was on gas & air for much longer with him than any other baby and boy, did I float on that ceiling!

So, as you can see, it's always been a hospital birth for me. The first time because the alternative was too horrific. Subsequent times because my first birth had been so fast, doctors always recommended a hospital birth in case I haemorrhaged (I never have done).

And should I produce a sixth HonestBoblet (and it's a possibilty) I'll choose a hospital birth again. My stays have generally been short, overnight with all except number 2 who developed jaundice very severely in the early hours after birth and had to have five days of light therapy. And I love the feeling of coming home from hospital with a new baby.

Summary: Every pregnant woman should have a choice where she labours. This was mine.