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Cavan General - Consultant Led?
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18-07-2014 7:00pm#1Okay, so just preparing myself here - I'm registered with the MLU and am a week overdue tomorrow. Obviously I could still go naturally before induction is started (Wednesday night) but since I have to be transferred out of the MLU and over to the other side for induction, birth and aftercare, I was hoping to get some info as to how things work. I never thought to ask and obviously I'd like to hear from mums that have given birth there rather than just take midwives at their word
So, I know once I go in that night, my partner is sent home. He's already said he won't be going home, but is going to stay in the canteen of the hospital and read or whatever if allowed (this is our first baby ). But what happens when I go into labour? How "far along" do I have to be for him to be called back?
I absolutely do not want an epidural under any circumstances whatsoever, but obviously will accept a c-sect if it is necessary. Would the staff that side be likely to push an epidural? If I needed a c-sect, how would I be anaesthetised? Do I have any rights with how this would be done, ie requesting one form of anaesthesia over another?
Is there a waiting room in the ward area for families?
How soon after birth (assuming it occurs outside visiting hours) would my partner have to leave me? (again, he has no intentions of going further than the car park ). If I do give birth outside visiting hours, would immediate family be allowed to see me and the baby in the labour room, or would they have to wait? 0
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Chattastrophe! wrote: »What's the difference between an epidural and spinal anaesthesia?
Precisely my next question.
I'm not against them as such, but am completely, utterly TERRIFIED of needles, and there would be no way on this earth they could successfully administer an epidural to me, because I wouldn't co-operate. I have to be held down by a second midwife and my partner just for the blood tests. So telling me to relax for a big needle in my back would be about as much use as a chocolate teapot 0 -
To be honest I would have taken a needle in my eyeball to stop the pain when I needed the epi, I got to 8cm and couldn't cope. I didn't see or feel the needle they numb the area. I wouldn't rule out epi if you are being induced as it can make contractions very close together and pains strongerShaShaBear wrote: »Precisely my next question.
I'm not against them as such, but am completely, utterly TERRIFIED of needles, and there would be no way on this earth they could successfully administer an epidural to me, because I wouldn't co-operate. I have to be held down by a second midwife and my partner just for the blood tests. So telling me to relax for a big needle in my back would be about as much use as a chocolate teapot0 -
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ShaShaBear wrote: »Precisely my next question.
I'm not against them as such, but am completely, utterly TERRIFIED of needles, and there would be no way on this earth they could successfully administer an epidural to me, because I wouldn't co-operate. I have to be held down by a second midwife and my partner just for the blood tests. So telling me to relax for a big needle in my back would be about as much use as a chocolate teapot
Shashabear I was 100% against epidurals and thought "sure why doesn't everyone just suck up the pain". My sis was really unfortunate and suffered those crazy headaches because they put it in the wrong place. It really used to annoy me when people would say (including the domino midwives) "see how you go, keep an open mind". I swear to you I would of paid any amount of money for an epidural at the time. I am not joking the pain is serious!!0 -
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Shashabear I was 100% against epidurals and thought "sure why doesn't everyone just suck up the pain". My sis was really unfortunate and suffered those crazy headaches because they put it in the wrong place. It really used to annoy me when people would say (including the domino midwives) "see how you go, keep an open mind". I swear to you I would of paid any amount of money for an epidural at the time. I am not joking the pain is serious!!
Again, nothing to do with being against them, I'm just aware that no medical professional will have any sort of success in getting within 5 feet of me with a needle unless there are people to hold me down. That kind of tension, I'm told, doesn't help it work I scream, I thrash, I spit, I bite and will kick or lash out if I'm able. I really can't control it! 0 -
ShaShaBear wrote: »Again, nothing to do with being against them, I'm just aware that no medical professional will have any sort of success in getting within 5 feet of me with a needle unless there are people to hold me down. That kind of tension, I'm told, doesn't help it work I scream, I thrash, I spit, I bite and will kick or lash out if I'm able. I really can't control it!
What if you need stitches?0 -
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Sarah Bear wrote: »I think just go in and see how it goes, if the pain is so bad you can't cope I bet the needle fear will go out the window! No one will force you to have any pain relief you don't want! The gas and air is great and concentrating on your breathing.
If things were very bad I'd be happy to let them try, don't get me wrong! I just know how I can get and it can be very frustrating and even upsetting for the person trying to do it
I just wouldn't like to get someone who tried to push me towards getting it to make things easier for themselves rather than me, and make a joke of my fear or not take it seriously 0 -
ShaSha, hopefully you won't need the induction but if you do you could be fine with just gas and air. It is very intense and at the end I was thinking of getting it but the consultant said if I wanted his advice he'd go without it(easy for him to say!!). The only thing was that it looked like I might need a c-section at one stage and if I did it would have been general anaesthetic and both myself and my husband would have missed seeing our little girl arriving. Obviously if that needed to be done for my baby to arrive safely I would have had to deal with it. Vacuum delivery of an 8lb 2oz, big noggin baby with no epidural was not fun though
Hopefully if you need stitches the adrenalin after delivery and your gorgeous little girl will be enough to distract you from the needle. I barely remember getting mine. 0 -
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ShaShaBear wrote: »Okay, so just preparing myself here - I'm registered with the MLU and am a week overdue tomorrow. Obviously I could still go naturally before induction is started (Wednesday night) but since I have to be transferred out of the MLU and over to the other side for induction, birth and aftercare, I was hoping to get some info as to how things work. I never thought to ask and obviously I'd like to hear from mums that have given birth there rather than just take midwives at their word
So, I know once I go in that night, my partner is sent home. He's already said he won't be going home, but is going to stay in the canteen of the hospital and read or whatever if allowed (this is our first baby ). But what happens when I go into labour? How "far along" do I have to be for him to be called back?
I absolutely do not want an epidural under any circumstances whatsoever, but obviously will accept a c-sect if it is necessary. Would the staff that side be likely to push an epidural? If I needed a c-sect, how would I be anaesthetised? Do I have any rights with how this would be done, ie requesting one form of anaesthesia over another?
Is there a waiting room in the ward area for families?
How soon after birth (assuming it occurs outside visiting hours) would my partner have to leave me? (again, he has no intentions of going further than the car park ). If I do give birth outside visiting hours, would immediate family be allowed to see me and the baby in the labour room, or would they have to wait?
I was not with Mlu, but consultant led care in Cavan General. I found every aspect of the care in there fantastic, I have been in the hospital for different reasons on quite a few occasions and i can not fault any of them.
I was induced, due to high bp and suspected pre eclampsia, given gel at night time, my partner was then told to go home,as nothing would be happening for a while. The next morning they were breaking my waters so i rang my partner to come back in.
I would advise your partner to go home and get some rest if I was you, or even go to a bed and breakfast beside the hospital if your house is far away, the day of the birth is going to be nearly as draining on him as it is on you and he's going to need his strength for driving home etc.
They will not insist on you getting an epidural at all, but i had to get to get Oxytocin and I was then asked if I wanted the epi as the pains can come on hard and fast. I had already decided i wanted the epi so that was OK for me. If its any consulation i do not do well with needles, the thought of the epidural petrified me, but its absolutely fine. The area is numbed before they do anything.
Overall, i couldn't praise the doctors and midwives enough in Cavan general. So caring and obliging!!:)
If youve any more questions feel free to pm me x best of luck x0 -
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I know the sentiment is well meaning, but if someone says they're absolutely adamantly against something, it's not massively helpful to be told "well just wait until you feel the pain, you'll change your mind". It's a very real, very tangible fear for ShaSha, she doesn't need to feel that she'll have no choice but to cope with a needle phobia on top of everything.
ShaSha that's somewhere that you're partner could really help, communicating your fear of needles and your express wishes that you'd prefer not to have one. If you're scared, tense or fearful of a procedure it'll make things more difficult for you. As a first time mum it is more likely that induction will be tougher, longer and more painful, but not impossible. Is there a chance you could have a meeting with the hospital between now and Wednesday to talk about your fears with them? You've coped brilliantly well with quite a few curved balls in the last few weeks, you've got a strong resolve and there's no reason to think that won't carry over to your labour
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If you end up needing an emergency c section and you start to get nervous about epi and won't let them near you, they will just put you under general anesthetic. If they are inducing you with a drip you'll have to get a cannula in too so be prepared for that. Nobody will force you into having the epidural, they will advise when attaching a drip that when your contractions come they are harder and closer together because your body is being forced to have them basically by the syntocin and recommend an epi but nobody ever forced me into one, that was definitely my own decision!
Usually what happens is you are brought in Wednesday, if you are already a little bit dilated they might not even give you the gel but will break your waters (this is what happened on my first, I didn't need the gel at all). If you are on a ward your partner will be asked to leave so the other women can rest too, this is usually after visiting hours. I do advise that if he doesn't want to go home that he goes to a b&b or hotel to get some proper rest because he really will need it. When you are moved to a delivery suite (either from being more than 3cms, getting the epidural - they can give gas and air on the ward -, or being hooked up to the drip), and if it's outside visiting, you can get them to ring your partner (or you ring him, if you can!) to come back to you.
After baby is born, nobody will be allowed visit you in labor room, until you are up on a ward and if it's outside visiting not until then. I'm not sure there's a family waiting area in Cavan but I know there's not in the Rotunda or the Coombe and if everyone brought their family with them the place would be packed, so bear that in mind. Tell the grandparents to stay at home, usually it's quicker to phone them and let them know baby is here because your partner is not going to want to run down and tell them she is.
They did say if I was favourable for waters breaking, they would leave it until Thursday morning so my partner could be there because of how quickly it can progress after that (phew
).
It's good to know the yes and no of the situation because my mother was supposed to be my other birth partner and she's finding it a bit hard to accept that if I get induced she won't even have anywhere to wait Not my fault or problem really since she was made aware of the possibility weeks ago, but I want to make sure I understand the rules so I can convey them properly! 0 -
Shasha not in Cavan but in my first induction I started being induced on Wednesday and baby didn't get here until Saturday... I would maybe encourage your partner to go home of you are *just* getting the gel if you are anywhere near the hospital because he will be tired too. Here they give it at night and you go to bed then. Personally I think having grandparents anywhere near the hospital is really a bad idea. How are they going to get updates? Is your partner going to have to leave to give updates etc? Especially as it could take a while. Will they start looking for information which could be stressful for you!
Make sure the hospital realise how strong your phobia is. Part of induction can involve a drip how will you be with a cannula etc make sure they have a plan to suit you ; especially as with induction the risk of further interventions are far more likely. Also almost everyone I know gets stitches (I think everyone to be honest) you really need to make sure that they are aware of how strongly you will react and they need to see if a backup plan maybe needed. It's only in the last few years I can cope with being near a dog without hyperventilating and crying and feeling like I'm going to die so I do understand how tough a phobia is, but especially with an induction looming you have to think about it 0 -
Shasha not in Cavan but in my first induction I started being induced on Wednesday and baby didn't get here until Saturday... I would maybe encourage your partner to go home of you are *just* getting the gel if you are anywhere near the hospital because he will be tired too. Here they give it at night and you go to bed then. Personally I think having grandparents anywhere near the hospital is really a bad idea. How are they going to get updates? Is your partner going to have to leave to give updates etc? Especially as it could take a while. Will they start looking for information which could be stressful for you!
Make sure the hospital realise how strong your phobia is. Part of induction can involve a drip how will you be with a cannula etc make sure they have a plan to suit you ; especially as with induction the risk of further interventions are far more likely. Also almost everyone I know gets stitches (I think everyone to be honest) you really need to make sure that they are aware of how strongly you will react and they need to see if a backup plan maybe needed. It's only in the last few years I can cope with being near a dog without hyperventilating and crying and feeling like I'm going to die so I do understand how tough a phobia is, but especially with an induction looming you have to think about it
I didn't get stitches on my third 0 -
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I think your the first!!
My mother only had stitches with me, none with my brother or sister. And MIL never had any stitches at all. The midwives on the MLU all know of my fear and have been fantastic so far, hopefully if I have to be induced they will have conveyed this, but I'll make sure my partner lets them know 0
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