Ugh, I was THAT woman (long, sorry)

nawlinsgrl · August 2013

I had been sent to L&D Friday for another NST when I went from 1cm to 2cm to see what kind of contractions I was having, since my OB said I had to be having them to get this far. I knew I wasn't staying, and did, in fact go home.

FF to yesterday, when I woke up feeling "off." Felt a little nauseous, no hungry (very rare for me first thing in the morning right now), and like I had to poop (even after my usual morning constitutional), and was more aware of my contractions. So, I called my OB to see about coming in for a cervical check, because when I get to 3cm, he is doing the RCS, and I am scared of getting too far into active labor this time, since with DD, I didn't hit 1cm until 8 hours after my water broke and I don't know what real labor feels like (after that 1cm I was on pitocin, which is a whole other beast!).

So, I was told to go to L&D, where after being told I am now at 1cm, not 2 (nurse said I didn't regress, that it's just subjective), that my OB wants my contractions monitored for a while, and that she'll either call the OB in an hour or he'll call her. This was just shy of 10am (got there about 9:30). Not only did the light in the bathroom not work when I was in there changing to a robe, but the stupid call button didn't work, when 11:30 came and I got no update from the nurse. So, after hitting the darn thing a few times and getting no result after literally 5 minutes, I called my OB's office to ask them to let the nurse know I was trying to reach her, and also that I wanted to know if, to quote the Clash, "should I stay or I should I go?"

Nurse came back with basically no update, since she only talked to the nurse at the OB's office, and said she asked him to call her to discuss me. Now, keep in mind, I haven't eaten since 8pm the night before, I'm frustrated about my status, and not knowing when to come back if they send me home, and at this point, just want to talk with my OB, even if only over the phone. Funny thing is, when she comes in and hits the call button, she gets an immediate answer from the nursing station (more on this later).

My mom finally comes over around noon to keep me company, and talks to the nurse, getting the same ambiguous answer. Also, when I try the call button again later, because I need to use the restroom and don't know how to unplug myself from the monitor, we again, get no answer (was happy my mom was a witness this time). Nurse eventually comes in, unplugs me and tells me how to plug myself back in and leaves. When I plug myself back in, the pads are off, so can't monitor baby's HB, not sure if the one for contractions is working. At this point, I don't care, because if they don't seem to, why should I? Another nurse comes in after about 10 minutes, having finally noticed, and actually seems to listen to my concerns. Of course, I'm so tired, hungry, and frustrated at this point, I start crying, ugh!

So, she talks to my nurse, who comes in and we discuss options (stay and eat-delays my RCS if I have one, which is doubtful, wait for OB, who might be there soon, during lunch, or not until after the end of the day, or go home, since I'm unlikely to get the RCS today). So, I opt for one more cervical check-no change, duh-and decide to call it a day, but let nurse know I'd really like OB to call me because I have lots of questions.

I get dressed and am ready to leave, when nurse tells me OB is finally on his way over to talk to me, and he arrives a few minutes later. He is usually so nice and understanding, but yesterday was being a bit of a butt. Maybe he was having a bad day too, who knows, was definitely pretty busy I guess. He starts telling me how I can't control this, as if I was trying to force the RCS today. I told him my concerns about not knowing when to come in and with getting too far given the planned RCS. He is leaving town a week from Sunday, so I'm nervous about that. He said previously that if I make it to 3cm by Friday, he'll do the RCS then, but we had not discussed what happens if I don't progress.

Long story short, he said to feel free to come in daily if I am scared, that I am in early labor, and could go at any time, but that's all he knows, and that if I don't progress this week, I just wait until either my RCS date on the 19th or until I go into active labor and get delivered by an unknown on-call OB.

Sorry so long, I just really needed to vent. I hate that I was THAT woman, going in when nothing was going on, and felt even crappier by how I was treated, especially after having such a good experience when delivering DD as well as when I was there last week for my NST. I'm just so over this, and refuse to go back before Friday at this point, because they made me feel like crap when I already felt that way. UGH.

JewelsW1980 · August 2013

You are not THAT woman, you had all the signs that labor was progressing and did the right thing by going into the hospital to be checked. Shame on that staff for putting you in a room and forgetting/ignoring you, that is not okay.

baker916 · August 2013

Like Jewels said, you did the right thing to get checked out. I'm so sorry they made you feel bad for that, it is just not right. Hopefully the rest of the week goes smoothly for you!

BlueEyedDreamer · August 2013

I'm so sorry you had to go through this! That staff sounds absolutely awful! I hope that things are better the next time you are forced to deal with them .Take care of yourself!!