Questionwhen i was admitted to hospital during labour i was in severe pain. i was examined and told that i was only 2-3 cm dilated. the device that measures contractions was not working so the midwife could not tell that i was having intense contractions and was in agony but i insisted that i neede to have an epidural but was refused because i was told it was too early. the second device to record my contractions didn't work either and by this time the pain was intolerable and intense (my labour from admission lasted only 3 and a half hours)i again requested that my birth plan be followed and asked again for an epidural. i was told several times that it was too early and that i could have one later on. on my next examination i was 8cm dilated very frightened and in constant unbearable pain, only to be told that it was now too late to have an epidural. the first first time i was refused i asked for pethedine but was also refused that. during stage 2 of labour i couldn't take the pain and when my babies head had come out the umbilical chord was wwrapped around his neck but i couldn't stop pushing because of the pain. my son is now 3 months old and i still have nightmares about my childbirth experience, i have reservations now about having further children. was i mistreated and is ther e anything i can do about it?
AnswerDear Karen,
My heart goes out to you! It's horrible that you think about the day you give birth your whole life, and when it actually happens, some medical know-it-all idiot ruins it by refusing your wishes. Believe me sister, I know what you are talking about!
My c-section was horrible. They did things I asked them not to do. My wishes were refused. I was lied to, I was given drugs so strong that I couldn't remember the birth even though I was supposed to be awake, I had students do things to me, look at my most private parts, and all kinds of things-all against my wishes, and because of that, I never want to have children again and I feel totally cheated, so I know how you feel.
Legaly, the hospital is required to give you pain medication if you ask for it. I don't know what they were saying about it being too early...but they could have given you something else if they felt it was too early for the epidural. I don't know if you can do anything about it or not. You may have signed a paper saying you wouldn't sue them. (I did this but I was drugged up at the time, so I don't really think that was fair at all!) I wish that something would be done about this. Women deserve to be treated better, especially during childbirth. A good option might be to deliver somewhere else. Even though I had a c-section, I plan on using a midwife and maybe trying to deliver at home or at least in a different setting. No woman should feel like she's being mistreated or treated like a science experiment. It's insane. You are in a vulnerable position and people have no right to take advantage of it. I may would request a copy of my medical records from the birth experience, including any papers you had signed. If you don't see anything in there about getting sued, and they have a policy on pain management, and they refused you pain relief, you can probably do something legaly about that, especially since it bothers you now. I hope things will work out for you, and I hope that this never happens to you or anyone else again. I hope your son is doing well, and that he is a blessing. :)
~Andrea
