1/5 Ashleigh F. 10 months ago on Google
If
you're
considering
a
natural
birth,
it
is
advisable
to
seek
alternatives
elsewhere.
Last
year
in
2022,
the
caesarean
rate
at
this
particular
facility
was
56%
of
all
births,
significantly
higher
than
the
Australian
recommended
rate
of
26%.
My
story
At
40+6
weeks,
the
midwives
used
fear
tactics,
suggesting
that
going
past
the
estimated
due
date
could
pose
risks
to
the
baby's
health
and
increase
the
chance
of
stillbirth.
The
stillbirth
rate,
although
relatively
small
at
4
to
7
deaths
per
1000
deliveries,
is
only
slighty
increased
compared
to
2
to
3
deaths
per
1000
deliveries
for
women
who
give
birth
between
37
and
42
weeks.
On
a
Wednesday
afternoon,
I
underwent
a
procedure
known
as
a
scrape
and
sweep
(a
first
stage
of
induction)
using
a
gel
containing
artificial
prostaglandins,
which
is
known
to
cause
excessive
uterine
stimulation
and
fetal
distress.
The
midwife
portrayed
it
as
a
routine
and
normal
procedure,
rather
than
an
intervention
or
induction.
The
next
morning,
I
noticed
the
passing
of
my
mucus
plug
and
informed
the
hospital
as
instructed.
Despite
experiencing
only
mild
cramping
similar
to
menstrual
pain,
which
is
common
for
first-time
births,
I
was
not
allowed
to
leave
the
hospital
upon
arrival.
I
was
instructed
to
stay
on
the
bed
and
refrain
from
eating
or
drinking
immediately.
They
considered
it
a
negative
sign
that
I
was
only
3cm
dilated.
Despite
our
confusion,
the
head
midwife
stated
that
waiting
longer
to
deliver
could
increase
the
risk
of
a
bacterial
infection
due
to
my
water
breaking.
However,
she
performed
a
check
and
said
that
she
wasnt
100%
sure
my
waters
actually
broke.
When
I
declined
the
suggestion
of
a
caesarean
section,
as
it
had
only
been
a
few
hours,
the
head
midwife
administered
oxytocin
without
my
consent.
After
receiving
oxytocin,
my
contractions
intensified
from
occurring
every
10
minutes
to
as
frequently
as
30
seconds.
My
baby's
heart
rate
dropped
between
contractions,
causing
her
to
struggle
for
breath.
I
requested
pain
relief
in
the
form
of
gas,
but
the
midwife
falsely
claimed
that
the
anesthetist
was
unavailable
for
another
40
minutes
and
left
the
room
immediately.
My
husband
and
I
found
it
peculiar
that
only
the
anesthetist
could
provide
gas.
In
retrospect,
I
now
understand
that
the
midwife
had
already
planned
for
a
caesarean
section.
At
that
point,
when
the
head
midwife
was
absent,
I
managed
to
leave
the
bed
with
the
assistance
of
a
new
midwife.
I
even
got
a
chance
to
go
to
the
toilet.
However,
upon
the
head
midwife's
return,
she
scolded
the
new
midwife,
suggesting
that
my
movement
could
interfere
with
accurately
monitoring
the
fetal
heart
rate
during
extreme
drops.
While
the
baby's
heart
rate
stabilised
between
contractions,
it
remained
low.
Contractions
were
occurring
approximately
every
minute.
The
obstetrician
entered
the
room
and
announced
his
availability
to
proceed
with
the
caesarean
section.
Although
I
had
not
consented
to
the
surgery,
the
head
midwife
immediately
presented
me
with
papers
on
the
bed,
claiming
that
the
baby
would
not
survive
a
vaginal
birth
due
to
fatigue
and
my
slow
dilation.
Overwhelmed
and
given
no
time
to
think,
I
signed
the
papers,
not
even
considering
that
my
cervix
had
last
been
checked
upon
arrival
at
the
hospital
five
hours
earlier.
In
the
operating
theater,
I
was
found
to
be
8.5cm
dilated.
The
procedure
proceeded
as
if
it
were
a
routine
occurrence,
cutting
through
six
layers
of
skin.
After
leaving
the
theater,
I
was
placed
in
a
room
with
four
beds.
Every
woman
in
that
room
had
undergone
a
caesarean
section,
with
only
one
being
planned.
The
midwives
forgot
to
administer
my
medication
on
two
occasions,
and
my
catheter
bag
leaked
onto
the
floor.
I
decided
to
discharge
myself
from
the
hospital
the
following
day.
All
up
I
was
in
the
hospital
for
28
hours.
We
initially
requested
my
birth
report
but
were
denied
access.
Eventually,
after
exploring
numerous
channels,
I
managed
to
obtain
a
brief
report
that
mentioned
my
lack
of
dilation
and
stated
that
the
caesarean
was
elective
rather
than
an
emergency,
contrary
to
what
I
had
been
informed.