i had the wireless monitoring, which i requested because i wanted to be mobile during labour. i had GD though, so i was induced & still had to be hooked up to a drip so my mobility was restricted (even though i could take the drip with me, it's not my idea of being truly mobile!!). i wanted to be able to use the shower (there wasn't a bath in my birthing suite) but i never got a chance - i should have kept asking but once the contractions kicked in, i kind of forgot
one thing i would say about the wireless monitor is that they don't seem to be as reliable as a normal monitor so they may make the switch anyway if they don't feel it's working well enough.
i was a bit distracted by the monitor watching contractions (i don't remember it making a sound - i think they may have turned the sound right down) but i have to say that the contractions were soooo strong that it wasn't a bad thing to have the distraction. the m/w did tell me off for watching the screen though because she said it's not an accurate representation & i should be going with how they actually felt.
if it were me, i think if there was any way to refuse the monitoring i would - for me it made the experience so medical . that's my biggest gripe about my labour/birth overall - that it just wasn't the natural experience i'd hoped for (but that may just be me!). i ended up being rushed to theatre for an epidural & assisted delivery because DS's heartrate started dropping. i'm kind of conflicted about the monitoring because i don't know whether the monitor saved him or whether it led to unnecessary intervention...
My experience was very similar to sloane, right down to the drip but because of +GBS.
I agree if you can refuse constant monitoring that is best, maybe they could check every half hour or so so see how bubs is going??
I used telemetry, it was quite the day DS was born and I used all 3 units they had, problem is they keep falling off and having to be adjusted. The one saving grace I had, so that I didn't have to have wires, was the student midwife, who basically was on the floor with me holding the monitors in place and moving them as necessary.
My biggest fear was that if I was hooked up to the machine with wires, they would force me to labour on my back, ouch.
i pride myself on getting through the labour with just gas & breathing, I don't want an epidural, which is what would have happened had I been on my back.
If telemetry is not an option for me this time, i will be making the suggestion to just check routinley, rather than constantly.
I was monitored with wireless monitor for DD1's labour as I went into labour early. I didn't like it at all. It kept slipping off and needing readjustment and even though it was wireless the little things were quite uncomfortable in some positions. I was quite mobile (had to be as she was posterior) but not as mobile as I was with DD2, who was a totally natural water birth. I think if you can avoid continuous monitoring, do it. All I could hear was DD1's heartbeat the entire time too which drove me a little batty. I did go in the shower but had to avoid getting the monitor things wet. It was frustrating because I couldn't just let myself go and labour as I wanted to. I had to constantly be aware of the silly little things on my tummy and the bands around it. If they insist on you having monitoring, definitely go for the wireless or telemetry but try to avoid it if you can. It's not comfortable at all. Sorry to be negative but just being honest
I was only monitored from time to time with a doppler - can you ask for that option? I know they checked it after my waters broke and they were a browny/green colour - but I hardly noticed them putting it on my belly - was a tad distracted! Can you ask if this is an option?
With both of my labours I was induced and had telemetery monitoring. I also spent both of my labours completely mobile, using a birthball, many different positions (standing, all fours, knees leaning into the back of the upright bed) and in the shower. Even with the monitoring and drip I still had the most amazing labours. The CTG monitoring of the contractions helped DH alot with my first labour as it showed him when I was having a contraction so he knew when to rub harder without me having to ask everytime, this was until he learnt what my personal ques were. Also in both of my labours I had the sound on the ctg turned down for the majority but every now and then we turned it up so I could hear bubby's heart beat - I found it so soothing. I was very distracted by the ctg (being a midwife) that we angled it away so I couldn't see it and focus on my labour. This only distracted me in the early stages.
Best of luck achieving your VBAC.
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