Hi Janie,

I was on the monitors the entire labour with DD. I was induced due to PE & HELLP so also had the synto drip...

I wasn't able to use water (which I had planned to do) but was able to remain active. The cords are fairly long (well mine were but I did ask them to ensure I could still walk around) and I had one of my support people in charge of moving the drip as I needed to.

The monitors did fall off at times but I just buzzed for the nurse to come in and fix them up. I did panic a few times that I couldn't hear DDs heartbeat but at the same time the monitors usually fell off mid contraction so I didn't really care about them until the contraction had passed and then I realised that the CTG was having an attack cause it couldn't find the heartbeat.

There was one point where they asked me to stay on the bed because the trace they needed kept being interrupted by the montiors falling off. I told them I would stay still (or not as active) but not on the bed. So I sat on the fitball for that trace and bounced but I held the monitor in place so they could get their trace.

I didn't use any pain relief just visualisations, walking, bouncing etc etc.

My only advice would be to make sure that they leads are long so you can walk around

Best wishes xox

ETA: oh yes, the asking to go to the loo etc... that annoyed me no end!!