During a routine OB visit at 39 weeks, I was offered a vaginal exam. My provider gave me a stretch and weep without consent! She said – “I stretched you to about 1-2cm and I can feel babies head”. My waters broke early the next morning prior to the onset of labour. I was asked to remain home for 12 hours to see if contractions would begin on their own. They did not. At 1pm on April 8th, 2018, I arrived at MBPH. I was told that I had to be induced as labour “would likely not commence on its own and that if baby did not arrive in 24 hours, I was at risk of an infection and complications”. I was given Pitocin and antibiotics via IV drip. Contractions were intense and close together for the next 12-15 hours I had continuous CTG monitoring but thankfully this was wireless and I could move freely. Babies’ heartrate showed signs of distress and so the Pitocin was reduced. I was also offered pethidine for pain relief and a rest. I again had a vaginal exam and was told that my contractions were ‘ineffective’. I was so upset that my hours of hard work had amounted to nothing. For the next 2 hours the doctors and midwives encouraged me to try different positions, I was given an ultrasound and more vaginal and physical exams to determine babies position and why I was not progressing. Eventually a decision was made to do a c-section, and I was told by a doctor that I had uterine inertia and that my uterus had ‘failed’. I was shocked and confused, but mostly exhausted. I cried and phoned my mum to pray with me. Soon after I began feeling ‘pushy’ and another vaginal exam was done. The midwives each grabbed a leg and coached me to push – before it was ‘too late’ – due to the c-section being the preferred option. I pushed for almost an hour – by far my longest pushing phase compared to my other births. I remember being so tired and the midwife telling me that I wasn’t ‘really pushing’ and to ‘try harder’. The doctors arrived to take me to theatre for the c-section. I heard the midwife yell, “she just needs more time”. And the next moment – after my 28-hour ordeal – my son was born. He was perfect – but very sleepy due to the pethidine. I had a very swollen vagina and required a lot of rest and ice. I had a controlled third stage for delivery and was very weak after the birth. I was left alone after the birth as staff did paperwork. I decided to shower, which resulted in a lot of blood loss and made quite a mess. When the midwife returned, she yelled at me for not ‘waiting for help’. I was so glad when baby and I finally went to the ward for a rest.