I was induced for one reason only which was postdates. My baby was perfectly healthy but when the dead baby threat was thrown at me and my husband, we decided to get induced without being informed of the ripple effect that usually follows. And we endured the full cascade of interventions in a completely overrun hospital. Induction started at 7am. by 6pm me (and 6 other women going through induction) was still in the waiting area of the Women's - one in active labour and the rest of us in early labour. We finally got a room but was hardly seen by anyone as the labour ward was so busy. My waters broke by 8pm and had nonstop contractions from that point. Turned out my baby was also posterior but the only support i was offered was an epidural or other pain relief - no emotianl suppert. everytime we pressed the buzzer to get some help, no one showed up. I was 8cm dialated within just a couple of hours and because of baby's position, had a strong urge to push. I wasn't stopped and as a result my cervics swelled and further progress stalled. Again all I was offered was an epidural or morphine. I decline the epidural as I wanted mobility and the ability to push out my baby myself. many hours later with the continuing promise of 'just one more hour' multiple obstetricians had made it in, never addressing me, just shoving their hands inside me. My babies heart rate eventually dropped and they called for a c-section. Once the call was made i then had to wait in the hallway for over 90 minutes for the backup theatre staff to arrive for my 'emergency' caesarean. It was performed under general anesthesia. I dialated to 10 cm and was given 2 pushes in the theatre room to try birth my baby viginally without my husband by my side. i just remember being so scared.
4 weeks post birth I was back in the hospital for 6 days with a pretty severe infection in the wound. not a great start to life with a newborn.
The midwives all visited me post birth and cried with me. They also all asked me to file a complaint as this was the only way things could get better. of course we never did because we were already so overwhelmed by what had happened and by trying to care for our new family member but it was obvious the midwives were suffering just as much as us working under there conditions.