Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Childbirth

When to go to hosp? WWYD?

175 replies

ThinkPinkStink · 14/10/2016 05:24

I'm 41 weeks and it's my first.

I've been having contractions for around four hours (not v long).

They started at 45 seconds long and six minutes apart.

For the past two hours they are, on average, 58 seconds long and 3 minutes apart.

I know this is when I should go to the hosp, but I don't feel like it's time...

The contractions are not regular (sometimes every eight minutes, sometimes every minute and a half).

They are irregular strength (sometimes just a bit uncomfortable, other times genuinely painful).

They are irregular length (30-60 seconds).

They are very low down in my pelvis, which feels more like early labour (cervix opening) than later labour (squeezing baby down and out).

As an aside - my waters have not yet broken.

I've spoken to the midwife, she is happy to go with my lead.

I'm about 15 mins in a cab from the hosp.

WWYD?

OP posts:

Report

ajabajavitasoffan · 14/10/2016 05:27

I'd go in! Good luck!

intheBondiBubble · 14/10/2016 05:33

Now would be fine good luck

3luckystars · 14/10/2016 05:38

I would be there now, it could happen very quickly once your waters break. its so exciting! Good luck!

ThinkPinkStink · 14/10/2016 05:39

But, given it feels so... IDK... 'Manageable' wouldn't you be worried that you'd just be spending unnecessary time in hosp? And I'd like to avoid unnecessary time in hosp as it will likely slow the process and be a bore.

I'm actually considering trying for a nap - surely that's not the instinct of someone who is about to imminently birth a child...?

Or am I being naive?

OP posts:

GizmoFrisby · 14/10/2016 05:54

I'd go in too. Good luck

Things could speed up soon and you don't want to be rushing and getting stressed.

boobyooby · 14/10/2016 06:00

Go with your instincts. If you're happy at home then stay, some people find things slow down at hospital once they arrive as you're not in your comfort zone.

Before you go for your nap though, make sure you've got bag, taxi number and money for taxi to hand in case you wake up thinking "uh oh, it's time to go :D"

Good luck and hopefully hear good news later today

minmooch · 14/10/2016 06:06

With my second I went to bed for a nap at 11 pm thinking nothing was happening. Woke an hour later in full blown Labour. Got to hospital for 12:30 and he was born at 3! Intense but easy Labour.

dlwelly · 14/10/2016 06:08

From a practical view, go now before there's much traffic on the roads!

Good luck!

Booboopidoo · 14/10/2016 06:40

I was just getting into bed after similar, irregular contractions for a few hours when my waters broke. It ramped up rapidly at that point and was no longer 'manageable', DD was born just over 3 hours later. I'd go in OP and I hate hospitals, certainly wouldn't want to be there any longer than I had to be but that 15 minute drive can be pretty uncomfortable if you wait.

daisiesinherfootsteps · 14/10/2016 06:46

Hopefully you have already gone. It's definitely time!

PikachuSayBoo · 14/10/2016 06:47

Stay at home for as long as you can manage. Especially if they're not regular.

Mallowmarshmallow · 14/10/2016 06:48

I would stay at home, have a nap if you can, if not a bath or darkened room with some relaxing music and try to relax for a bit.

Luckystar1 · 14/10/2016 06:52

Good luck OP! FWIW, I found Borge my labours very manageable, to the point that when asked what scale my pain was I said 5 or 6, she was born soon after.

Fingers crossed it's a good sign for a very straightforward birth! Keep breathing!

Luckystar1 · 14/10/2016 06:52

Ffs, found both...

Mummyme87 · 14/10/2016 07:11

I feel contractions still that regular I would probably stay at home and see how it goes

Scarydinosaurs · 14/10/2016 07:22

Go with your instincts. My first birth was v similar to yours, had a nap and woke up refreshed and ready for labour! Only took two hours after that- trust what your body is telling you to do.

Jenijena · 14/10/2016 07:24

I'm guessing she's gone...

icklekid · 14/10/2016 07:42

I wouldn't go in until regular... but if concerned I'm sure they will let you go in!

ThinkPinkStink · 14/10/2016 10:28

So sorry for my absence!

I went for the nap... I had a semi nap for about an hour with my TENS machine on, and then for another two hours without it (I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to wear them when you're actually asleep). I woke every 15 mins or so for proper sore contractions, but semi slept through the others.

Since then I've called my midwife (I promise I'm not being completely reckless) who was super reassuring and supportive. She thinks a 'wait and see' approach is best so I'll see how today goes (I'm just pottering around the house and DH has taken the day off, so I've got company).

The pain remains hot, radiating and low down in my pelvis and hips and at varying intensity from 'smarts a little' to 'struggling to control breathing'. I'd rate it 3-6 out of 10 (but like pp I am very bloody minded have a pretty bullish pain threshold).

I'm not sure if these are 'false contractions' or just the early stage of labour, but I'm feeling pretty chilled (and I'm not intrinsically a very chilled kinda person) so I'm trusting that I'll know when it's time for medical attention. I'm also still losing mucus plug (I thought that guy was a gonna) so presumed that my cervix is dilating nice and slowly.

Thank you all so much for your works for encouragement and reassurance.

OP posts:

carmenta · 14/10/2016 10:31

I had on/off contractions that I could sleep through with a TENS with my first baby. They went on for six days.

When you start feeling a sense of urgency and you don't want to do anything else other than labour then go, before then I wouldn't.

Scarydinosaurs · 14/10/2016 10:54

Sounds like you're doing really well! Good luck!

Afreshstartplease · 14/10/2016 10:58

Ah I am green with envy!

39+2 and so so so fed up of waiting

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Email address

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

LittleNettle · 14/10/2016 11:00

I would say go with your instincts. Just a note that your waters may not necessary break - mine didn't and had to be burst by the midwife in hospital.
Try and nap - I waited, tried to rest at home and had LOTS of baths and was already 5cm before going to the hospital. But I knew when I had to go ... just be careful, make sure you can still feel baby moving and phone the hospital as many times as you feel (I phones loads!)
Good Luck!! xx

Mummaaaaaah · 14/10/2016 12:05

I had 3 days of that, it was when I started howling like a dog I went in. another 48 hours before DS was born. Waters only broke a couple of hours before he was born. I think you're definitely doing the right thing. Best of luck and please post back!

ImperialBlether · 14/10/2016 12:08

I think as you're going in in a taxi, I'd go sooner rather than later, tbh. It can get very painful in a car as you feel every little bump in the road. If you're getting contractions every minute and you're 41 weeks, it's pretty clear this is the real thing. Best of luck!

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.