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Pregnancy

when do you call an ambulance??

67 replies

Babyblues14 · 21/03/2017 18:05

This is my first baby, I am worried about when the best time to call an ambulance is when going into labour. My partner works long hours and his work is far away from where we live so it wouldnt make sense for him to come and get me. But im a bit confused about when your supposed to ring. Do you wait until your waters break?? I dont want to go in with contractions only to be told im too early and be sent away, but my DH already has children from a previous relationship and he thinks if I wait for my waters to go it might be too late. How do you know when to call??
Thank you

OP posts:

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Lules · 21/03/2017 18:06

Why would you call an ambulance?

wickerlampshade · 21/03/2017 18:07

You make your own plans to get there. Ambulances are for emergencies. Premises labour and bleeding - ambulance. Term labour - own transport.

GloriousSlug · 21/03/2017 18:07

what do you need an ambulance for?!

Egg · 21/03/2017 18:08

You call a taxi (or a friend) not an ambulance. My waters never broke until I was about to give birth but I called a taxi when I was in labour with my twins when my contractions were a few minutes apart (husband was at work).

10Betty10 · 21/03/2017 18:08

Ambulances aren't for labour- they are for medical emergencies!

I think you mean 'When should I call a taxi?'

Babyblues14 · 21/03/2017 18:09

Sorry I have no idea about any of this lol Ok so can we change the question?
Do you wait for your waters to break before you go into hospital?

OP posts:

Lules · 21/03/2017 18:09

I mean obviously if you can feel the head coming out or you've lost a tonne of blood or something then yeah call an ambulance. But if not then you need someone to drive you there or get a taxi.

BreatheDeep · 21/03/2017 18:10

You don't call an ambulance. How many weeks are you? The midwife normally explains what to do if/when you go into labour. You can also visit the labour ward to be shown around and they go over it too.

Parker231 · 21/03/2017 18:10

How far does your DH work from home? He'll have hours to get home and drive you to hospital.

You don't need an ambulance.

MrsBobDylan · 21/03/2017 18:11

You should call your partner when you feel labour start and make decisions from there on in. There is no need to call an ambulance and it is your partners responsibility to get you to hospital.

I can't help with when to go as I'm to posh to push and have had planned cs three times. Others will be able to advise or your mw.

iklboo · 21/03/2017 18:12

Definitely not an ambulance unless you're about to give birth imminently at home. That's all TV & movies. Actually, so is the 'waters breaking and giving birth 10 minutes later' (usually).

Can you have a chat with your midwife or attend some NCT classes who can help talk you through what you might expect? They'll probably be able to reassure you better and put your mind at ease.

Ecureuil · 21/03/2017 18:12

My waters didn't break until 42 hours until labour, about 30 seconds before the head came out!
Have you seen a midwife? They will explain to you when to call. It's usually something like when you're having three contractions in 10 minutes. They'll assess you over the phone and tell you whether to come in or not.

findingmyfeet12 · 21/03/2017 18:12

Op has revised the question, she didn't realise that an ambulance isn't appropriate in this situation.

Don't let that stop the next 50 or so posters continuing to tell her she doesn't need an ambulance though.

Lules · 21/03/2017 18:12

Sorry cross post there. I think you're told to go in if your contractions are every 5 mins and you should ring for advice if your waters have broken from what I remember. Has your midwife talked you through this yet? How far along are you?

EweAreHere · 21/03/2017 18:13

Agree. Please don't make your 'plan' an ambulance.

Figure out how you're going to get yourself there (friend, family member, taxi).

Talk to your midwife about when you should go in. You will probably be encouraged to call your midwife first, or the midwife unit at the hospital, if you're unsure at the time.

Good luck!

Semaphorically · 21/03/2017 18:14

Your midwife is the best person to talk to about this.

Women are all different in the way they experience labour so there aren't really any hard and fast rules about when to go in, but the most common advice is if you're having proper contractions (ie you can't talk while they happen and generally they really hurt) at least three times every ten minutes then you're in established labour and should go to hospital.

Your waters might not break, mine didn't break until I was nearly at transition with DD1.

Babyblues14 · 21/03/2017 18:14

Im just worried about going in too early and being sent away again and I know i'll be a nervous wreck when it all starts. Im only 15 weeks but I seem to be overthinking everything at the moment.
I just want to be prepared, I'm a natural worrier
thanks everyone

OP posts:

MrsBobDylan · 21/03/2017 18:15

Actually, as an avid one born every minute watcher, I think you can call the maternity unit and they will advise. Some people's waters break well before baby's born and other have theirs broken as baby is on their way out. The mat unit will advise you once you start labour.

Jayfee · 21/03/2017 18:18

Dont worry..25 weeks to go and you will be fine

MrsBobDylan · 21/03/2017 18:18

Try not to worry yourself with the details babyblues you will do just fine and have lots of weeks to work out what's what.

Also, you will be offered those birthing classes where you can ask those kind of questions. I found there was a bit too much info for me...I prefer to stick my head in the sand!

Introvertedbuthappy · 21/03/2017 18:18

It depends how far you are from the hospital - I am 25-30 mins away so we called a taxi when contractions were 3-4 mins apart (DH can't drive). DS2 was born 5 hours later - my waters went 12 minutes before he was born so waiting until then would have been a bad idea!

BertieBotts · 21/03/2017 18:20

Don't worry, your midwife will explain what to look for and what to do when you get nearer to the birth. Most people don't find their waters break first. And you don't need an ambulance unless it's happening very fast or there are worrying signs like heavy bleeding.

What about enrolling on an NCT course or similar? It's a good time to enrol and I found it so helpful as they explained in detail what to expect from various scenarios.

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Lules · 21/03/2017 18:21

You can definitely ring them for advice. I did when I was in early labour. They told me to come in for a check. It was fine so I went back home. Went back in the next morning when I was in established labour and my waters had broken. They don't expect you to guess - they'll give you advice. I suppose it's only a problem if you live a very long way from the hospital.

Babyblues14 · 21/03/2017 18:22

Sorry I know its a bit stupid because I'm so early but I dont really have anyone to ask about this stuff and next appointment isn't for a few weeks with mw. If I didn't ask it would just bug me for the next few weeks.
I know I'm an idiot and I didn't want to google it, just wanted to hear from people with experience
thank you

OP posts:

RedSandYellowSand · 21/03/2017 18:24

As your pregnancy progresses, you will get info from the midwife, or reading around, about appropriate times to consider going to hospital.

And yes, we (DH!) did call an ambulance. We were caught unawares 2 hrs into labour (as in 2 hrs from first contraction, second baby) with me wanting to push. Paramedics took 6 mins. Baby took 6 and a half minutes from that call. Hopsital was half an hour away. It's not likely you will be that quick (i was put on a heart trace machine for then next hour, as predicted to go into shock with the speed of labour). Those are the times to call an ambulance.

Congrats on your pregnancy.

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