To ignore the midwives and go to the hospital?

[HJE17]

I’m 39+2 weeks pregnant. The baby descended about two weeks ago and at my midwives appointment yesterday, they said the head was fully engaged and I was 20% effaced. Yesterday I think I lost my mucous plug (Sorry if TMI!) Gentle contractions started last night at 3:45am every 10 minutes or so. My contractions have now been every 5 minutes for a minute, for the last 5 hours. The problem is: They are deeply uncomfortable but not excruciatingly painful. I can still carry on with life despite them, although I’m pretty sure they aren’t Braxton Hicks as the pain crescendos then diminishes, and changing positions doesn’t help at all, nor does staying hydrated. They’re worse than period cramps, but they don’t make me wish for death (which is how I felt when labour was established with my DD!)

The midwives advised me to stay at home until I have a contraction that I can no longer talk through (or if my water breaks or there is bloody discharge).

I’m not typically one to question medical advice, but this is my second baby and I’m aware that once things start in earnest, they can go quickly. The hospital is a 30-50 minute drive away, depending on traffic. WIBU to head that way anyway? Or are the midwives right in saying that this could go on for days and I’ll be more comfortable at home? I just don’t want to end up in the local paper having delivered in a taxi by the side of the road!

congratulations

Congratulations!

Aw I read the first part of this thread yesterday and only came back to MN today to see if there was a baby update! Congratulations OP

Yay

A couple of hours in, the midwife said “I’ll check you in 15 minutes and if we’re lucky you’ll be at around 7cm”. As she said it, I felt the need to push and the baby was born 3 minutes later. Bit of a shock to the midwife but all was well and we have a healthy little boy!

Congratualtions OP. I think all women should go with their gut instinct. My experience is that midwives start from premise that all labours will be long particularly first ones. My first labour was under an hour and a half. My second was approx 35 mins and my third was 15mins and ds was born on the corridor. Luckily i was already at the hospital. Despite my history my exhusband was told i should have stayed at home when we were on route to the hospital with my 2nd dd. We only just made it into the delivery room. I think they should stop with the one pattern fits all approach. Really pisses me off.

Congratulations, hope you're both well.

Congratulations

@HJE17 I don't get why its always such a shock to the midwife, do they deliver baby's regularly or not? Because surely this kind of thing happens on the daily? Why do they still assume everyone is text book and cant possibly have a quick labour 🙄

Anyway congratulations 😁💗

Glad you trusted your own body and a big congratulations.

I called when I was in early labour and told if I really wanted I could go get checked.

Got checked and told I was 3cm and could go home. said I really didn't want to because it's a hour drive home and a hour back. 45 mins later i got the sudden urge to push and less than a minute of pushing she was out. If we'd have listened and gone home she'd have been born in the car. (First ache to being born was 5hours...first DC was 35+ hours)