When to go in with preterm contractions

[Sparklies]

I have a permanent abdominal stitch in due to incompetent cervix. I'm 34 weeks today and have been having a lot of contractions recently and had PTL at around this time with DC2 despite a regular stitch. Due to my transabdominal stitch, I need a c-section as there's no other way out for baby, and leaving it too long could eventually cause uterine rupture.

I saw my consultant today and she said not to bother even ringing unless I was having 3 contractions in 10 minutes at least a minute long. That's 18 an hour Even then she said they'd tell me to hold on for a while and see if they went on their own. Errr. Fair enough post 37 weeks, but at 34 weeks??

She's not my stitch doctor, and probably knows little about the one I have, but stitches aside - before 37 weeks surely 18 an hour is leaving it a little late for anyone, ELCS requirement or not??

Needless to say I'm not going to leave it that long if I feel I need to go in, but I'm curious as to what others have been told for pre 37 week labour.

I went into labour with my boys at 28 weeks, and was told to go in straight away to be monitored.

I would presume that if you are preterm, as you are, then you'd go straight in.

At 34 weeks I'd want to see you if your contractions were regular and painful no matter how far apart they were.

I rang them when I was getting 2 contractions in 5 minutes, I was told to come in I was 36 weeks by the way.
I arrived pushing, so I probably should have contacted them sooner.

I was referred to a consultant and monitored at exactly 34 weeks due to having '3 in 10'. It does seem to be their magic number, I think it's when they consider labour to be properly established. However, mine did just go away on their own following about 7 hours of being strapped to a monitor. All very strange.

I'm sure you could ask for a second opinion - or as you say, just go in as soon as you start to think things are happening.

I'd hope so too as well! I'm just hoping it's this doctor being weird rather than some sort of official labour ward mandate as it just seems wrong to me.

It's one thing to come in when you know you will deliver and it's a good time to deliver, but if you're hoping to stop/delay labour or get steroids etc..

Thanks everyone!

Reikizen - that's what I thought. I tried to explain to her I'd had regular ones 4-5 minutes apart for two hours that were really quite uncomfortable and she just shrugged. So odd. I mean, they did stop, but how were any of us to know that?

nunnie - heh, with DC1 I had a sudden labour at 36w6d and honestly thought it was just bad curry. Fortunately a passing midwife (seriously! she had come round to talk about homebirth) checked me and saw I was 7cm and I got bluelighted there - and was pushing as soon as I reached the ward! I'd have given birth unassisted at home else, as I wasn't sure if it was labour!

ChessyEvans - Ahhh, interesting to hear you've been told 3 in 10 as well. Not just my consultant who goes by that then. The PTL I had with DC2 went away after about 12 hours too so these things do sometimes go, it's just I guess there is no way of knowing which it is.

i had bleeding on and off throughout my last trimester and was told to go in if i had any contractions, irrespective of their regularity if it was before 37 weeks

Thanks! Yes, that would make sense in your case I would think!