When to go to hosp? WWYD?

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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?

I'd go in! Good luck!

Now would be fine good luck

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

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?

I'd go in too. Good luck

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

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

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.

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

Good luck!

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.

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

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

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.

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!

Ffs, found both...

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

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.

I'm guessing she's gone...

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

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.

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.

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

Ah I am green with envy!

39+2 and so so so fed up of waiting

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

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!

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!