When to go to hosp? WWYD?

[ThinkPinkStink]

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?

[ThinkPinkStink]

Thanks all! I think all I can do is go with my gut at the movement, contractions have slowed and are far less intense now (back to bouncing on this sodding ball, which was super painful last night).

Baby is not a big day time mover (she gets pretty excited after lunch and again at tea time takes after her mother) but is moving consistently enough that I'm not concerned.

Turns out that the mucus plug is a gift that just keeps giving.

Carmenta six days sounds very annoying, you poor thing. I'm just pleased that my body seems to have picked up the baton of doing 'something' (other than being enormous and uncomfortable).

Thanks ScaryD I read your messg at 7:30 today and it was reassuring enough that I felt I could get another hour's kip. MUCH appreciated.

Afresh I have my fingers crossed for a nice timely delivery for you, the last week and a half has been so dull (once I got over the novelty of being on mat leave). I really believe that baby will come when he/she is good and ready - so it's actually nice having this discomfort and uncertainty as I was beginning to wonder if my body would completely forget to go into labour!

LittleNettle and Mumm duly noted that waiting for waters to break could be a disaster. I am confident that something inside me will screech out "TAXI, HOSPITAL, NOW" when it's time.

ImperialB I nearly did go to the hosp last night (as feedback was so conclusively pro), but I'm glad I didn't. I'm gunna bounce this baby out.

Thanks all. I'll let you know if my insides fall out!

[Mrscog]

I knew I was in labour when I couldn't lie down in any position to have a nap comfortably. Don't know if that will help you judge. With DS2 I phoned the hospital at 12.30am saying I thought I should go in, they persuaded me to try and go to bed instead. I tried and managed 1 minute lying down before I got back on with bouncing on my ball. DS2 arrived at 3.30am in the end.

[AddictedtoGreys]

Good luck thinkpink! My recent labour was like this, irregular contractions for 7 hours and then suddenly regular every 3-4 mins. I went to hospital when they started getting quite painful and DD was born 4 hours later

[HelenaJustina]

Hope it's all still going smoothly, I'd personally stay st home until I really felt I couldn't manage any more, but I had 3 home births! V exciting, you sound v calm and in control, when in full blown later stages, posting would have been last thing on my mind!

[rainbowstardrops]

Good luck OP! Hope baby makes an appearance soon

[BabyGanoush]

My waters did not break, even at 10cms. Baby not descended/engaged either (had cord wrapped around ndck preventing him)

Not to scare you. All was fine. Just don't wait for your waters to break.

I went in a taxi, and upon arriving it was all systems go as I was 10cm

Don't play it as close as I did

Good luck

Xxxx

[3luckystars]

I must be a bit odd or have that Munchausen thing because I couldn't wait to go in to hospital to have my babies! As soon as labour started I went in like a bullet. I was more excited each time!

I was lucky the second time, labour was so fast, we barely made it!
Good luck to you, I hope all goes well!

[perfumedlife]

I stayed home until I felt I needed the birthing pool. Arrived and midwife examined me 'to see if I was in established labour' I thought I'd just cry if she found I wasn't. Turns out I was 9cm so I'm really glad I had remained at home so long, walking around and taking baths.

Go with your gut and best of luck op

[ThinkPinkStink]

I'm hanging in there.

Contractions were few and far between most of the day. I had a mw appt a could of hours ago - it was booked to be a second sweep, but I opted out (already feels raw enough down there). All readings normal, baby super-engaged (mw could only feel her chin!).

We walked very bloody slowly and carefully home (only about 1/2 a mile but took almost an hour). Which seemed to encourage contractions to power-up a bit (very irregular, but pretty powerful - makes me stop and breathe, rather than keep moving).

Now alternating between resting, pottering around the house and eating carbs. If I was sensible I'd be listening to my alnatal hypnotherapy MP3s, instead I'm watching The Bachelor.

[ThinkPinkStink]

*a couple of hours ago...

[Afreshstartplease]

Mild contractions every ten minutes here pink! We could have babies sharing a birthday!

[carmenta]

If it helps you with positive thinking, my six days of pre-labour got me to 5cm dilated. Then it was only ten hours for the rest, which isn't that long for a first labour. The contractions are probably doing something even if they're irregular.

I watched a lot of tv while I was waiting for things to get going properly! I knew things were "on" when the tv started to really annoy me in the background and I made DH turn it off.

[LillianFullStop]

If you are hoping for an epidural I would go in earlier just in case you get there and they tell you it is too late for one!

[Scarydinosaurs]

I'm glad it helped!

I had a really long latent stage at home and then nice quick labour at the hospital. I hope you have the same experience!

Good luck! Baby cuddles soon!

[WeedlesHatOfDisappointment]

Good luck!

[Spindelina]

I was like you with DD, but I caved and called the taxi. With hindsight I wished I hadn't - even with 60s contractions every 3mins, I was only 2 cm. the only reason they didn't send me home and let me stay in the assessment room was the taxi thing. If they'd needed the assessment bed they'd have chucked me out.

Next day, I had my waters broken (by which time I was 41+5), and DD was born without complication 4 hours later.

Good luck!

[Janey50]

I would go now. First ones aren't necessarily always a long time coming. My first one (my only one actually) was just 6 hours from first twinge to delivery. So I would say get thee to the hospital sharpish!

[WordGetsAround]

I think you are doing brilliantly! Following your instincts is the best thing you can do - and keeping out of hospital will generally help you have a quicker labour!

[user1476471588]

LET'S GO THINKPINK!!!!!!

[user1471125502]

I've had 2 children. I hate hospitals ao I always left it as long as i could before going to hospital id wait until they get more painful and you have lost the plug. Although I think you know yourself when its time to go to hospital. Good luck. I'm sure you wont need it tho

[NeverNic]

I wouldn't wait until it really hurts. You really don't know what your pain threshold iis like until labour tests you. First labour, I barely made 4 hours before needing to go in. The pain was huge. Turns out I was progressing pretty well with a back to back baby, but ended up with 18hrs of active labour (with a day of dull pain before). Second labour was hugely manageable. I laboured at home, and happily sent husband to work, drove, did chores etc. This time baby was presenting well. By the time I was convinced I needed to go in, got there, booked in etc. and agreed to an internal I was 7cms and gave birth 40mins later. Only got unbearable in transition and waters only went while I was pushing. I was expecting it to get far worse, based on my first experience. If you haven't already gone in, I'd say its worth phoning the unit and see if they want to check you over. If they're happy and you're comfortable staying at home, then do. Just consider how long your drive is though.

[NeverNic]

Oops, missed you've been checked already. Good luck!

[ThinkPinkStink]

Night II In the house of pain maybe-labour!

Afresh how are you doing? I've had my fingers crossed for you!

The contractions are different tonight. Much more powerful, less in the hips more in the womb - always about a minute long but a good 10-15 minutes between them. Pretty regular (last night they were all over the place).

Since midnight I've have my TENS machine on. And I've just migrated from the bed to the sofa (under a duvet) as I was finding it hard to relax into contractions lying down as when it hurt my natural response was to tense my legs.

Waters remain in place, no urge to push or anything like that. I'll wake up DH if/when contractions are 5 or 6 mins apart and we can think about calling a cab (the intensity/length feels right now, but the frequency isn't there yet).

And I've actually been listening to hypnobirthing tracks, which is a show of good intent!

[Afreshstartplease]

Still only ten mins apart, gradually getting a little bit stronger ....

[lljkk]

I'm excited 4 U... and grateful it's not me.