Sent home from hospital

[DammitOedipus]

I'm 38 weeks pregnant with DS2. Have been having Braxton Hicks contractions and am just about ready to pop.

A few people I know have been recently sent away from hospital when in early labour. With my first, I was turned away because my contractions weren't close enough together, but wound up delivering shortly after because I was 6cm dilated when I was turned away.

If I get turned away this time around, what is the protocol if I don't make it back to the hospital in time? I live a 45 minute drive from the hospital and have nowhere closer to go. Can I request to stay for that reason?

I would. Don’t risk having your baby in a lay-by! Explain you were 6cm when you got turned away last time and don’t present typically, and want an examination at least before being sent home. I have a friend who was turned away (first baby) ended up giving birth at home and having a huge haemorrhage. She was totally traumatised as was her other half who delivered the baby.

You refuse to leave until they've at least examined you, then you're at least more informed. Tell them how far away you are and how quick labour was last time. It's a good enough reason, but you may not be a priority.
They don't have to let you on a ward, but they're unlikely to forcibly remove you from the hospital either. If you think labouring in a plastic chair or your car is better/safer than going home, do that.

If you don't get to hospital you call an ambulance. Then you call your community midwives (on a different phone if the paramedics want you to stay on the line). If you have to do it alone a midwife can talk you through it better, but a paramedic is more likely to get to you and can get you to a hospital.

Ok, thank you! I'm in such a panic about giving birth in a tiny car on a major A road. Last time I went to a friend's house 10 minutes from the hospital (in the first lockdown, so totally illegally) and went back to the hospital 5 minutes later, but they have since moved.

Do tell them. I labour quickly and was told baby wouldn’t be born that night 10 minute second stage as they didn’t examine me for ages.

If at any point you think you're pushing stop trying to get to the hospital (unless you're round the corner) and instead pull over anywhere that has an actual address, garage/shop/random house.

agree re telling them about getting to 6cm so quickly. I delivered my first in about 4 hrs being fully when I got to hospital and the second was induced.

Midwife didn't believe me when I said I needed to go to the labour suite so I had to pull the a) I have had a baby before b) I was a doctor and had delivered plenty of babies - cards - she relented, waters went at the labour suite reception and baby arrived 10 minutes later

Rapid delivery is scary wherever you are but even then they had to grab a passing midwife / find some kit and a room - don't be a lay-by

They treat you differently when it's not your first - they know it's likely to be quicker so I doubt they'll turn you away. If they do, you don't have to leave the hospital so you can always go to the cafe or loiter in the corridors or some such.

I didn't realise I could loiter at the hospital! The joys of DS1 being a Covid baby - nobody was allowed in!

With my second I was sent away and just said ok & stayed in the corridor just outside (it was nighttime) and was back and admitted within about 30 mins. I think I personally don’t relax unless I’m where I feel safe ie. In the hospital. Just don’t go very far and you’ll know when you need to head back in.

Refuse to leave. You know your body best.

I was that idiot that accepted painkillers and to go home because they were full and my contractions weren't close enough together.

I got home, didn't even get out the car, went straight back to hospital and didn't make it to the labour ward.

Luckily, a midwife was called to me and my daughter was born in the corridor.

Don’t go home. Stay in the hospital café or with a friend close by. No way should you go 40 mins away.

I had this with my second. Irefused to leave until they had examined me. The midwife huffed and puffed and when she finally looked I was 10cm dilated and had the baby 15 mins later.

At what point are midwives supposed to actually do an examination? Last time, my waters broke which is why I went to the hospital. They then sent me away with no examination. Not 5 minutes later, I went from having no contractions, to one every 3 minutes.

@MooseBreath I think they are a bit more wary of doing examinations if your waters have gone because there's a higher risk of infection - that's why I was told anyway.

Explain and make a nuisance of yourself till they let you stay. I went from perfectly manageable 30 second long contractions every 4-5 minutes to holding a baby within 15 minutes with my second.

You've got to be annoying OP. If you personally feel you won't make it home, only you know your body and play up to it. Do not let them send you away. Even if you go for a walk on the grounds or loiter about just stay close. With my second I was induced but it failed. The next day I only had mild period pains for 15 minutes if that and my mum said she needs to go up to labour ward. They thought my mum was being dramatic. But she knew something as he was born after a painless contraction 5 minutes later!
Can't say the rest followed suit but he's birth was bizarre.