When did you go to hospital?

[Nellie2710]

Started having contractions yesterday but they weren't regular. Becoming more regular now and about 5 minutes apart and lasting 1 minute. Labour ward says to wait until they are unbearable and call back. At the moment they are manageable, just like intense period cramps. Intensity varies from each contraction. Am able to manage by walking around and a heat pad.

So just wondering when everyone finally went to hospital?

Assuming it is first baby? Ideally contractions should be 3 in 10 minutes lasting a minute, sounds like you are nearly there or probably are now as you posted 4 hours ago. Sounds like you are managing very well, wishing you all the best with your birth 🥰

I'm assuming you're in by now. But regular and consistant, and close to 3 in 10 but Don't wait on just that if you're any distance.

Don't focus too much on the unbearable part, some women find it bearable up til birth. Obviously a lot don't and that's fine, but being able to cope shouldn't stop you going in either. To be honest if you suddenly decide you can't cope that's probably transition.

I went in when my contractions were regular and frequent but I was still coping. They pretty much laughed me out of the ward with a couple of paracetamol and a sleeping tablet. Told me to go home and ‘we’ll see you again in a couple of days!’

They actually saw me again about an hour later after I had done battle with the transition stage in the car. MW examined me and expressed surprised that I was fully dilated, at which point my waters broke in dramatic fashion. Forty-five minutes later I was holding a baby.

So in answer to your question, yes, I would go in when contractions were regular and frequent and just hope they didn’t send me away!

Far too late with DS1, 9cms on arrival, more sensible with DS2 as contractions were a few minutes apart from waters breaking. My advice to any mum is to listen to your body, the hospital were very dismissive when I went in with DS1, because I wasn’t making “a fuss” as they put it, said they would examine me, but would probably be sending me home, first time mum etc. the shock on the midwife’s face was a picture, straight to labour ward.

Be careful waiting until they are unbearable - I did that and arrived at 10cm dilated and gave birth within 20 min of pulling into car park. Everyone’s definition of ‘unbearable’ is completely different so I would definitely advise going in if you have any doubt!

Thanks for all your replies!

Got to the point where I was very very uncomfortable and crying. Went in and was examined and only 2.5 cm dilated and sent home with paracetamol and told to use a hot water bottle (already doing!)! Can't stay still but desperately tired. When I sit down the contractions are awful so I'm pacing the living room trying to say awake. Honestly feeling quite hopeless right now!

I wouldn’t focus on the unbearable part, mine were never unbearable. The midwife was very surprised when she examined me! She thought I would not be very dilated at all. How far is the hospital?

I would shower, pack up and go to be honest. Good luck!

Just listen to your body. I was told I was 0cm with my 2nd, contractions were 3 minutes apart. Went home, and managed to get back to birth centre just in time for baby to be born - 90 mins after being sent home!!
If you feel you need to go back then go, things can progress quickly!

Do you have a birthing ball? I found that very comfortable in Labour, just rocking side to side and backwards and forwards. It really helped to ease the pressure.

Sounds like you might have a sunnyside up baby! I had one. Long unproductive labour with excruciating contractions in my back. I had to go into hospital as soon as my waters broke due to being high risk but I was only 2cm so I had a LOT of waiting around at hospital. If I'd been able to, I'd have stayed home as long as poss because you're on the clock as soon as you go in. Having said that, if you feel reduced fetal movement or similar you do need to go in (and tell them that) sooner to ensure they're monitoring the baby.

Don’t lose hope! Are you a FTM? If you’re in pain go back and refuse to leave until given something and then examined again when you’re in less pain. Do you have a tens machine?

Mine was 5 days in total. I started having contractions on a Wednesday and didn't go into hospital on Sunday (it was meant to be Saturday as I was due to be induced but there were no beds). During that time I must of had about 50 baths!! And like previous poster, my baby was baby to back so lots of pain in my back.

With my 2nd DC, woke up on a Sunday with contractions, I had them all day Sunday roughly every 4 minutes, all day and all night. Woke up on the Monday and they were getting stronger but still 4 minutes apart, went to hospital and I was 7cm and in active labour, baby was born 3 hours later. I reckon by tomorrow morning you'll be close. Good luck!

Oh very best of luck.

DS1 my waters broke at 1 am and I had stroing contractions from the off. Rang the labour ward and told to not come in before 8 am.

Had to be wheeled in at 8 am because i was passing out between contractions and vomiting my guts up.

baby born 1 am 48 hours after ny waters broke.

Aww OP, try to relax, easier said than done I know, soon you will be meeting your baby.

I had the exact same happen to me with my first labour. Try not to feel hopeless, this happens to loads of women especially with first babies. Pacing is good as you're upright but if you're finding it exhausting, try lying on your left side for a bit or going on all fours and rocking.

This link has some useful positions to try that may be a bit of variation.
www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/527132331390585228/

You have got this, your body was made to do this and you will soon be meeting your little one xx

Oh OP, I remember feeling hopeless too!

It is very, very tough, but you can do this. Moving about/pacing/bouncing or rocking on a ball are all good provided you have the energy, though I imagine you must be tired- they don’t call it labour for nothing! Do you have some snacks you can have to give you energy? Bananas, sweets or cereal bars maybe? Try to move about as and when you can, maybe have a bath or shower if that feels good. Rest in between contractions.

Don’t be discouraged by the fact that you were 2.5 cm when examined- it might take you a while to progress or you might be someone who’s lucky enough to progress more quickly. I was 2.5cm when examined at a birthing centre just before midnight, and was fully dilated by about 5 or 6am. Go in when you feel you need support/pain relief. My DH was reluctant to take me back to hospital as ‘we’ve only just left; I think they’ll send you home again’. I can’t remember what my response was but I think I was at the ‘bellow like a wildebeest’ stage by then, so thankfully he didn’t question it any further and promptly whisked me back to hospital 😬

Thank you all for your replies and support

I ended up coming in last night as my contractions were coming in at around every 3-4 minutes and lasting 2 minutes a time. I have had a very lovely midwife but haven't been offered much pain relief so I'm not sleeping at all as the contractions are so intense. Annoyingly, they have slowed down in frequency though so now I do feel like I'm taking up a bed, although they are going to pop my waters now but I also had the option to go home and ride it out which I declined without proper pain relief

Feeling a whole mix of emotions right now! Just want baby to be here safely and healthily!

Are you sure baby isn't back to back @Nellie2710 ? Mine was a slow start but consistent contractions throughout. He was back to back and the pain was terrible. It also slowed down at like 6cm. Best thing I found was to keep moving and stay away from laying down, I'd have power naps draped over the birthing ball on all 4s. Wishing you the best and hope you get proper pain relief soon.

It sounds like babe maybe is back to back. See if you can get some pain relief and a nap as you’re probably exhausted and need to conserve some energy. Good luck!

@greenerfingers baby is indeed back to back and for some reason this hadn't been picked up at any of my midwife appointments or since I've been having daily monitoring due to static growth, so that's a bit frustrating! But makes me feel a bit better knowing that I don't have a terrible pain threshold to everyone else and actually it's because she's in an annoying position!

I went with all the pain relief, so had an epidural and feel great now!

Depends. Dc1, water broke with bloody show. I was relaxed about it for 5 hours (that was about the time I arrived at hospital) but by the time I arrived, had 7 minute contractions, so intense!

Dc2, contractions started, 5 hours later, baby was already out!

Wise Mumsnetters as usual! Glad you’re out of pain OP, rest up then see if you can mobilise a bit.

Aww good luck OP, I hope you are holding baby in your arms very soon, back to back labours are the worst, so epidural is great.

And this is why Mumsnet is so good! Thank you for all your support :)

Baby has moved into a better position and now just waiting to be checked to see how dilated I am :) fingers crossed I'm nearly there!