When to go to hospital

[What2do22]

Hi all, I’m 40 +2 and have been having contractions since 3am- started as period pains but now are probably a 6/10 pain wise. I’ve lost my mucus plug and had a sweep- midwife said I was effaced and 2cm dilated- that was at midday, 7 hours ago. However, my contractions have consistently been 6-8 mins apart lasting 1 minute for hours. I’ve had a few which were 3 mins apart, then 5 mins but I feel like I’m not progressing. When would you go to the hospital? I’m scared I’m going to be stuck in this loop for hours.

I would stay at home until you are consistently having 3 contractions in 10 minutes that last for a minute, otherwise you'll run the risk of labour stalling when you leave the house.

Is your first baby?

It sounds like you’re doing really well. I’d stay at home until you need additional pain relief or are consistently at the 3 in 10

how exciting! Good luck!

Exactly what @tryingtorelaxandgivebirth said.

Sometimes midwives say that if you can speak through a contraction with your first, you shouldn't go into hospital yet.

It sounds like they haven’t settled into a rhythm yet. Though some times they never do. In my birth with my second I didn’t get to 3 in 10 until he was basically crowing. But the contractions were lasting much more than an minute.
with my first I was 3ish in 10 and was sent home as only 1cm 🤷‍♀️

I would say settle in, try the Miles Circuit (it’s on google) and watch some kind of Disney film that you don’t need to pay much attention to while you do it. Then have a shower and after that see how your feeling.

If you are needing to vocalise (literally can’t stop yourself making noise) or find yourself unable to talk through them it’s probs a good time to go to hospital to get checked.
if the contractions are longer than a minute 10 - also maybe think about going in.

Also, kindly, put down your phone, close your eyes, put headphones in and maybe do a birth visualisation, there's a great one on Jessie Ware's 'is it normal' podcast.

You'll get there, but you've got to go with it.

Keep your in headphones in and put a scarf over your head so the hospital lights don't mess you up when you get there.

As you can tell from my username, I am waiting for labour to kick off myself! Second time round though x

The thing about being stuck in the loop for hours is the hospital can't change how that goes - you'd likely be either sent home or put on a ward, both of which are unpleasant.

You're better off at home for as long as you can. I agree if you can speak through a contraction, it's not ramped up enough yet.

It's tempting to think going to hospital would speed things up as it's the next step - but it can slow things down even more, unfortunately.

My contractions didn't settle into a pattern. What's your pain threshold like OP? I had to pretty much plead to be admitted because they didn't think from speaking to me that my contractions were too bad but when I was examined I was 7cms.
How far are you from the hospital?

If you aren’t sure, there’s nothing stopping you going, getting checked out and they’ll send you home if it’s nowhere near.

better than expecting it to get worse, and not making it!

Can always ring triage and let them know the pattern, saves going in if you are fairly far away.

How are you getting on, op?

Hi all, thank you so much for the replies! Sorry I was completely wrapped up in Labour to reply.
I went to the hospital around 9pm, but was only 3cm so sent home. Went back 2ish hours later and was 5cm so finally admitted! Our little girl made her appearance at 9:19 the following morning after 2 hours of pushing 😥it was a long slog but we’ll worth it in the end x