When should I call the midwife?

[Lilliput]

I have had mildish contractions, although strong enough to stop me sleeping, for the last two days about every 10 minutes. I had a show this morning at 7am and then more later on. I'm really fed up, my poor little dd has been farmed out to grandparents, my husband is at work. I have a home birth planned but I'm not sure when to call the midwife, should I wait until contactions are closer together?

well you can call her for a chat..... but contractions every 10 mins are not labour.... you may find that when they do get more frequent it will suddenly go quckly (not meant you'll have babe in 10 mins) but it might be a qucker affair.... the show in your case is a positive sign.... sounds like you're nearly there!

Call the midwife and tell her what you have just told us then she can advise if she needs to come out or if not when you should call her back. I think if this is your second (or more) baby and you are contracting every 10 mins then it is reasonable to call for further advice at this stage.

How are you Liliput?

Lilliput - I really feel for you - I too had contractions every 10 minutes for 2 days, and hence no sleep for 48 hours before the 'real thing' kicked off. I know it's not active labour, but it's not what you want to be told when you're in pain and exhausted. Hopefully by the time you see this you'll have produced a baby and all this will be irrelevant . But it's always worth a chat with the midwives, if only for encouragement and a morale boost!

Looking forward to a birth announcement ....