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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Ok this is bugging me now. Any midwives around to answer the question of when you go to hospital??

38 replies

babyignoramus · 11/05/2009 16:16

When I went into labour I went from having mild cx every 20 mins or soto suddenly having excrutiating ones every 3 minutes. I rang the hospital and was told to take two paracetemol and have a bath. I went into hospital two hours later only to be sent home with the same instructions as I wasn't in 'established' labour (i.e. was less than 4cm dilated).

I then phoned them again four hours later to say I was coming back in as I couldn't cope any more (cx were 2 mins apart) and they still tried to discourage me from coming in.

My question is, how the feck are you supposed to know when is the right time to arrive at the hospital?? I can judge the length of contractions, how much they hurt, how far apart they are. The one thing I cannot do is check how dilated I am. Are you supposed to stay at home until you're in transition?! I am really struggling with this concept.

Answers please!!

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StealthPolarBear · 11/05/2009 16:19

I'd like to know this too - even when I was standing in hospital 9cm dilated (they hadn't examined me yet) and 20 minutes away from pushing I was still not having contractions that would have been regular enough to warrant going in. (One, then one three mins later, then nothing for ten mins etc...). I was told as it was my first baby to come in and I'd probably get sent home again . Next time won't be my first baby - I can see me having it in the bathroom with DH as MW!

slushy06 · 11/05/2009 16:33

I would like to know the answer to this I asked my mw this she said 'when contractions are 5 mins apart'.
To which I reply 'But mine were 5 mins apart from the begining'.
She then said 'when you can't talk through them'.
I said, 'I could talk through mine right at the end'.
Reminded her that at 9 cm last time I had to ask the mw to check me three times because she kept saying I was being a baby It wasn't time yet.My mw then said oh well come in when you feel like it.

Scotia · 11/05/2009 16:47

I went in for a check because my waters had broken - this was my 6th baby. Contractions were 10 minutes apart but not too sore, and I was 4cm dilated. I was told to go home and come back when I was in labour - I would know when I was in labour as it was my 6th etc, etc. I thought I was in labour,but thought the midwife knew better. So off I went home...

Two hours later, I was forced into the car by my mum because I couldn't get through to Triage for advice. I'd only had 1 painful contraction at this stage, and really doubted my own instincts. It was a ten minute journey to the hospital, and ds2 was born 10 minutes after I arrived!

Original poster

babyignoramus · 11/05/2009 16:48

Slushy - mine were 3 mins apart and I couldn't talk through them. Yet they sent me home and then discouraged me from going back when they were even closer together!! Aaargh!

I wouldn't gamble so closely if I needed the toilet let me put it that way!!

OP posts:

rolledhedgehog · 11/05/2009 17:08

The advice is usually when the contractions are getting longer and closer together and are so intense that you can't do anything but concenrate on them i.e not talk then you are in established labour and to call the hospital when they are about 5 mins apart.

If it is a second labour I would be careful about assuming that going from this stage to 'OMG I having this baby right now' will be a long time though! I only made it to hospital with 10mins to spare the second time!

maxbear · 11/05/2009 21:20

Everyone is different, lots of people come in way, way too early though. Your best bet is to wait til they are about 45 - 60 seconds long and you couldn't possibly hold a conversation through them, and they really hurt.

For a first baby approx 3 minutes apart as a general guide and for a second or subsequent 4 - 5 mins apart. Obviously you have to take in to account the time of day, how far you have to travel, previous experiences etc. If in doubt phone up and speak to a midwife, they can usually tell if you need to come in or not.

A friend of mine who is a midwife wondered whether to call her mw every evening with her third as she was experiencing strong contractions, in the end the only difference was that she was overdue and they did not stop after a few hours.

StarlightMcKenzie · 11/05/2009 22:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

LibrasBiscuitsOfFortune · 13/05/2009 13:18

Unfortunatly I don't think there is any advice that would cover everything.
I rang the MW as I was getting big contractions every 5minutes with mini-ones in between. The first mw told me that usually happens when there is something not quite right but said she was a student and passed me on to a qualified mw who told me to stay at home. I went to the hospital 1 hour later to find I was 8-9cm (can't remember which lol) dilated and DS was footling breech. I could talk thru my contractions and I was actually WORRIED about going in because everyone drills into you that you should stay at home as long as possible. Pesonally I think that's bollocks, if you are worried or aren't coping with labour then you should go to hospital. You don't get a medal for bravery at the end.

Unlike maxbear I think you should be able to go in from the start if that's what you want to do, however I don't think the NHS have the resources to cope with that.

gabygirl · 13/05/2009 17:11

LibrasBiscuits - not sure it's all about resources: if more people went in at the start of labour there'd be a big jump in the rate of c-section and instrumental births, because low risk women labouring in their own homes have less painfull, less complicated labours than those labouring in medical settings.

Do agree though that if you're having a hospital birth and you're not coping at home, then you should be encouraged to come in.

nappyaddict · 13/05/2009 17:22

I was told to ring the hospital before going in. They said to ring when they were painful, at least a minute in length and 1-2 mins apart.

nappyaddict · 13/05/2009 17:30

Oh and they also defined painful as not being able to hold a conversation through contractions as opposed to just talking iyswim.

BellaHarry · 13/05/2009 18:31

Goodness me ladies, this is all very confusing! I am concerned that from what I read about women who use self hpnosis in labour (As I plan to) the mw often doesn't believe you are in labour as the woman is very calm even late on! Mind you I don't really mind if baby comes at home anyway (although I'm technically planning a hospital birth). What do you think would happen if I left it so late that I got the urge to push; would they send a paramedic or mw?? Or would it be too risky and I'd end up with DH delivering baby in the sitting room?

LibrasBiscuitsOfFortune · 13/05/2009 18:40

tbh I would decide whether you want a homebirth or not BEFORE it actually happens.

Chunkamatic · 13/05/2009 19:02

I would agree that if you think you want a home birth you should prepare for that and have the hospital birth as back up, not the other way round!

My contractions were 3-5 mins apart from more or less the beginning and lasted 60 secs. I was in so much pain after 6 hours i was hallucinating! We had called the birth centre a few times and were told to stay at home, in the end i was struggling to cope so called the hospital (which is nearer than the birth centre!) and TOLD them i was coming in! When i got there i was 2cm - bugger!

However, listening to friends with similar experiences and they were sent home - so i dont know if i just turned up on a quiet night or what?? There are so many factors and it is so difficult to tell when it is your first. I know next time i will try and stay at home a lot, lot longer.

BellaHarry · 13/05/2009 19:04

Thanks guys, you're probably right, how do I go about H is not keen

Chunkamatic · 13/05/2009 19:20

Erm... tell him as it's you that's doing all the work it's you who shall decide where you do it?!

You need to speak to your midwife, but first and foremost i would search the threads on here to see if it really is for you.

Good luck

treedelivery · 13/05/2009 19:29

About going in : go when you like! The worst case scenario is it's too early/not labour and you can go home again. No worries at all.

The idea behing the stay at home advice is to try and support women in their own homes, when they are in early or establishing labour and not requiring monitoring. Research suggests those who do will labour with less intervention and report a more positive experience.

For example, we know the hormones that stimulate labour are squashed by adrenaline. The journey in to hospital can be stressfull and take a lot of energy - so adrenaline is released, disturbing the flow of labour.

However, I think we are all more stressed worrying about when to go in and getting it right! Be reassured that it is not a test, you are not expected to get it right first time, and a huge part of delivery suite workload is seeing '?labour' admissions. It's very normal to see one woman who thinks this might be it, yet the cervix is not responding and so she goes home to await events, and then the next woman who isn't sure - yet is 5 cms.

Its all good!

StarlightMcKenzie · 14/05/2009 09:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

BellaHarry · 14/05/2009 10:02

Yes; I did read about the adreneline buggering up the natural 'flow'... will speak to mw on Mon re homebirth I think, if I have all the facts DH might feel more positive about it. And will read up on the homebirth threads on here. Thanks ladies, you've been a real help. I love mn

Original poster

babyignoramus · 14/05/2009 13:46

I was sent home at 2 cms despite being in agony. Plus it meant another car journey home and back into the hospital again.

I think I'm feeling somewhat bitter at being sent home and not given any pain relief at all despite meeting the 'criteria' of having regular, closely spaces contractions I couldn't speak through. It seemed like a return to the dark ages!!

I', also not swayed by the argument that women labour better at home. I was far more relaxed once I was admitted and surrounded by professionals and drugs!!

OP posts:

Lulumama · 14/05/2009 13:51

i went in with painful regular ctx. contracting 3-4 in 10 .lasting a good minute or so. needed to close my eyes, could not talk through them, and was in significant pain. i was 2 -3 cm. i think i cried. i was kept on labour ward though as DDs hearbeat went thorugh the roof , although AN ward was mentioned. due to my previous traumatic birth, DH spoke to the midwife privately and i was kept in labour ward to see what happened. within an hour of arrival i was 3cm and delivered 3 1/4 hours later. DD was OP and i am sure that was what had meant no dilation after 15 hours of contractions.

if i do it again, am having a homebirth. problem solved

StarlightMcKenzie · 14/05/2009 14:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Lulumama · 14/05/2009 14:11

DON;T be getting ideas... i am done with giving birth myslef...

i did not know DD was OP until after delivery,and realied she was looking at teh ceiling when she was born

treedelivery · 14/05/2009 20:36

Both my dd's were op till the second stage pushes. With dd1 that was just soooooo painfull. Dearie me. With dd2 she just twizzled and delivered. Short contractions that were a sensation rather that painfull. I know what you mean StarlightMcKenzie - the difference in pain levels between labours is bonkers isn't it? Labour 2 wasn't as bad as a tooth ache I had when a root was dying. Labour one was a different matter and I actually thought I was dying. Urgh.

BellaHarry · 15/05/2009 15:36

which way round is best..remind me?

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