How regular should contractions be before heading to hospital

[flyingcloud]

I have been getting what I imagine are contractions (sharp take my breath away period/back ache pains that also feel like I'm about to do a huge poo) for just under 2 hours and they are between five and seven minutes apart. They last for about a minute (between 50s and 1min 05).

The ones that are seven mins apart are usually preceeded a minute or so before by a mild ache.

The pain, when it's peaking is pretty bad, but I have a pretty low threshold and when it goes - like now - I feel nothing other than very mild back ache.

I am 40+4 (well +5 now it's past midnight where I am )

I've had no other signs, no show or waters going. No sickness - no loose bowels although I did - sorry TMI ALERT - do a mahoosive poo earlier on this evening.

Sorry if this doesn't make much sense... naive first timer ...

ok i would say ring the hospital and see what they say

maybe 4-5 mins apart for a first time but hopefully someone better will come along and advise!

Do you not have to phone them first?

I found the hospital quite helpful although if i'd listened to the MW who told me to wait until my contractions were regular, i'd have given birth at home!

I hope it all goes well. xx

I would stay at home for as long as possible tbh, when I was at this stage I bounced on my birthing ball, listened to music and Mumsnetted!

First labours can take a while to get going and it's generally much more relaxing being at home, you can take some paracetamol to take the edge off the pain, or have a bath...

Yes ring hospital

I think they say 4 minutes, but I went last couple of times when they were 2.

Good luck.

X-posted. With DS1 I was told to wait until cx were 2-3 mins apart, and even then I got sent home for another 12 hours after the first trip to hospital (was another 24 hours after that that I gave birth!). But I'm sure your labour ward will be happy to advise.

Oh and good luck and don't forget to keep us posted

Thank you all for very speedy replies - yes I should call them - I am in France by the way and thought they said just to turn up, but yes also thought they said wait until they were 2-3 mins apart - was just having a fuzzy moment and couldn't really remember.

I've waited long enough, I'm sure I can stick out a few more hours.

Id say stay at home for a while yet. with ds2 my cx were 4-5mins apart from approx 4am-he wasnt born till 6.15pm. It will prob be a while yet so try and rest as much as you can inbetween them.

gd luck btw!

Thank you all very much. I am quite excited [very naive first timer emoticon] I feel like I have waited an eternity to meet the baby...

I may not be quite so excited when the cx are coming thick and fast!

Ooh good luck flyingcloud it sounds like this is really it for you!

Oh how exciting! No advice to add, but good luck and please do keep us posted!

Ooh exciting!
All the best.

Don´t worry about being naive-went my waters went with my second I phoned my husband up (an hour away at work) & asked him what I should do!

Mine told me to come in when they were 3-4 minutes apart. If they get to 2-3 minutes then I think you need to hurry!

BUT if you find that after a while they are getting a lot stronger and longer but still less regular, and especially if you are struggling, it may still be worth going in or at least phoning for advice. Some people's contractions never get that regular (mine didn't as DS was in a funny position and eventually needed EMCS), and others do but not until they are very far along (like my friend who kept being told to stay home longer, but when she was eventually allowed in found she was already at 8cm)!

Oo, flyingcloud... looks like it's your time finally!

Bon courage!!

I look forward to hearing your French BS soon...

I will get in a full update for my ante natal thread soon.
So I had a bath which only made things worse and speeded up the cx! At 2am I woke up DH as they were 2-3 mins apart.
We went to the hospital and I was 3cm dilated so they told me to hang around and go for a walk, Dh and I walked around for about 45 mins and by the end I was screaming for the epidural! I was 4cm so moving slowly.

The Anaesthetist came at 4:45 am! Cue more swearing at Dh during that time. We then both slept until 6.30 and it was bliss...

At 6.30 they broke my waters and put me on a syntocin drip as I was 5cm so still moving slowly.

By 10am I was at 10cm and the contractions were back despite all the pain relief. I'm a wimp! I started pushing and by 10:20 Victoria had made her entrance iinto the world. She weighed 3.34kg and is the greatest achievement of my life, perfect in every way.

I have a tear but other than that we are both well and all very very happy!

WOW congratulations

congratulations!

Great story. Well done you, and welcome baby Victoria (lovely name!)

Congratulations, very happy for you and little Victoria!
Hope my bump will decide to come along soon too, it is due any time now...

Congrats