What to do RE hospital when you go into labour?

[Excited85]

Hi,
Possibly a really stupid question but once you start to feel the first contractions is there anybody you are meant to let know? I know you're meant to stay at home while you can as chances are the Hosp will turn you away if not far enough, but are you meant to call the Hosp to say its started so that they know to expect you? Also is the midwife involved at all - am I meant to let her know when labour starts/when I have the baby? I know they dont turn up or get involved but I'm just wondering how else they know who has and hasnt had their babies? Coming up 30 weeks so starting to think about the logistics side of things!!! Thank you :-)

The midwife should give you the number to call when you go into labour.

I called the hospital (MLU) when contractions started so they knew to expect me. They said I should stay at home until my contractions were (from memory) three minutes apart and lasting a minute at a time. This was their policy.

I tried my best to do this, but my contractions didn't ever get that close together and the pain had become quite intense. DH called to say I was coming in anyway, and when I arrived I was 7cm.

Call the hospital they will tell you what you need to do

Also there's a system in place whereby the hospital will inform the local midwife team that baby has arrived and you've been discharged home - my dc was born in a different Nhs trust to where I live and I still got a home visit from my local midwife the day after we got home, like magic!

That's great thank you ladies!