when do you call an ambulance??

[Babyblues14]

This is my first baby, I am worried about when the best time to call an ambulance is when going into labour. My partner works long hours and his work is far away from where we live so it wouldnt make sense for him to come and get me. But im a bit confused about when your supposed to ring. Do you wait until your waters break?? I dont want to go in with contractions only to be told im too early and be sent away, but my DH already has children from a previous relationship and he thinks if I wait for my waters to go it might be too late. How do you know when to call??
Thank you

my partner is 1hr 30mins away, sorry I must have mistyped earlier x will definitely take the advice for the notebook for all the questions that pop into my head, thanks

When you get further on it will all be explained to you try not to worry.
12 years ago in our area we were told to ring the delivery suite and chat to a midwife and they would advise whether or not it was worth coming in depending on how far away you lived, your breathing, regularity of contractions etc etc. I was somehow so calm I wasn't allowed to go in until I was fairly well on in labour. When I got measured when I got there I was 7cm's dilated (well on) with both my two. I guess if you live say an hour away from the hospital they will ask you to go in sooner rather than later.

NB my waters never broke naturally with either of mine either (although I had worries they would break somewhere embarrassing) so it also depends on your contractions etc. it will all be explained to you.

Hi I no post is from a while ago but thought I'd share my experience. I woke up at 8am to my waters breaking lived about 15mins away from hospital. Rang the labour suite and told them how fast my contractions was coming and they told me to ring for an ambulance straight away. After checking me over very quickly they put the sirens on and rushed me to the hospital where I gave birth at 10am. Was my first baby too. Your best asking your midwife, every hosp and labour is different. I was already in hosp with my 2nd but that was a quick 2hour labour again so as my waters broke the contractions come thick and fast. I'm due my third anytime now and have been advised of my midwife to ring ambulance as and when my waters break like the others hope this helped a little bit x

I'm a paramedic and we use to call them maternataxis. Sometimes it is appropriate to call an ambulance (an emergency / imminent delivery / bleeding!) but not just for transport because you're worried about traffic! You'll probably have plenty of time from beginning of labour to actually having the baby. I know you revised your question but I find it infuriating that first time mums have no idea that it's inappropriate to call 999 when in labour. Ring the delivery suite. If labour is progressing quickly then they should send community midwives to your location.

What you must not do is panic you won't be fed and cram loads of buttery toast in before setting off to hospital.

It is likely you will puke everywhere in horror film stylee

I'm a midwife. First of all definitely DO NOT call an ambulance unless it's an emergency, there is a huge shortage and someone with a life threatening emergency may have a delay as a result.

Your midwife will discuss signs of labour with you and when to call much nearer the time and you have plenty of time to have a friend on standby to take you in. You would probably have plenty of time for your partner to get home and take you however as first labours tend to take longer.

Also don't worry about not being far enough and being sent home, it happens all the time and the midwives don't care.

Congratulations

To be fair anutteridiot if you are in the U.K. your midwife will talk to you about this in detail at around 34-36 weeks.

And you would have been given the details of your maternity assessment unit or out of hours maternity helpline to ring in case you have any issues prior to the 34-36 week mark.

Appreciate one might feel unprepared at 19 weeks, but you will have the info closer to the time.

Can't really add anything but just to say it's ok to have questions and feel uncertain about all the changes being pregnant and having a baby brings 😊 I'm 30 weeks now with my first child and remember all the questions I had floating round my head in the early stages and they all felt like really pressing issues! I definitely had the same shock horror reaction as others when I saw the title of the thread OP but soon saw you just didn't know this wasn't the done thing, no harm in that and makes it all the better that you asked! Like others have suggested either ask some trusted friends closer to the time if they wouldn't mind being on standby (I've done this for two friends although either ended up needing the lift), equally like others I reckon you'll be fine with your partner coming- firstly your labour might start when he's not at work, in which case no need to worry about the 1.5 hours and (not to put the fear of God into you!) but I know my mum and three other friends I have were in labour for 3 days with their first.... so plenty of notice!! 😱😁

Finally I'd 100% recommend the notebook idea- you might discover 'baby brain' sets in later on so you won't remember your Qs without writing them down anyway!! Also I don't know if they have these in England but in Wales we have a section in our green maternity folder to write down any Qs or worries you have inbetween appointments? Hope the rest of your pregnancy goes well xx

Only just seen how old the thread is so actually you're probably about the same stage I'm at OP! Hope you're feeling a bit clearer about labour now compared to back in March (not sure I am!!) 🙈

Book some classes, they will as well as your midwife explain how labour progresses *obviously this is not always set in stone.

Generally when you get to regular 3-5 mins apart consistently you will be heading in.

I live overseas so not sure if it's the same but I called my midwife to let her know things were underway, she asks you to time them, you can download some apps for your phone or iPad for timing contractions which are brilliant!

You will likely have many hours to give your DP a heads up and make a plan.

You most definitely don't call an ambulance, just because your partner works a distance away. You need a contingency plan of who is going to take you. Personally, I think you just know when it's time to go, it was something I was worried about but when the time came I just knew.

Oh and I come from a family of fast labours too, I made five hours all up, arrived at the birthing suite with just enough time to fill the bath!

Mum and sister both had short labours, my sisters second was 45 mins!

If I have another I would probably opt for a home birth

If you think you are in labour you call your midwife or the hospital. They can assess over the phone and make decisions.

OP I don't know if you are even still reading but in case....

Something you said jumped out at me - your mum said she had a fast almost painless labour?

I had something called a silent labour which I didn't even know was a thing. I basically "woke up" to the fact that I was in labour when I was going through transition. Luckily I had already planned a home birth and the MW came straight out but even so, she nearly missed catching DD!

If your partner is 1.5 hours away, you do need a back up plan, as some first labours really are fast. I had about 50 mins' notice. No way of predicting that!

And I don't know if it is hereditary but my granny had 5 v fast labours so it might be. I would ask your mum more about her experience.....