Should I call the hospital??

[MinisterforCheekyFuckery]

I'm 40+3 and have had lots of period type pains, BH and tightenings for over two weeks now. It's my second pregnancy.

I've been having painful but manageable contractions (definitely not BH) for the last 4 .5 hours. The problem is they're so irregular I don't know when to call the hospital. I know the advice is call when they're 5 minutes apart but mine are anywhere from 3-8 minutes apart. They've been lasting anywhere from 1-2 minutes.

To complicate matters, my DM is going to be looking after DD when we do have to go in and she lives an hour's drive away. I don't want to drag her out of bed unecessarily if it's going to be hours but I'm worried that things will suddenly ramp up and she won't get here in time!

What should I do? You'd think I'd know with this being my second, but with DD my contractions followed a clear pattern getting more and more frequent....there was none of this BH for weeks followed by irregular contractions nonsense!

I’d call the hospital and see if they advise you to go in or not. At worst, you call your mum out in the middle of the night when it’s not needed but I’m sure she won’t mind and completely understands how unpredictable labour can be. Good luck and I hope all goes well.

After having my first baby I was confident I would know when my second was on his way, but when it happened I wasn't sure. I didn't want to waste everyone's time calling my nan round to look after my toddler for a false alarm at 37weeks so I let her know it was a possibility and said I'd call her back in half and hour and let her know how I was. Within half an hour I was in full labour and unable to move, my nan couldn't get to my house in time and nor could the ambulance. My son was delivered on my living room floor but myself and my partner ,thankfully there was no complications! Don't leave it to late!

I would definitely call your mum 'just in case', especially as shes an hour away. Even if you dont go into full labour until 9/10 o'clock in the morning, (or even the afternoon), at least she will already be there - which is one less worry for you to stress over.

As a mum to a daughter expecting her second child, I will be in the same position early next year, and would not be put out at being woken in the middle of the night, even if it was a false alarm.

Also agree, its worth calling the hospital just to let them know whats going on.
Good luck!!

Call your mum, she won't mind, she knows babies arrive at all times. She had you!

All the best, very exciting for you to be having another baby soon.

Thank you all.

Contractions still all over the place. Called hospital and they said come in when they're in a regular pattern, 3 minutes apart or when the pain feels unmanageable. The midwife reckons I've "probably got hours of this yet" so should try to get some rest.

The pain is too much to sleep through but definitely not unmanageable and doesn't seem to be getting worse, probably on a par with really bad period pains.

Love when they advise to come in when they are more regular!

They said the same to me as I was all over the place for hours and said too soon but the pain became too much at home so I told them I was coming in. Got there at 8cm and they told me I should've gone in sooner 😆🤦🏼‍♀️

What's plan B if you suddenly feel you must go ?Is there a neighbour or friend who will take your dc until your Mum arrives?
Speaking as a granny who was on call to drive to look after a toddler you don't sleep properly anyway .I had everything packed ready and mostly in the car for 10 days but it still took me a few minutes to leave the house at 2 30 am.
I would rather be called earlier than necessary than take any risks with the baby
Good luck

Do you have a TENS machine? I was in a similar position three weeks ago, strapped on the TENS and went to “sleep” (joined by my 2 and 6 year olds...) until morning. Good luck.

Call your mum. I'm a granny who has been there for several babies and I'd rather be called early than late. Best wishes !

Hi everyone. I nodded off at some point and when i woke up felt damp, stood up and water started running out of me. Went to bathroom and have also had a (dark brown/pink) show. Can still feel water running out of me (onto pad) but when I rang Labour Ward the midwife didn't seem convinced it could be my waters. Told me to go back to bed and call back in an hour. I've rung my mum, she's on her way.

Good luck OP! When my waters went (with dc 1 and 3) they also told me not to come. Dc 1 was born 6 hours later and dc3 was born 3 hours later!!

My contractions never regularised with either child. What you are describing sounds very much like my first.

My contractions never became that regular with DS2 either. They were still 8-10 minutes apart but lasting about 1 minute but then my waters suddenly broke and he was here 30 minutes later. There was no time to get to the hospital and he was delivered by me while DH was calling an ambulance. I thought I had hours to go too!

Exciting!
Call your mum now though. My 2nd labour was very fast after the waters had gone. DD was born in the bathroom.
You may need a quick dash to the hospital.
Good luck. You’ve got this!

Good luck! Let us all know your lovely baby news.
xx

Good luck OP! I never got regular contractions either!

Good luck.
I hope your mom gets to you in time.
I think most people would rather be called early than late, especially as you are having contractions and your eater has broken. What else do the labour ward think it is?

An option you could consider if you want to be checked is to go in through triage, i did that because I hadn’t felt baby move for a few hours and was concerned, id been contracting 2-3/10 for 24hrs but a bit all over the place and differing lengths, when I got to triage they said I was 4cm and apparently in established labour and had to stay. Good luck x

@MinisterforCheekyFuckery Good luck op 

Good luck OP! I had a planned homebirth but midwife said call when 3 mins apart, but my contractions never got there then I suddenly realised I was pushing. We had to call ambulance and midwife arrived V quickly, and DC came out in one more push. Hope you've gone in now!

Good morning
How are things?

All excellent signs. Weird that the water running out of you wasn't considered your waters breaking by a midwife. What planet was she on?

Hopefully the fact that you haven't posted in while means you're in full throttle.
Best of luck.

Good luck OP! I hope it’s all going well.

I understand the midwives get all sorts of calls and can’t have everyone come in straight away but I do think they should listen to women more. I went in and was told to go home but I wouldn’t as was in so much pain. Things progressed really quickly so I’m glad I didn’t leave. My waters also went when I was in hospital and when I told the midwife she wouldn’t even look and told me they hadn’t and I must have just wet myself! Very frustrating.

Lots of luck

It was so labour! Where does this myth come from that contractions are regular!! Mine were all like this. We want all the details. Xx