6th day cramps, not progressing, should I call hospital.

[Ayekat9]

Hi all,

Just wanted to start this by saying, I'm trying to avoid calling the hospital as I know they get busy and don't want to waste their time. I also don't want to be induced so scared to ring incase they say I need that (2 previous inductions, extremely painful labours).

I'm currently 39+6 and I've been feeling crampy since early hours Friday/late Thursday.
They are getting more painful and more frequent, but still not unbearably strong or regular. I'm having terrible lightening pain which is worsened when going to the toilet (I think from just the way you have to sit on the toilet).

My baby is still moving, but definitely a change in pattern, not sure if this is because they have dropped.

I've tried to contact my community midwife to ask if there is anything I need to do (this is the first 'natural labour' I've had. I was induced due to my babies being small with my other 2). I'm worried that almost a week of contractions might be annoying my baby. My belly is getting hard whenever I get the cramps.
My midwife told me to call or go to the hospital directly.
I am reluctant to do that, because I don't want to waste their time if I just need to wait it out. What do you think I should do? Should I just give them a ring and ask if I'm OK to keep waiting at home, or should I request an examination to know exactly what's going on?

Thank you!

If the midwife has advised you go, then I’d go.

you can be checked out but don’t have to be induced even if they offer it.

the kind of cramps you have described are not unusual in early labour

Your Mw has told you to go, stop worrying about wasting their time and get checked out x

Please give them a call and ask to go in. Or just go in.

If the midwife has advised you to call or go into maternity unit, then I follow it. It would be wrong for anyone on here to tell you to do any different. Good luck, hope all goes well

I'm no expert but I'd definitely get them to check baby's position and heart rate. If position isn't optimal there's loads you can do to encourage good positions and help give labour a helping hand (look up spinning babies).

It's the hospital staff's job to look after you and your baby, and sometimes that is just to give you peace of mind to know baby is ok. If they offer induction, say no if you know you don't want it.

I'd advised getting checked, my son's labour was 3 days long and he ended up getting distressed and it majorly affected his heart rate so I needed assisted delivery and fast at the end. It's likely all fine and just early labour dragging on but I'd personally get checked just incase x