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Original poster

At what point do I call Triage (if at all)?

16 replies

sel2223 · 22/03/2025 20:36

Hi Everyone,

I'm 39+1 today and have just been to the hospital this morning for my pre-op ready for my ELCS scheduled for Monday morning.

I was also sent in on Thursday by the community midwife as my heartrate was high (105-110) and baby's heartbeat was also high 175-185. Mine in particular has been consistently high for well over a month so the community midwife advised me to go straight to PAU to check baby and potentially get an ECG myself while I was there.
Anyway, the PAU were totally disinterested and said as soon as i got there that it was likely the community midwife going (and I quote) 'over the top'. I was put on the monitor for baby but in and out within 45 mins, no ECG. Our readings were normal for the most part but did keep spiking which they obviously weren't concerned about.

Sorry for the tangent there, just want to give a bit of background as to why I do not want to waste anyone's time going to triage if not totally necessary (as well as not having a car and needing childcare for DD1 who is now in bed).

So, for weeks now I've had awful backache, regular BH, pelvic pressure, loose stools, sickness etc. A few times I've had period like cramps that are often enough to wake me up but don't become regular and eventually disappear. Baby has been 3/5 engaged for several weeks and the midwife on Thurs said I was probably in slow labour (no physical examination)

Today, for the last 4 hours or so I've had a lot of cramps with pain radiating in my right hand side and across the bottom of my bump. I'm very uncomfortable and neither paracetamol or a warm bath have helped. It's not really coming in waves that I can time as I believe contractions would but it feels very different to the BH I've been having. I've got a lot of pressure down below and feel like I need to go to the toilet constantly but nothing is coming out. I'm very uncomfortable but not in agony.

Just wondering what, if anything, I should do (and when) bearing in mind I'm having a section so am supposed to go in early if I go into spontaneous labour but equally don't want to trek to hospital and put people out if it's nothing and I'm just going to be sent home.

What do you think, does this sound like it could be something or not? I had an ELCS with my first and no spontaneous labour so this is completely new to me.

Any advice much appreciated.

OP posts:
BryceQuinlan · 22/03/2025 20:40

I would call and ask for advice now, if I were in your position. They will either put your mind at ease over the phone or ask you to come in, but I think it would be better to know.

Bubblenum · 22/03/2025 20:48

sel2223 · 22/03/2025 20:36

Hi Everyone,

I'm 39+1 today and have just been to the hospital this morning for my pre-op ready for my ELCS scheduled for Monday morning.

I was also sent in on Thursday by the community midwife as my heartrate was high (105-110) and baby's heartbeat was also high 175-185. Mine in particular has been consistently high for well over a month so the community midwife advised me to go straight to PAU to check baby and potentially get an ECG myself while I was there.
Anyway, the PAU were totally disinterested and said as soon as i got there that it was likely the community midwife going (and I quote) 'over the top'. I was put on the monitor for baby but in and out within 45 mins, no ECG. Our readings were normal for the most part but did keep spiking which they obviously weren't concerned about.

Sorry for the tangent there, just want to give a bit of background as to why I do not want to waste anyone's time going to triage if not totally necessary (as well as not having a car and needing childcare for DD1 who is now in bed).

So, for weeks now I've had awful backache, regular BH, pelvic pressure, loose stools, sickness etc. A few times I've had period like cramps that are often enough to wake me up but don't become regular and eventually disappear. Baby has been 3/5 engaged for several weeks and the midwife on Thurs said I was probably in slow labour (no physical examination)

Today, for the last 4 hours or so I've had a lot of cramps with pain radiating in my right hand side and across the bottom of my bump. I'm very uncomfortable and neither paracetamol or a warm bath have helped. It's not really coming in waves that I can time as I believe contractions would but it feels very different to the BH I've been having. I've got a lot of pressure down below and feel like I need to go to the toilet constantly but nothing is coming out. I'm very uncomfortable but not in agony.

Just wondering what, if anything, I should do (and when) bearing in mind I'm having a section so am supposed to go in early if I go into spontaneous labour but equally don't want to trek to hospital and put people out if it's nothing and I'm just going to be sent home.

What do you think, does this sound like it could be something or not? I had an ELCS with my first and no spontaneous labour so this is completely new to me.

Any advice much appreciated.

agree with first responder ..i would call for advice and just see what they say..keep us updated. all the best :)

Saltysnack2003 · 22/03/2025 20:49

I was in a very similar situation to you recently, having not been in labour with my first (ELCS) and booked for another ELCS. I had similar thoughts to you and multiple false alarms (I think in part due to a very engaged baby for 5-8 weeks). I agree you should call triage - I always found them helpful and reassuring, even when it turned out to be a false alarm.

I made it to my section date - I felt constantly anxious I wouldn't and was having similar symptoms to you for a while.

TeenLifeMum · 22/03/2025 20:51

You’re never wasting their time. They’re there to provide reassurance 90% of the time so use them.

YouveGotAFastCar · 22/03/2025 20:53

I have similar and was seen yesterday. They said if it’s not intensifying waves; I could go home. As I also need a section, they said to go in when I was having 2 contractions lasting over 50 seconds each for more than 40 minutes without gaps. I’m 40 minutes from the hospital and they were confident that would give them enough time to still prep the section.

Unfortunately the discomfort seems really normal for latent labour which can last for weeks, but do call triage if you need reassurance.

I wouldn’t worry too much about the “slow labour” comment, unless she meant latent labour… I was told 8 times with my son that he’d be “out before midnight” and 4 times so far with this one; and it’s never been true.

stillwaitingtobepaid · 22/03/2025 20:55

Definitely call triage . This was my daughter 2 weeks ago at 39+2 and she was 7cms dilated!

TheThreeMiracles · 22/03/2025 21:07

Definitely go and be checked that’s what they are there for, could be labour starting, if your in labour is it likely you’d give birth vaginally or will they do a c section ? Good luck xxx

Autumn1990 · 22/03/2025 21:12

Phone up and ask. I was booked for an elcs and went in at 38 weeks in labour. If I had wanted the elcs they just would have done it as an emergency.

Original poster
sel2223 · 23/03/2025 20:43

Thank you all for the replies and advice.

I did call the PAU but didn't go in. It seems I'm in latent labour and still holding on up till now. The contractions keep starting but then stop again before we get into a proper rhythm - I've been advised to wait till they are at regular intervals for more than an hour before I need to go in. The backache and pressure/heaviness is pretty bad.

Just hoping she holds on overnight as my ELCS is booked for the morning anyway and that would be so much better childcare and transport wise 🤞

OP posts:
TheThreeMiracles · 23/03/2025 21:07

Good luck @sel2223fingers crossed baby holds out for the morning and you are able to get some rest tonight xxx

BrainFullOfSpiders · 23/03/2025 21:15

I know you’ve already called but wanted to add for anyone reading and not sure:

  1. always call.
  2. my entire ‘labour’ for both my children was just feeling very uncomfortable. Looking back I wish I had called the hospital as soon as I felt like that.
TheThreeMiracles · 26/03/2025 09:00

@sel2223 hope all is well with you and your little bundle of joy been thinking of you xx

Batbatbatty · 26/03/2025 09:11

@sel2223 have also been thinking of you, hope it all went well and you're enjoying all the baby snuggles 😍

Original poster
sel2223 · 26/03/2025 15:09

Little Sofia Ruby was born Monday morning by ELCS and is just perfect!
Thank you both for asking 🩷

OP posts:
TheThreeMiracles · 26/03/2025 15:20

@sel2223congratulations love the name xxxx

OptimisticRealist2024 · 26/03/2025 16:09

@sel2223 I was hoping you'd update this thread! Spotted you on a few I've posted on and seen your lovely supportive messages on my own questions. Hope you have a quick recovery and lots of lovely time with your new arrival.

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