37 weeks | Mumsnet

esunny · 2025-08-19T19:41:06+00:00

Heyyy! im 37 weeks and have just finished work. I’m starting to get really anxious about labour and the birth and freaking myself out! Any tips please do share. I hate hospital environments :( how long can I expect to be in hospital for?

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Springadorable · 19/08/2025 20:48

Woohoo!! Nearly there! Just stay home as long as you can so that when you get to hospital you can go straight to a private room on labour ward. Then you can have it dimmed, music on, whatever you want. The hospital won't want you there longer than necessary either - I gave birth at 1.30am and was cleared to leave by 5.30am with my second. Take a pillow and a blanket for your partner if you have one - it sounds daft but often the partner doesn't even get a decent seat and you really want them as fresh as possible for when you get home and are going it alone.

Wickerbindops · 20/08/2025 05:13

Have you prepared for birth/labour with regards to breathing techniques and thought about a birth plan, what kind of birth you want?

Original poster

esunny · 20/08/2025 11:39

Wickerbindops · 20/08/2025 05:13

Have you prepared for birth/labour with regards to breathing techniques and thought about a birth plan, what kind of birth you want?

Yes I’ve done a hypnobirthing course and would like a water birth. But very open minded to see where my body takes me xx

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Original poster

esunny · 20/08/2025 11:40

Springadorable · 19/08/2025 20:48

Woohoo!! Nearly there! Just stay home as long as you can so that when you get to hospital you can go straight to a private room on labour ward. Then you can have it dimmed, music on, whatever you want. The hospital won't want you there longer than necessary either - I gave birth at 1.30am and was cleared to leave by 5.30am with my second. Take a pillow and a blanket for your partner if you have one - it sounds daft but often the partner doesn't even get a decent seat and you really want them as fresh as possible for when you get home and are going it alone.

Aww thank you. I am going to try and stay at home for as long as I can xx

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PurpleTurtleMoose · 20/08/2025 13:32

Hey, just wanted to say I'm in the same boat: 38 weeks and it's all starting to feel very real and scary. My hope is to just be able to take it as it comes, stay as calm as possible and hope for the best!

CluelessInLondon · 20/08/2025 16:42

Just to say, it's best to manage your expectations in terms of how long you'll be in hospital - they won't want to admit you earlier than they need to, but how long you stay after that will be really dependent on how your labour goes, if there are any complications, what time of day you actually give birth etc. My baby was born at 4.30am and I was definitely expecting to go home later that day, but I picked up an infection and ended up staying overnight and not getting out until the middle of the following afternoon...so definitely don't go in with any set expectations that might leave you disappointed or stressed.

And tips - as you've said you dislike the hospital environment, take a couple of things that will make you more comfortable for however long you need to be there. Slippers, comfortable pyjamas or nightie, maybe an extra pillow from home so you can rest up more comfortably afterwards... I took a fancy shower gel with me so that a post-labour shower felt like a bit more of a treat (although admittedly it was about 16 hours after giving birth before I got the chance to have that much-anticipated shower!).

Good luck! 😊