When I go into labour

[prettypenguin]

This probably will sound so daft to all you ladies but I haven't actually been told step by step what to do when I go into labour and was wondering if anyone could help...

For instance, I know to ring the hospital if my waters break and then depending on if contractions follow on soon enough and I don't have to be taken in to be started off, when do I actually go to hospital(how far apart do the contractions have to be?)

And do I also ring my midwife as soon as my waters break?what if it's like 3am would I still be supposed to ring her and let her know?

Another thought I had is that what if I get contractions first and my waters break later on or not at all, when do I ring the hospital then?I was told as I would like a water birth to ring the hospital as soon as I go into labour to increase my chnce of getting a pool but if my waters haven't broken I'll be unsure of whether it's real labour or BH.

I feel so stupid for not saying anything to the midwife, my visit last week was very brief as usual and she always seems quite preoccupied..I know she's probably busy and I assumed I'd be seeing her weekly or sooner as she did say this at the beginning of my pregnancy, and it's always just been every 2 weeks for the past few months. I also haven't been to antenatal classes which probably haven't helped, but at the time I was working 50 hours a week and was just too exhausted to go to any :/

 

[titch]

dont feel silly asking!!

Your waters probably wont break before you go into labour, normally they break at some point during labour, or rarely the baby can be born still in the amniotic sac. so dont think of waters breaking as any kind of benchmark. Labour can be very slow, early labour can last days. You dont have to 'do' anything. Just try and get sleep whenever you can, eat and drink plenty and wait. Go into hospital if you feel like you are in too much pain when the contractions come. If you want to 'reserve' the birthing pool just ring when youre getting regular contractions and let them know.

Either way, just ring the labour ward, you should hav e the number in your notes. A lot of people go in when theyre in labour and get checked and sent home if theyre still in early labour. Dont be embarrased if that happens, its normal. And dont hesitate to go in and get checked, they dont mind!

 

[Bexybun]

(when do I actually go to hospital, how far apart do the contractions have to be?) - I have always been told to go in when they are 5 mins apart.

(do I also ring my midwife as soon as my waters break?) - With my first, I forgot to ring my midwife, lol. It was midnight so I just rang labour ward, but I think it depends on your relationship with your mw- mine are a bit crap tbh, so I won't be bothering them, but if you've a good relationship with yours then I'd say ring them.

(if my waters haven't broken I'll be unsure of whether it's real labour or BH) - Trust me hun, you'll know As a rule tho, BH go away when you do something active, ie go for a walk. They aren't consistent and are nowhere near as painful as contractions.

My mws always seem far too preoccupied for me too hun, so I know how you feel. Plus I've seen about 5 of them, so there's no consistency in their help, and most of the time they seem like they can't be bothered to help me anyway. Don't worry too much about the ante natal classes- there's oodles of great information online, including PF! x

 

[prettypenguin]

Thank you I do feel silly as everyone usually knows what to do but I assumed I'd be seeing the midwife again and she'd go through it with me properly but she's just booked me in for a sweep 3 days after my due date, which I think is a bit too soon? I just went along with it anyway she more or less told me I was having one... but thank you, I have a bit of an idea of what to do now as opposed to just panic and run around the house haha..not that I'm getting any sign of him coming anytime soon unfortunately

 

[prettypenguin]

Thank you Bexybun, I don't mind my midwife, I see her most of the time there's been a handful of times when I've seen other midwives...however when my baby wasn't moving much over a few days a couple of weeks ago I texted her to ask her advice and heard nothing back and I just assumed she was busy and didn't get back to me and then when I seen her she never mentioned it :/ I do understand theyre busy and I'm not the only one she's got to see to. She is also really nice when I do see her but always very brief, so I think if it is late I'll probably just send a text and let her know.

 

[littlemiss83]

No need to feel silly



I haven't been through natural labour so I cant answer your questions, but i'd say every hospital/MW you speak to on the phone will be different, same as every labour, so please dont feel bad about phoning, even if it is 3am. It will more than likely be someone at the hospital that will be answering the phones rather than your actual MW. Also, they will tell you exactly what they want you to do, dont be scared to phone & ask, at least it keeps them informed too, about when they should expect you ect.

I'd say phone whenever you feel like contractions are happening, they probs wont ask you to go in but phone & tell them & they'll advise you what to do.