At what point did you go to the hospital?

At what point in labour did you go into hospital? Not so-many-cm dialated, because I have no idea what I was when, but what state were you in as far as dealing with contractions went?

I ask because I'm a bit nervous about what to do with Jacob this time round. I stayed at home too long last labour, and drove there in transition (I don't recommend it) so don't know when I 'should' have gone in. The baby's due at an inconvinent time for the in-laws, who could have picked him up and taken him to their place - they might not be here to do that in early Jan. So my Mum will have to drive up, and it's too far for her to take Jacob home again, she'll stay here to look after him.

I love my Mum and all, but I tend to be kind of private when it comes to pain, and would rather she didn't see me at the 'on my hands and knees groaning' point. Would it be usual to be at the birthing centre by that point? It's a silly little thing, but it's playing on my mind.

Edited by Hopes

I was worried about this too, I went to hospital too early with DS - I thought I was about to have him any minute but I was only 4cm but he was posterior so that could possibly explain it.

With DD my MW told me to call her when my contractions were 3-4 mins apart and lasting a minute. When they started I though yup, no worries. I timed them from about 8-10 mins apart and they got down to 4-5 mins apart lasting a minute and I just knew I needed to go, I think it was at that point the pain got pretty full on and I just got a gut feeling so I called her and off we went. It did cross my mind that I was only going to be 2cm and she'd send me home haha (I laugh now but at the time I was so distraught that it might happen) but I was 7cm when I got there.

My MIL came around to stay with DS as it was 3am and I didn't want her to see me in labour at all - I'm pretty private like that too so I know how you feel!

Edited by MrsEmma

Thanks for your thoughts I should have said, my contractions were all up the wop too (which was mostly why we were so late going). They never got longer than about 45 seconds, right up until he was born, and they didn't particularly increase in frequency, they just got more and more intense. So I don't even have that to measure when I perhaps should have gone in.

Edited by Hopes

Yeah that is a good idea, when you can't talk through them.

Mine with number two started at 2mins apart & like yours Hopes never got to that minute stage, just got really intense.

I plan to stay home for the whole time, so not much help in that respect, but is there someone your mum could come up and stay with that is closer, so that she's only a wee way away once you decide you want her?

I'm going to have to have someone here to take care of DD, even though I'd kind of rather not, so they are going to be banished to her room with her if it's night and I'm going to play whitenoise in there so hopefully they don't hear everything going on in the family room! If it's daytime, I'll just get them to head out for a walk with her or something.

Isn't it funny how different the things you worry about the second time are?

I think mine were about 5 mins apart when I went to the hospital with DS2? My waters broke first so it was a bit easier to know what to do IYGWIM, I'd already spoken to my gynae who said come in tomorrow afternoon (24hrs) or when you feel ready. I think I probably went a bit too early (was only about 5cm when we got there) however, after taking about 3 hours to get to 6cm, DS arrived in a REALLY big hurry after that so I'm quite glad I didn't wait since once things happened they happened fast IYGWIM?

I think it's really personal in a way, ie if you think you'll be uncomfortable with someone else in the house while you're in pain then that might actually slow things more than if you went to hospital slightly early.

A friend of mine waited till she thought she couldn't handle her contractions .. and gave birth 19 mins after she arrived in the hospital. I wouldn't recommend that They only just got the pool full enough in time!

With Alex i was putting the car seat in when I was in labour. When I was done doing that they started getting really painful and so I wanted to go in before they got worse so I could get gas. I was in transition in the car. 2nd time round was so fast from cramp every 5-10mins to end was 5hrs

Well with this last one just gone, I went to see how far along I was (wasn't in a bad state at all, coping just fine) I just wanted to see if this was it. Well it was but until baby actually engaged nothing would happen so I elected to go home.

About an hour later (waters broke) and I just up and said thats it we are going. Fairly sure we drove while I was in transition like you said Hopes. Had her within half an hour of arriving at the hospital.

Really was kicking myself and wishing I had stayed at the hospital!

Oh and as for state, after my waters broke I had 2 contractions basically on top of each other and they kept coming so that, (and my mental wish of..can it all just stop now!) put me on high alert to get going.

T_Rex wrote: I plan to stay home for the whole time, so not much help in that respect, but is there someone your mum could come up and stay with that is closer, so that she's only a wee way away once you decide you want her? I'm going to have to have someone here to take care of DD, even though I'd kind of rather not, so they are going to be banished to her room with her if it's night and I'm going to play whitenoise in there so hopefully they don't hear everything going on in the family room! If it's daytime, I'll just get them to head out for a walk with her or something. Isn't it funny how different the things you worry about the second time are?

My daughter's stepmum had her youngest at home and her boys (4 and 2 at the time) were blissfully unaware,it was during the day and she had her friend there to distract them,but they just played outside anyway

Edited by TheKelly

Yeah, I think when the time comes you will have a fair idea of when you want to go into the birthing centre. You never know, your waters might break first this time and it will give a lovely 'this is starting' point!!

I know where you are coming from though, as much as I love my mum, I wouldnt want her to see me in labour!! (Although, probably if it happened at the time, I wouldnt care less!)

You can always give us a yell and we can come and pick up Jacob and bring him back to our place, he would probably play quite happily...