At what pointdoyou go to the hospital with your second?

**jubiedoo16** · 13-10-2009, 10:20pm

With my first I knew when to go in as my waters went in spectacular fashion, Been having tightenings every 6 mins for over 3 hours now.
They aren't getting more regular but are getting stronger and lasting over a minute each. I have had a show and had the runs. I am reluctant to go though too soon after having 3 admissions with my irritable uterus prior to 37 weeks.
I would need to ring my mum to come and look after dd too so its not easy to just pop down and get checked out. What point would you leave it to?

**banana** · 13-10-2009, 10:22pm

I'd call and see what they think

***Marti*** · 13-10-2009, 10:23pm

I think I would leave it til every 4 and lasting a minute...BUT our hospital is 15mins away, so its dependent on the length of your journey. All the best

REAL labour vibes

**Mrs B** · 13-10-2009, 10:24pm

Not been in that situation, but I think they would advise you to stay at home til contractions become very painful and probably 2-3 mins apart. Worth calling them though, in case they want to monitor you because of your uterus.

**bellatrix** · 13-10-2009, 10:25pm

I have no advice as this will be my first, but hoping it's FINALLY the real thing for you and we hear about the new arrival v soon

**Alabama** · 13-10-2009, 10:27pm

How far do you have to travel & how fast are you expecting labour to be?

We are 45-60 mins from the MW unit I went to, my previous labour was 6hrs from first twinge to delivery so I was expecting the second to be half that.

I called the MW unit when I was getting 'pains' (not actually painful) every 5 mins, lasting 50 seconds (this was at 11pm, first twinges started at 9-10pm ish).

They told me to come in straight away, so I got stuff together, called my mum over, pottered about and set off in no hurry at midnight. By the time we were halfway there (12.20am) I was shrieking at DH to hurry the f*** up and he was born at 1.11am, 30 mins after we arrived.

I didn't feel that I needed to set off when we did, but I'm bloody glad I did

**Annie Goolahey** · 13-10-2009, 10:28pm

I went with C when my waters had gone and contractions were coming every 2 mins or so (although not as strong as I knew they would become).
My hospital has a policy of admitting as soon as membranes rupture though - and I did hold off a couple of hours but then started to worry she was going to come really quick. In the end she was born 6 hours after I arrived at hospital so I could have held off nicely.

**jubiedoo16** · 13-10-2009, 10:30pm

Originally Posted by *Marti*

I think I would leave it til every 4 and lasting a minute...BUT our hospital is 15mins away, so its dependent on the length of your journey. All the best

REAL labour vibes

The hospital I will have to go to atm is about 15 minutes, however have to get my mum and stepda here too which is another 10/15 minutes.

Puffy · 13-10-2009, 10:34pm

Id get your mum and stepdad primed and ready to come (as its probably about bedtime and I bet theyd prefer to know now than in an hour!!) and then if it kicks off they can come asap and if not you can try and get some rest

**LME** · 13-10-2009, 10:39pm

I just knew when - I'd had tightenings for about a day and half. I knew they were there, but not actually painful just uncomfortable. When my real labour started it kicked off big time, every 3 mins for about a min and a half, so I really wasn't getting a break between them.

Like you I was worried about it as with my first I had a. been in hospital anyway so no travel was involved, b. my waters had gone very early on so I knew it was for real.

Is there anyway you can get your parents to come and stay over regardless? I asked my Mum to stay at mine when i was having tightenings as I thought it might kick off. If she hadn't been there we wouldn't have made it to hospital in time.

So I think I'd call them and then the hospital and ask what they think you should do, it'll let them know they're likely to see you soon anyway.

Good luck. I'm sending lots of swift and pain free labours vibes (once you're actually at the hospital!).