Roughly how far apart should contractions be before you get your arse in gear and get the whale off to the hospital? Stubborn wench wont talk to the midwife. Currently strong contractions 6 mins apart.

Umm.. three in 10 mins, I think..? Can't remember.

There's strong contractions as in 'ooh, that's tough' and there's actual strong contractions which are 'AAAAAAAAAARRRG OOOOOOOOARRH AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHGASP GASP PANT PANT AARGH!'. Thsoe are the ones you want to look for 🙂

Phone up the delivery suite now! Don't ask the numpties on here.

Good luck!

these are the bent double and swearing type.

U or her 😉

Good luck!

these are the bent double and swearing type.

Doesn't sound like the big ones then 🙂

But yes, phone the midwife yourself!

I can just picture us driving along the road me trying to hold the head in.

The midwife told us they like to speak to the mother to be in person. That way they can judge severity; if you can talk then they aren't strong enough yet.

The other question is how far to hospital.

Hospital is 20 miles away on twisty roads.

Mrs S last time around: "I think they feel like Braxton Hicks but Im not due for 8 weeks", midwife says, well pack a bag and toddle along to the maternity ward just in case. 3 hrs later a very small Stoner Jr turns up! :O

Stoner Jr Pt II due any time over the next few weeks, Im keeping a weather eye on the missus as she obviously has no idea about this giving birth thing. Best leave it to a man.

Every few minutes I thought…

BTW: If it's coming out of her a**e, you've done something wrong.

Stoner – It's a big baby. I suspect that there may be a merger.

Mrs Postierich here,
professional opinion is, every 3 mins apart, lasting 45- 60 secs in length. not just lower abdo cramps but radiating all over the bump. Call your labour suite tho to get support and advice from them too. Is it you first? If your second it tends to happen quicker. However if your wife doesnt feel that she needs to go in yet then she is probabaly okay, she knows her own threshold and will definitely let you know when se wants to go. It sounds like she is doing well. the longer at home the better, in the early stages,

dont forget when the doctor asks, it's "one more stitch for the husband". OK 😉

Mrs Postierich. It's the 3rd. Last one took a bit of nifty driving to get to the labour suite on time.

third can take a bit longer than the second , however not as slow as a first. be guided by your wife tho, she is obviously okay with it at the mo. Can you talk to her through the contractions? do you have your childcare sorted??

Mrs B (midwife) says "she has ages yet,but do call midwife if you are at all concerned"

Edit: just read it was 3rd one………..best nip on to labour ward.

Kids are away at the brother inlaws. Just leave her to it with the contractions (wife is a bit mental and seems to like pain).

I have a lovely image of jimmy sitting at his computer on STW while his missus is uttering curses from odd bent positions against the mantelpiece on the other side of the room 😉

Stoner – thats just about perfect.

20 miles on twisty roads?

And you're still on here?

20 miles on twisty road will not take that long. 15 minutes the last time.

3rd, and you're still asking questions?! I'd have thought you've be fairly well versed by now!

CK – I am pretty well versed, but the wife seems to forget just how fast i had to drive the last time. Showing this thread to her…

ooooh.
cover up the bit about an extra stitch before you do. 😉

With this being the 3rd it'll take more than one extra stitch.

Go now!

If they tell you to go home just walk out the door, walk around the car park and walk back in again. NHS guidelines means they have to admit you the second time.

Go now and good luck!

Pop along and get checked over.

Delivered another baby on Monday morning right outside the doors of the hospital. Midwife was with us so she did the hard work. Transferred with failure to progress, wasted 20 mins waiting on midwife escort 30 mins after leaving scene sprog pops out.

Good luck… and if you havent learnt already avoid the anfield road end…

20 miles in 15 mins? That's 80mph average speed

Yes TFM – It is there or thereabouts. To be fair I think that if I got pulled that day I would have got an escort rather than a charge.

you still here………

Our first came last week. My wife's a right wimp and said her contractions were 3 mins apart but when we got in they were still 5 mins apart. They kept her in though – maybe because she'd already come, as asked, in the night before when her waters broke? I went back home and returned 8 hours later and still had to wait another 8 hours in the hospital for the new arrival.

Still here.

She is off to lie down. 🙄

If she's off for a lie down, you should clear your head, go for a ride 😆

third can take a bit longer than the second , however not as slow as a first.

LOL – a little while ago, young lady 1st baby, full term, contractions 6 mins apart, re-assured her it would be ages, 10 minutes later after another contraction she could 'feel something'……………..imagine my surprise and delight that the baby's head had appeared still 5 minutes from the hospital 😯

…and?

Mrshora – 11pm. Contractions started. Casually climbed in the car and drove to hospital…. 8cm dilated and waters broke but SENT HOME.

I watched an episode of Mighty Boosh (laughed). Then decided to go back (casually).

This time they kept her in. Still took 18hours.

I think you'll be alright. You must stay ultra-chilled though for your partner. If its her first I imagine she'll be bricking it.

As its 20miles though I'd consider potentially phoning for an ambulance. Our journey was only 4miles.

Why? When we were going backwards and forward to the maternity unit I lost count of the amount of girls coming in on stretchers from ambulances.