Hi Fran, if I was in your situation I would definately stay at home till contractions were a bit closer together and more painful. I also started off with 7 minutely contractions and when I called the hospital they just told me to stay at home till my contractions were 3 minutes apart or until my waters broke! So I stayed until my waters broke then I called them again and they told me I hd to come in I felt so much more comfortable at home with all my own stuff around me.