Advice Alan..Anyone?

Im 37 wks and have been getting what i presume are pre-labour pains,(which i never had with my first and had a 14 hr labour), the last lot lasted about 2hrs but where irregular. still very exciting though.
So heres my prob i live two hrs away from the hospital and have know where to stay befor bub decides to arrive and the cost of hotels are rediculas(spelling?) so we are waiting till thingas happen befor we leave. If my waters break like they did last time im right cause ill know we have to go but if they dont how do i know when to go to the hospital once contrctions start, i dont want to go to hospital and have them tell me to go home until things are stronger because it is a 4 hr round trip but i dont want to leave it and then not make it and be delivering on the side of the road, my DH just wouldnt cope.
Since my waters broke naturaly last time does that mean they will this time or not?
And since im getting pre labour does this mean my labour will be relitivly shorter than my last.

So when do i go?

Also what should i pack as an emergancy birth bag incase we do have to deliver our selves, two of the previese women that have lived in this house have not made it to the hopital.

Sorry this is long and has so many questions i just feel i need to be a little bit more prepared just incase.

Thank you.:)

hi Roudysmum,
In regards to needing accommodation most hospitals have some sort of accommodation available for patients and families, on the hospital grounds or somewhere nearby.

I have stayed in many in sydney when my brother had cancer treatment for only $22 a night. I lived their for months on and off over the many years he was sick.

I'm also delivering away from home and will be needing accommodation for myself and DP. John Hunter Hospital in newcastle has 3 seperate accommodation facilities available and we will probably stay in Ronald McDonald House as my baby is having an operation after he is born and will be in NICU for awhile.

So call the hospital and ask about what accommodation they have available and explain your situation.

As for the timing thing I dont have any good advise but I know its scary being so far away from where you are to deliver. Your best bet will probably be to speak to the Ob's and midwives there for their advise. They might suggest inducing you though...

All the best and I hope your bubs stays put for now.

There is no gurantee that your waters will break first this time like they did previously. If you are near term the hospital may let you stay in until you do go into established labour, allowing your DH to go back home. I know this isn't a great arrangement though. The Salvation Army or St Vincent De Paul often have accomodation that you can use too - would be worth checkng them out.

August moon mum
Thanks for that i will definatly ring the hospital and see what they have, never even gave that a thought.
Was woken last night with another lot of pre labour so it mabe sooner rather than later, i dont mind either way but i wish they pains would come during the day instead of 1 in the morning. lol im guessing we might be doing a night dash.

Sherie
Bugger about the waters i was hoping that it would happen.

I would suggest that you go to the hospital when your contractions become regular and a little painful. Also if your waters break then you need to go to hospital.

Another option would be to phone an ambulance and get them to take you. Most ambo’s have some training in birth.

For an emergency birth you will not need too much. Some old towels to soak up the mess. Some Clean towels to dry baby. Once baby is born make sure that you dry him then put him inside tour top next to your skin. There I no need to worry about the cord, just don’t pull on it. If baby is not crying/breathing when born be a bit rough when drying him. You could also flick the bottom of his feet. The idea is to upset him and make him cry.

I was going to suggest as Alan did, go when your contractions become regular or if your waters break - they shouldn't send you home until you are further along seeing that you live so far away.

If you don't think you are going to make it, call an ambulance, they have everything that will be needed to deliver your baby and that is what they are trained to do.

Definitely would pay to have a pile of old towels in the car - if you do feel that you will be delivering in the car, try to get these towels (probably a job for you DH) under you and around, that way they can be thrown out - much cheaper than the car (very hard to get that smell and mess out of your car).

Good luck with it all.

Thanks for that, never even thought about the mess it would make, lucky we have a land crusier with heaps of room in the back.
Im glad you said not to worry about the cord Alan as i thought we would have to clamp it or something so that one less thing we will have to worry about.

How will i know the difference between pre labour and labour as the pains i have been getting seem to be regular but only last a couple of hrs then go away, should i wait till i cant talk through a contraction or is that to late.

Hi Roudysmum
With prelabour your contractions are not usually regular. When you are in labour your contractions will come regularly Say every 15 mins. They will also last for between 30 and 60 seconds. If you can not talk through a contraction then yes it is time to go to hospital. Another guide as to when to go to the hospital is when you no longer feel comfortable at home. One other tip is to have the phone number of the hospital handy and if your are not sure what is happening or what to do you can give them a ring and ask for advice.

Thanks Alan i feel a little bit more prepared so we willsee how things go.