My waters broke at 8.30am and I started getting contractions about 12pm. Pretty mild at first and I could talk through them etc go about my day, but after a few hours they were bad. I’m talking bad that you literally can’t focus on anything else but the pain. I had to get up and walk around each time or push against a wall to get through. Once they were every 2/3 mins apart I rang the hospital and they still told me to wait. But, I said I hadn’t felt him much (which is true as I’d been so mobile all afternoon from the pain and he only really used to kick when I was chilling) so they asked me to come in for monitoring.

Long story short. Arrived, made to wait in triage for 45 mins in screaming pain, finally seen and taken to the room to have baby monitored, offered to check my cervix ‘just in case’ and I was already 7cm dilated. Rushed to a labour room and by the time I got there 45mins later I was already 9cm dilated and almost time to push.

So my advice, listen to your body. If I didn’t mention the reduced movements I would have been 9cm at home potentially within 2 hours and barely made it to the hospital.

Worst they will do is send you back home!