If you think you may be in labour, do not contact your midwife or GP. And please don’t go to A&E.
Depending on the birth plan you have made with the maternity team during your pregnancy, you may be asked to call the hospital, a birth centre or a home birth team.
All maternity hospitals have a form of maternity triage/assessment service (or labour ward) which can be called 24/7 to give labour care advice if you are unsure.
Your community midwife may give you the number for your local maternity department when you book your pregnancy. Or you can access the numbers by telephoning the hospital’s main switchboard, who can forward you to the correct department.
The midwife may ask you questions about how long the contractions last, how far apart they are and when they started. They may also ask your gestation (how long you have been pregnant for), about baby’s movements and other questions about your pregnancy.
They will then give you advice on whether you need to attend the hospital or stay home for further early labour self-care.
