Transfer to hospital.

Should you choose to birth at hospital you will at some point during your labour need to transfer in.

You will start by calling the maternity ward of your chosen hospital to let them know that you will be coming in. They will ask a few questions about the frequency of your surges (contractions) and how you feel that you are getting on.

My rule of thumb is that if you are having three good surges - real top to toe surges - in a ten minute window you should probably consider heading in.

However, this can be a really tricky time for mum. She may have been feeling very safe in her home environment.
Perhaps in dim lighting ...and quiet ... and it can feel incredibly jarring to have to move to the outside word and navigate a cab journey or private car journey to the hospital.

So is there anything that you can plan to do that will help? Absolutely yes!
Firstly, get yourself an eye mask. One that you may use for sleeping or just an old one that you may still have hanging around from a freebie long haul flight bag.
Put it on.
No more visual disturbances and bright lights.
Will you look odd? Very probably.
Should you care? Absolutely not.
Let your birth partner guide and support you while you wear it.

Then pop your headphones in. Listen to your favourite music or if you are using them your hypnobirthing tracks. Just focus on the music or words. You do not need to make polite small talk with ANYONE. Never be a pleaser when transferring in labour.

Lastly - smell.
Pop a few drops of your favourite scent onto a bunch of tissues or napkin. Then just hold it next to your face. Of course lavender is very calming but actually the most calming scent to you will be a familiar scent from home. So your own perfume perhaps or if you use a diffuser then see if you can get the essential oil mix to use on your tissues.

Now, as far as your lovely sub-conscious mind is concerned you may well have left your safe home. But there is nothing upsetting or distracting to see.

No one that you need to hear (however friendly our taxi cab drivers can be!😂) and everything just smells of home.

Transfer can now remain both calm and focused.