[lettie]

The thing with premature deliveries is that they can be very quick and unexpected. This lady has had a child before so may well have been quick. We advise ladies with severe abdominal pain, especially before 37 weeks to ring the hospital. By speaking to the woman, the midwife can usually judge if an ambulance is needed. The hospital will always ask to speak to the woman rather than her mother or partner (who tend to panic). In normal circumstances, they will keep the woman on the phone until she has a pain and listen to her reaction during that pain. If she can still speak through it, then it is too soon to come in. However, if she is less than 37 weeks, she will be asked to come in regardless.
Bear in mind that the hospital can only advise those women who phone and cannot advise those who just turn up (many false alarms do this and end up being sent home again, not in labour). All women are given the telephone number from the very beginning of pregnancy and all women are given advice about the signs of labour.