When Is a "Good" Time to Actually GO to the Hospital??

Midwives will typically want you to labor at home as long as possible, doctors will want you to come in as soon as possible. Call whoever will be attending your birth and ask them. Hope it all goes well.

I was Strep B positive, so I was told to go in as soon as my water broke so they could get me on antibiotics. Trouble was, no one could seem to "prove" that my water broke and they nearly sent me home because I was only 2 cm dilated (apparently you have to be at least 4 cm before they admit you). Good thing they didn't, because my labor progressed REALLY fast, I went from 2 cm to 9 cm in the span of about 30 minutes!

I think the rule of thumb is when your contractions are consistently 5 or less minutes apart for the span of one hour, then you go in. Unless you have special instructions from your dr., or your first labor was unusually fast like mine, because you are likely to be fast again. Also, I've heard that after your first, the next labor generally goes faster for most women.

If you have concerns about whether it is time, just call your dr. Don't be embarrassed about forgetting, they get calls like that all the time and it's their job to answer your questions! At your next appointment, I would just make sure you and your dr are on the same page as to when he/she wants you to call, when to go to the hospital, etc.

Good luck and Congrats, you're in the home stretch now!!

You know, I don't recall the precise timing, but I do know I went when things started to accelerate noticeably. Once the contractions were consistent and starting to get closer, it was let's-go time. I was absolutely set on having an epidural and had too many stories from friends who didn't get one because they waited too long to get to the hospital.

With my first, my water broke, and the doctor had me go to the hospital. I was not having contractions, so they induced. With my second, I went into labor in my sleep and woke up in full hard labor, when to the hospital because it was obvious that I needed to go. I had been to the hospital once before then with the second, thinking I was in labor, but I was just dehydrated, so they told me that if I was in pain, I needed to come in.

If your water breaks, call the doctor, and they will tell you how quickly they want you to get to the hosipital. If you are uncomforatable with the contractions, that is the time to really go, and if you have any confusion, call the doctor, or just make a trip to the hospital. You would not be the first second time Mom to get there too early! They deal with it all the time, go if you think you need to. If you make it to your next appointment, ask the doctor what they want you to do and what you should not ignore.

M.

I second what Becky A said - pretty much when you are in enough pain - I think you'll remember fast enough! I was in labor for an hour (five minutes apart) and called the doctor (hospital was 1/2 hour away and we still had to get our daughter up and to my parents who lived on the way). I had wanted to wait until we took her to daycare (7 hours later) if I could stand it, but the contractions were pretty strong and my husband urged me to go. Well within 20 minutes of getting there, I delivered my son so I'd say it was a good thing he pressed me to go!!!

First of all congrats on the upcoming arrival of your little miracle.. =) Now to your question..when Contractions are about 5 mins apart I think.. That wasnt my case but I think I heard something like that..you can try to google it or go to www.americanbaby.com. You should find the answer there.. Anyway hope this helps! =)

go to the hospital when you see the head crowning......just kidding of course! i don't know either :)

My Dr's office said to call them when contractions started and got about 5 min apart. They had me come in to the office and confirmed I was in labor (this was a 2 in the after noon). Then they said to go home and call them again when the contractions were about 3 min apart. When I called then again at 7pm, they talked to me through a few contractions, then had me go to the hospital. When I got there the contractions were coming faster, but I was only dilated 3cm. By 9pm I was SO ready for the epidural (I'd been having contractions since 5 am that day and was getting tired). My son was born at 5pm next day (was about 36 hrs of labor in total). It can go faster if it's your 2nd birth. Just call your Dr's office and they'll tell you what to do.

When I went to my weekly appt at 38wks and the Dr told me I was 5cm & 80% effaced, but I still waited about 6hrs before DH and I decided it would be a good time. I had been in early stages of labor for some time. I didn't really know it. I only had a couple of "good" contractions. What I mean by "good" is I didn't feel most of my contractions until my water broke, but the "good" ones I did. There were 3. My water broke about 3hrs after I got to the hospital. If I knew then what I know now... I would've waited until either my water broke or the next morning. I'm sure my Dr wouldn't have been happy with that decision, but it is MY body... Right?

When the pain started getting unbearable (that is with my second).
With my first I had the feeling I had to go in according to what the directions said. I was only dilated to 1 but luckily they let me stay because I progressed really fast.
My water never broke at home but, I think my Dr's office said you need to come in when your water breaks.

Well, I went to the Hospital when my contractions got about 5 minutes apart.

Ultimately, ask your OB/GYN.
That is what I did... when I started contractions.
And I called him to give him head's up that I WAS having contractions... then he met me at the hospital.

I labored for a long time...
Each woman and each pregnancy is different. Some labor quickly and then give birth quickly. Some take a long time.
There is no way to 'predict' how long or when you will start contractions and how long you will be in labor.

When I started to have contractions, my water wasn't broke either. And it didn't break for a LONG time. But my mucous plug came out.

Go according to YOUR Doctor's instructions. Bottom Line.

all the best,
Susan

For me it was always steady contractions 3 minutes apart . Of course when I got there and got all hooked up and into my lovely hospital attire the contractions would go all wonky. It's so much easier when your water breaks because they just keep you - at least they did me.

My OB told me to call if my water broke as he would need me to be in for sure w/in a few hours even if contractions didn't start. I guess the risk for infection is high once your water breaks.

He said to call him when contractions were 5 minutes apart for at least an hour.

I don't think there is a right answer, exactly. With my son, when my water broke, I went to the hospital. They strapped me to an IV and wouldn't let me walk except to the bathroom because of risk of infection (whatever), and labor took 18 hours! So this time, I told my OB I didn't want that to happen again. She agreed, but said that the nurses are that way and want to keep track of me, so she recommended that I wait to come into the hospital and deal with as much of labor as I can at home. I am 36 weeks pregnant, so I haven't had to deal with that yet. I also live about 10 minutes from the hospital, so the chances of my having the baby on the way are pretty slim. It depends on your doctor and also on different things like distance from the hospital and your risk of infection (if you test positively for Strep B in your 34th week, it is recommended you get in there earlier so that they can put you on antibiotics). If your water doesn't break, some hospitals won't even admit you until you're 2-4 cm dilated, so there is no point in rushing if labor is just getting started. Anyway, good luck!

As an OB nurse we often recommend you stay home until you are having contractions that are at least 5 min apart, for at least an hour, and are strong enough that you can't walk/talk through them. There are certainly exceptions to this, including how fast your first labor was, how far away the hospital is, when/if your water breaks, if you are GBS+, if you have other risk factors, and of course provider preference. Definitely ask what your doctor/midwife recommends for you at your next appt. Don't feel embarrassed about asking, the "rules" can change with each pregnancy, and may be different this time around for you. Good luck and congrats on the upcoming birth.