When Should I Go to the Hospital?

i went to the dr in the morning w/ 5 min apart contractions. since i had been dilated to 4 from the day before they weren't considering it active later. i went home and went back to the dr about 4 hours later and was dilated to 6 before i went to the hospital. i totally recommend waiting as long as you can. i only was at the hospital 4 hours (remember, 1st baby) before i had her. i think that walking and not getting an epidural immediately, if at all, will definately help speed you labor along.

trust your body. you will know. i had back labor only. when i couldn't move my legs during a contraction i knew it was time to go. good luck!

Jaime,

Here is what I can tell you about my last labor. I gave birth in Jan (my second child) and I wanted exactly what you want; to stay at home as long as I could before going to the hospital. I woke up around 4 am and I felt like I had to pee, but afterwards I still had that crampy feeling. I got up and ate some Toaster Strudel and sat on my workout ball (I had pubic symphesis) and I kept feeling them. I figured that if they didn't go away in about 30 minutes, I'd wake up my husband. I began to time them and I was amazed that they were about 3 minutes apart. The doctor told me to call the doctor's office (who would call the on-call dr) when they were 5 min or less apart. So, I woke my husband up and we called. She asked me when I saw the doctor last, what did he say. My doctor told me on Friday that I was 3 cm dilated, and I woke up with the contractions on Monday. So, she told me to go ahead and go to the hospital. Well, I took my time. I took a shower, shaved my legs and underarms, lathered up with lotion, picked out my outfit, and finished packing my bag. (I later found out I drove my husband crazy). Once we were in the car the contractions got a little stronger and I realized that I really was in labor. One thing I forgot to do was find out when they do nurse shift changes b/c I got to the hospital and that is what happened so I waited in the little room for a while. So, find out when shift changes are and make sure to avoid them or you may be waiting and uncomfortable. I already knew this time around I wanted an epidural, so I didn't want to stay home too long.

Again, this was my experience because my first labor was different. I had cramping so I went to the hospital at midnight and ended up walking around and stuff that I would have rather of done at home until about 5 am. So I totally understand about staying home as long as you can. Just remember you have a car ride so you want to be comfortable enough in the car because you won't have all of your birthing tools to help you through them.

I hope this helps you a little.

L.

Hi J.. I normally would tell you to wait until you are 3 minutes apart and unable to be comfortable, but with the step B virus it is important to have the antibiotics early enough to take effect if you plan to have a vaginal delivery. So in the best interest of the child 5-3 minutes apart call your doctor.

A little about my self. I am a single mom with 4 children and a Certified Medical Assistant for a GYN.

J.,

I totally agree with your instincts. I had the exact same experience with my first birth (induction and really difficult delivery with baby being born blue and in ICU for days).

I waited as long as I could to go to the hospital the second time around. I was having contractions in the morning, but they were 12 minutes apart, so I went into work. They were about 6 minutes apart when I had an appt at 2 in the afternoon. The doctor checked me and said I had to check into the hospital. I went to my car to get my stuff, drank a liter of water and then checked myself in (since I knew they would only allow ice chips once they checked me in). That was around 4 pm. Even after I got to the hospital, I asked if I could walk around. They required that they hook me up to the monitor every hour, but staying vertical really, really helped my delivery. My doctor checked me at 7 pm and said it would be a while - she went home for dinner. She came back at about 8:30 and the baby's head was there. My son was born at 9:22 - the doctor didn't even have time to change - she delivered him in high heels and pearls.

So, I recommend you trust your instincts and good luck with your delivery.

J.,
That is a very tough question. Every pregnancy is different. And I totally mean that. With my son, I started having contractions on Friday night (after taking my MIL out for her birthday). They were not consistant and not getting worse. So when we got home I took a shower and they went away (braxton hicks). On Monday night the same thing happened, execpt this time they were evenly spaced and were more severe. I called the doctor who told me to go in and be checked out (especially since this was my first and I had no idea what I was supposed to feel). Well, after midnight I was sent home with them saying Braxton Hicks again. On Wednesday morning (around 9am) I was having contractions that started out very lightly from my back to my front and would go away. They progressively got worse and closer together. I called the doctor and they said get to the hospital. So I get there around 11am and I am dialated to a 2. My little boy was not due for another month, but according to the last measurments he was big enough to continue. My doctor said that if I had not progressed at the end of his business day he would send me home on bedrest until my son was born! I didn't want that. When my doctor came back I was at 2 1/2. He broke my water, I had an epidural and at 8:23pm my little boy was born. Yes I would have rather been at home for most of that, but I didn't know.

So with my second, I knew what I was up against and I knew how long it could take (or so I thought)....On Monday evening I went to the bathroom and a few minutes later my panties were wet. I thought my water had "sprung a leak" so I called the doctor who sent me in. I was having braxton hicks contractions and had only lost my mucus plug. So they sent me home with recomendations to be in bed the next day. Mainly because it was so late (early in the morning) when we left the hospital. But the nurse said it was up to me and how I felt. So I went to work (didn't have to be there until noon). I felt great all day and even mopped my infant room floor (worked in a daycare). Went home played with my son, made dinner, slept GREAT! The next morning (Wednesday), I woke up (at 7am) with severe cramps like I had to have a BM. So I went and boy did I go...BUT the cramping (in my stomach) did not stop. I tried to go again, but nothing. My son woke up and wanted to read. It got so painful I could not read outloud to him, so I called my hubby to come home from work and get me. We needed to go to the hospital NOW! I called my doctors office but it was about 7:30am and I had to wait for the answering service to answer. Everytime they would get on the line I would have a contraction and could not talk so they would hang up! I tried this several times, but never spoke to anyone. By 8am my hubby was still not home so I called my boss for a ride. My hubby walked in the door just as I got off the phone with her, so hubby called her back and said he was home. He got our son in the car, and I was on my way out. My water completly broke just as I got to the car. It was January 31st and COLD, and now I was wet! He sped (as fast as you can go on I-30 just after 8am) to the hospital. Passed me off to an ER attendant who wheeled me up to L&D, while hubby parked the car. He got to the room as I was pushing (without my doctor, in my street clothes minus the bottoms, and 3 nursed to hold my feet and hands). They sent my hubby out of the room to stay with our son as we had not had time to drop him off with granny. My daughter was born right as my doctor came RUNNING into the room. He cut her cord. She was born at 8:58am (less than 2 hours of labor, no drugs, no epidural, no episiotomy, no nothing)!

All of that to say, no one can tell you when to go to the hospital. It is all your best judgment and who knows if you will have an 11 1/2 hour labor or less than 2 hours. Congratulations on your second and I hope it all goes well.