How To Know When You Should Go To The Hospital
First things first, always talk with your provider about what they recommend in terms of laboring at home.
Some conditions may inhibit you from laboring at home and require that you get to the hospital early. Talk with your medical provider.
Many couples take a birthing class, read books about birth and watch birth videos.
Almost all of them will talk about the 5-1-1 rule.
This states that when your contractions are coming five minutes apart AND they last for one minute AND these two things have been happening for one hour you are in labor and it’s time to go to the hospital.
The problem with this formula is that it is not taking into account the intensity of the contractions.
There can be times during early labor where you have contractions every five minutes and they may last a minute or more but the contractions won’t be very intense.
This is not the time to go to the hospital yet.
How Will I know If I’m In Labor?
I hate to break it to you but the chances of you missing something and being late to the hospital are slim to none.
Every first time mom wonders how she will know if she’s in labor.
Trust me, you’ll know when your contractions mean business!
For most women the initial contractions feel like menstrual cramping, still a part of labor but you’ve got a ways to go.
When Do We Start Timing Contractions?
You don’t need to start timing contractions in the very beginning. It can put an unhealthy emphasis on trying to get to the next phase and create anxiety. There is no need to time the contractions until you start to notice them coming more frequently.
Remember, in early labor the contractions typically do not follow a steady pattern, you can have contractions 5, 10, or 25 minutes apart.
In the early part of labor you might be tracking how many contractions you have in an hour rather then how many minutes apart they are.
Maybe you’ll only have two contractions an hour for a while. It can be all over the place and all of that is normal.
Once the contractions become noticeably closer together that’s when you can start timing them.
There are many apps available to use for timing contractions.
They also keep a record over time for you which can be useful information to have for your provider.
Try not to get too hung up on the timing though, you want your partner to be more focused on you then on their phone.
Read my article about coping through early labor to get ideas on what do for this stage of labor.
The 5-1-1 Rule And What It Doesn’t Tell You
The other element that is hopefully gaining momentum as you begin to notice you are having more contractions is the intensity.
The formula for a good progressing labor is strong, minute long contractions that are close together, 3 or 4 minutes apart is ideal.
Mom should not be able to talk through these contractions. She needs to focus on her coping mechanisms and her breathing.
She will also be feeling more uncomfortable in between the contractions as the pressure increases in her pelvis with the baby moving down.
One of the main things is to listen to mom. Ask her what she is feeling and how she perceives the intensity to be increasing.
When you have the 5-1-1 AND mom is not able to talk during contractions at all and is remaining uncomfortable in between that can be the sign that she’s entering active labor.
And that is when the hospital likes for you to arrive, in active labor.
Although the active labor stage is shorter then early labor it can still take some time before you have dilated all the way and are ready to push.
Therefore, 5-1-1 doesn’t mean run to the hospital. You probably still have some time to go and laboring at home is most comfortable.
Wait until the intensity of labor is at the point that you really have to breathe and focus through your contractions.
The tell tale sign that you want to be on the lookout for is a STRONG or uncontrollable urge to poo that continues as intensely between contractions.
If you experience this then it is time to get to the hospital. It can be an indicator that you are ready to push your baby out.
Staying At Home Longer Helps Reduce The Need For Interventions
The longer you are able to stay laboring at home the less time you’ll spend in the hospital where unnecessary interventions may be suggested as a way to augment, or speed up, labor.
Going to the hospital too early may also mean you have to turn around and go back home if you are not dilated enough to be admitted. This can be really discouraging.
If mom is allowed to reach active labor at home she will come to a point where she knows it’s time to go, well before she’s at the point of pushing.
During active labor the oxytocin is really flowing and it puts moms into what we call “labor land”.
This is where moms thinking brain is turned way down and her primal brain is taking over.
She is in a bit of a fog, it’s like a veil of protection from the outside world.
This state helps her go inward to cope with the increased intensity and also gives her the endurance needed to make it through a long night of labor.
Once active labor has been reached it is often the thought of getting in the car and driving to the hospital that informs our decision to go, they say, “If I don’t get in that car right now, I won’t be going”!
That’s a good time to start loading up and heading out 😉
What If My Water Breaks?
Statistically it is less common to have your water break before labor begins.
It usually breaks at some point during active labor or during pushing.
If you think your water has broken call your provider, they will instruct you on what to do next.
Often providers will let you stay at home until labor begins if the water is clear and there are no other complications. Contractions most often begin within hours after the water breaking.
Talk To The Nurse Or Let Her Listen Through A Contraction
Your partner is likely going to be the one doing the calling during labor.
When you call to let your provider know that labor has begun let the nurse listen to mom during a contraction.
This will give the nurse the best information to go off of when determining with you the best time to leave for the hospital.
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