Hospital-birthing mamas...when are you instructed to go into the hospital?

[rosie29]

Please, if you could tell me at what point you were told to go to the hospital, and what # baby this is for you.

My CNM told me to go to the hospital when contrax are about 10 mins apart and 1 min. long each. I'm starting to wonder if that's kind of early and want to compare to others. OTOH, my first birth was rather quick (12 hrs from ROM to birth but only 5 hrs active labor) and my MW lives 40 mins away; those could be factors.

I'm a bit worried about laboring at the hospital too long, but also worried about not making it in time!

[muttix2]

I'm using a birth center. But most of the time I've heard to go in when the contractions are five minutes apart and one minute long. My midwife told me to go ahead and give her a call when mine are five minutes apart and a minute long, I'll probably wait until they are closer together to go in but that seems to be the "safe" zone. Ten minutes apart seems rather early to me.

[anudi01]

That seems very early to me!

I used the 4:1 when I was in labor with my first, and I was at the hospital for only 3 hours. For my DD, I was in transition in the car, and was pushing when I got to the hospital. In my experience, I wouldn't go by contraction count alone. I would gauge it on how I was handling labor. Someone once told me, if you are able to smile at all in between contractions, you are probably not ready to go. I'm a homebirther now, but honestly, if I was going to the hospital to birth...I'd go in when I started to feel pushy. I guess it depends on how much labor support you want, and of course how far/close your hospital is.

[Dov'sMom]

My doctors say 7 minutes apart; 1minute long for women who've had babies before -- 10 minutes for primiparas.

My contractions last time were 2-3 minutes apart, 1.5 minutes long for over 30 hours -- there is no WAY I'll be going in with contractions 7 minutes apart unless I really feel progressed.

[mb122]

last time i was told either 4:1:1 (four minutes apart, 1 minute long, for 1 hour) or 5:1:1.

i decided to go in even though mine were all only about 7 minutes apart (but 1 minute long) - and i arrived at 10 cm ready to push!

this time i'm as confused as ever. i'm told to come in sooner - that this birth could go fast than last time even.

i just wish i would go into labor now...

[rosie29]

mb122, how long did your active labor last, with the last child? IKWYM about being confused. I'm figuring that how I feel will be a big factor in when I go in.

[AngelaB]

I was told with ds2 that I should go in when the contractions were 5 minutes appart and 1 minute long. I went in and was only 1-2 cm after 24 hours of what I thought was active labor. So we went home and went back again the next day after my membranes ruptured and the contractions were 4 minutes appart but almost 2 minutes long. I had him about 6 hours later.

If you go too early then you can always go back home! We ended up staying in a hotel since we traveled an hour to get to the hospital and I didnt want to be so far away again. It all worked out and I had a great birth!

Angela

[Bughead]

With my first 2 kids, I was induced so started my labor already in the hospital. This time I had no clue since it was the first time going into labor on my own. Active labor started about 4 pm (10 min apart), then by 5 pm they were 3-4 minutes apart, and by 6 pm 2-3 minutes apart. When we got to the hospital at 7 pm I was 4-5 cm with a bulging bag. That didn't sound like a lot, but I have a history of going quickly once I hit 5 cm. Babe was born about 2 hours after I got to the hospital. I probably could have waited a bit longer, but we had about a 20-25 minute drive to the hospital and I wanted to do it earlier in labor rather than when I was in transition.

Good luck!

[Mamazon]

1st was 6.5hrs... I was 13days past due date and had Horrible bakc labor..

2nd I was induced but had contractions throughout the day.. they broke my water @ 4:30pm and she was born 7:59pm.... quickest labor for me.

3rd I was induced again since we lived so far from the hospital and my last labor was super quick.. so again 6-6.5 hours..

Now this time we live about 10 min away but we just got slammed with a bunch of snow.. but doc told me since i have quick easy labors to come in when they are about 10 min apart 1 min each for about an hour.. just to be safe.. it's a little cold to birth a baby in the car this time of year.

[KittyTheCat]

Originally Posted by rosie29

My CNM told me to go to the hospital when contrax are about 10 mins apart and 1 min. long each.

If I'd done that with DS1, I'd have spent the entire time (27 hours) there. :
We went when they were 3 or 4 minutes apart, I think. DS was born 1.5 hours later.

[mb122]

22, how long did your active labor last, with the last child? IKWYM about being confused. I'm figuring that how I feel will be a big factor in when I go in.

you know, i don't know. at some point at about 2 am in the morning, i *knew* i was in labor, but it wasn't that bad - totally bearable, even relaxing. i guess i thought that was early labor. at 5 am, contractions were still far apart (7-8 minutes apart) and weren't that bad, but i was feeling pressure near my bottom. then i went quickly straight into transition, so that was intense.

*active* labor - i just don't know quite what that is, you know? because before transition, it was fine.

[carmelnap]

My midwife told me to go to the hospital when the ctx are 5 mins apart. Or to labor as long as possible at home. Which is what I plan to do. I guess it depends also on how I handle the ctx. I just hope she decides to come soon.

[angie3096]

For my first I was told 5 minutes apart and when I couldn't walk or talk through them. I followed that advice and arrived only dilated to 2! And they basically stopped when I got to the hospital (we live 20 minutes away).

This time I have a doula and we're going when she says we should.

[thirdeagle]

Originally Posted by angie3096

For my first I was told 5 minutes apart and when I couldn't walk or talk through them. I followed that advice and arrived only dilated to 2! And they basically stopped when I got to the hospital (we live 20 minutes away).

That's almost exactly my story too (I was dilated to a 3 when I got there). I'm going to stay home longer this time.

[SandraS]

I'm a little different - when my water breaks, it's not only my very first sign that I'm in labor, but it also means baby will be here within 30 minutes....

So for all of mine, I've waited until my water broke at home.