When to Go To Hospital in Labor
Every mother must be worried about the coming of labor, and there are some instructions to help you know more about it:
How Does It Begin?
Anywhere between 38 weeks and 42 weeks of pregnancy, the estrogen in a woman's body rises. Then, the other two hormones oxytocin and prostaglandin tell your body to begin contractions. The size of the uterus and pressure from the baby's head on the cervix all work together to get labor started.
Interestingly, an urge to get everything in its place and the tendency to feel spaced out or dreamy are both indications that labor may be drawing near. There may also be a heavy mucous discharge.
Two Stages of Labor: False Labor vs. True Labor
Women begin to experience contractions in the last few months of their pregnancy. They may become concerned, convinced they are starting labor and head to the hospital, only to find out these are Braxton-Hicks contractions and are the body's way of practicing for the big event. Typically, this type of contractions has no real rhythm and is not at regular intervals. Try to get rest during this period and allow your body to do what it needs to do, as this is preparation for both your body and the baby growing inside to handle labor and delivery.
Contractions that become more intense and regular may be signs real labor is starting. When there are intervals of 15 to 20 minutes between contractions, it is time to pay attention. Those intervals will get progressively shorter, and when they are only 5minutes, delivery is in the near future.
To figure out if you are experiencing false labor or true labor and decide when to go to hospital in labor, consider the following:
When to Go to Hospital in Labor
There are some signs that tell you: it is time to go to hospital. These issues include:
1. When You Have Strong, Regular Contractions
It can be hard to determine what a real contraction feels like, particularly if this is your first experience with pregnancy and labor. However, the main consideration is whether they are lasting one minute typically or more and if they are consistent. Even for those that get to four minutes apart for 30 minutes, and then space back out to 10 minutes apart, that is Braxton-Hicks and generally not hospital worthy.
2. When Your Water Breaks
If you notice you have liquid running down your leg, it is a good time to put a pad on. If that pad gets very wet or if it becomes tinged with blood or a green color, those are indications your water has broken. That is a good time to get in touch with the doctor or midwife and start making plans for the baby's delivery. Labor may not start immediately, even if your water has broken. It is a good idea to have medical professionals check the baby to make sure everything is still progressing fine. Then, you can choose to wait or have starting labor.
Note:Vaginal discharge can become quite heavy toward the end of the pregnancy. It can be milky in color and can actually run down the leg or thoroughly wet the undergarments. Therefore, if this happens and it dries like egg white, it is not an indication of your water breaking.
3. Other Symptoms That You Can't Wait
Other indications about when to go to hospital in labor immediately are:
The following video explains more signs of labor that answers when to go to hospital in labor:
What to Expect When You Arrive at the Hospital
The first thing that will happen when you arrive at the hospital is a nurse will check you in, then check vital signs like your temperature and Blood Pressure. Next, there may be a monitor placed on your belly to check on the baby;s vitals. A vaginal exam will then be done to see how dilated and effaced you are. From there, it is a matter of preference and hospital. It can typically involve a lot of waiting.
Every mother must be worried about the coming of labor, and there are some instructions to help you know more about it:
How Does It Begin?
Anywhere between 38 weeks and 42 weeks of pregnancy, the estrogen in a woman's body rises. Then, the other two hormones oxytocin and prostaglandin tell your body to begin contractions. The size of the uterus and pressure from the baby's head on the cervix all work together to get labor started.
Interestingly, an urge to get everything in its place and the tendency to feel spaced out or dreamy are both indications that labor may be drawing near. There may also be a heavy mucous discharge.
Two Stages of Labor: False Labor vs. True Labor
- FalseLabor
Women begin to experience contractions in the last few months of their pregnancy. They may become concerned, convinced they are starting labor and head to the hospital, only to find out these are Braxton-Hicks contractions and are the body's way of practicing for the big event. Typically, this type of contractions has no real rhythm and is not at regular intervals. Try to get rest during this period and allow your body to do what it needs to do, as this is preparation for both your body and the baby growing inside to handle labor and delivery.
- True Labor
Contractions that become more intense and regular may be signs real labor is starting. When there are intervals of 15 to 20 minutes between contractions, it is time to pay attention. Those intervals will get progressively shorter, and when they are only 5minutes, delivery is in the near future.
To figure out if you are experiencing false labor or true labor and decide when to go to hospital in labor, consider the following:
Contraction Presentation | False Labor | True Labor |
Intervals | Irregular or do not get progressively closer together | Can be timed, last about 30-70 seconds and get closer together as time goes on |
Movement Affects Them? | Stop if you walk or rest, and may stop if you change positions | Continue no matter what position you are in or if you walk around |
Strength | Weak and do not get stronger; may seem strong and get weaker | Increase in strength |
Pain Felt | Felt in front of abdomen or pelvis | Start in lower back, move to front of abdomen |
When to Go to Hospital in Labor
There are some signs that tell you: it is time to go to hospital. These issues include:
1. When You Have Strong, Regular Contractions
It can be hard to determine what a real contraction feels like, particularly if this is your first experience with pregnancy and labor. However, the main consideration is whether they are lasting one minute typically or more and if they are consistent. Even for those that get to four minutes apart for 30 minutes, and then space back out to 10 minutes apart, that is Braxton-Hicks and generally not hospital worthy.
- For those who are having their first baby, it is a good idea to head to the hospital when the contractions are around five minutes apart or when the discomfort of labor becomes too much to bear at home.
- For those having their second baby, it is a good idea to head to the hospital when the contractions are around seven minutes apart.
2. When Your Water Breaks
If you notice you have liquid running down your leg, it is a good time to put a pad on. If that pad gets very wet or if it becomes tinged with blood or a green color, those are indications your water has broken. That is a good time to get in touch with the doctor or midwife and start making plans for the baby's delivery. Labor may not start immediately, even if your water has broken. It is a good idea to have medical professionals check the baby to make sure everything is still progressing fine. Then, you can choose to wait or have starting labor.
Note:Vaginal discharge can become quite heavy toward the end of the pregnancy. It can be milky in color and can actually run down the leg or thoroughly wet the undergarments. Therefore, if this happens and it dries like egg white, it is not an indication of your water breaking.
3. Other Symptoms That You Can't Wait
Other indications about when to go to hospital in labor immediately are:
- If you are pastdue date
- If there is bleeding comparable to a period
- If you are carrying twins or multiples
- If the baby is breech
- If you have had a baby before and the first labor was two to three hours in duration
- If you tested positive for Group B Strep and need antibiotics
- If you are experiencing high levels of anxiety about your labor
The following video explains more signs of labor that answers when to go to hospital in labor:
What to Expect When You Arrive at the Hospital
The first thing that will happen when you arrive at the hospital is a nurse will check you in, then check vital signs like your temperature and Blood Pressure. Next, there may be a monitor placed on your belly to check on the baby;s vitals. A vaginal exam will then be done to see how dilated and effaced you are. From there, it is a matter of preference and hospital. It can typically involve a lot of waiting.
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