when should I go to the hospital?

Question

I am wondering when should I go to the hospital. With my first child I didn't feel any of the contractions until it was too late. I was dialated to eight by the time I got to the hosptial. My contractions were very irregular too.

Now I am 36 weeks and I've been having light contractions all day. They are very irregular and some of them I am questioning if they are even contractions at all. My doc says come when they are 7 min. apart but I can't really tell how far apart they are. But others tell me that I should compare it to my first one...and that is hard to do because I really didn't know or have time to even think with the first one.

One tuesday the doc said i was dialated to 2 and 70% effaced. I just don't want to go to the hospital too late or too soon.

And I 've been having a lot of slimey discharge, but it isn't bloody or anything.

When shoudl I go to the hosptial?

Answer 1

Are you going to the bathroom almost constantly after each "contraction"? If so, this is more of a real contraction and not a braxton-hicks. Try laying on your left side with a pillow between your knees and relaxing for a half hour. Place your hand on your belly and when your having a "contraction" see if your belly is hard. This will also help determine if it's a contraction. Glance at the clock and focus on the feeling of the contraction to see when it begins and ends. Has the baby been moving around? When you are in labor your baby will stop moving around. Write down the time you feel the baby move and keep track of when it has stopped. dilated 2 and 70% isnt much at all.

Answer 2

I was told that you should go when you are having contractions 5 minutes apart, but if you are already 2 cm dialated and 70% effaced then you might want to call your doctor and ask or if you can't reach him you can always call the hospital and ask the doctor that is there. You don't want to take too many chances since you got to the hospital too late for your first one. You may just be the type that doesn't feel the regular symptoms, so just go ahead and call them just to be sure. Good Luck!

Answer 3

Hello hun I went through the same thing with two of my five daughters. One of the ways to tell when the contractions are getting close and you have dialated more is when the pressure in your lower back is so much it hurts to sit down and hurts to stand.
The slimmy stuff is your mucus plug starting to let go so as a mommy and a psychic I can honestly say you will be going this weekend. probable frday night and have the baby early saturday morning around 1 ish.
Penny Babson
http://www.impressionsbypenny.com
http://www.pennyclarkbabson.net

Answer 4

if they are irregular, stay home. if they stop hurting when you move, stay home. until they are regular, you are safe. you don't want to go too early. remember 411. 4 minutes apart, 1 minute long, for 1 hour. once you get close to that, get to the hospital. 411 is what my doctor is telling me to do

Answer 5

get a watch a pen and some paper. write down every contraction when they started and stopped and watch for a pattern once you see one call the doctor and get on the road/

Answer 6

Call your doctor and tell him what is going on. Your doctor should be able to tell you.

Good luck and congrats!

Answer 7

when the contractions become regular

Answer 8

Call you doctor or the advise nurse. CONGRATS!! and good luck

Answer 9

call your doctor, good luck and congrats!

Answer 10

i think u should go right away