All ive read is wait until your contractions are so intense that you cant walk or talk and that they need to be 3-5 minutes apart. This is my first child and honestly i'm scared to wait that long. I live about 30 mins from the hospital with no traffic. I want to go as soon as i thnk i may be having contractions. Is this ok or should i wait? what did you do? did you regret it?
2007-07-31 08:07:06 · 33 answers · asked by uh_huh_ok_wassup_shutup 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
With your first you're going to have a LOT of time.
Contractions DO mean that labor has begun, but there's no time crunch. Most doctors will tell you to wait at home as long as you can because you are more comfortable at home. Some hospitals will even turn away women who aren't dialated to 5 cm!
I would wait. You're going to be more comfortable in the long run. NEVER drive yourself to the hospital, and as far as traffic goes, you can speed.
2007-07-31 08:09:55 · answer #1 · answered by FaZizzle 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Well, you can go as soon as you think you are having contractions, but be prepared that the staff at the hospital may send you back home several times before you are admitted if you are having false labor or are not dialated beyond 3 cm. At my hospital, they would not admit you unless your water had broken (in which case they kept you for risk of infection), had severe contractions that were 3-5 minutes apart, or were dialated beyond 3 cm. My hospital was 45 min. away from us, and with my first- I was induced, so I had an appointment to come get the pitocin that started my contractions (I was two weeks late). With the second, my water broke in the morning (2 days before I was scheduled to be induced again). You never know what will happen when it comes to labor... just try to be prepared as you can for every scenario. Know what to do if your contractions come fast and you can't make it to the hospital, and know that you could be sent packing from the hospital with false labor.
2007-07-31 13:07:23 · answer #2 · answered by dolphin mama 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have 12 nieces and nephews and a daughter, so I've been around and seen allot of different doctors. Being that you live 30min from the hospital without traffic you might not want to wait that long. All lot of times they will send you home if the contractions are to far apart. I would wait till they're about 10min apart. That way it will give you a good amount of time to get there. Also, being that you live that far, most doctors won't have you drive back. Congratulation with your baby and I hope everything goes well.
2007-07-31 08:19:42 · answer #3 · answered by PR MAN 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was told 5-1-1 you go to the hospital when the contracts are 5 minutes apart, lasting for 1 minute for 1 hour. If you don't feel comfortable then leave for the hospital after you have had them for 30 minutes at that rate. Otherwise it might be false labor and you will only get frustrated. Good luck to you.
2007-07-31 08:11:12 · answer #4 · answered by bluefroggy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was the same but I didn't want to go all the way to the hospital (50 mins away in good traffic) and be sent home. I waited till I was having my contractions 7 mins apart, huffed and puffed for quite a while on the living room floor, then phoned and said I was coming in. The journey was hell, I told my husband to just ignore me and drive which was really unfair as he was freaking but hey, I don't regret it as your more comfortable at home and getting to the hospital only to be turned away isn't a good thing. Only my opinion though. Good luck.
2007-07-31 08:40:21 · answer #5 · answered by aza 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can certainly go to the hospital but if you are not even close to delivery time they may send you home. I went to the hospital as soon as my water broke with my daughter and ended being there over 36 hours in labor before they finally took her C-Section, she was my first. The second one I scheduled a C-Section for a Tuesday morning. I started in labor all weekend and showed up at 7am for my surgery at 8am. By 8:20am, I had a son. No waiting in the hospital and the recovery time was excellent compared to the lengthy recovery time from the first one. Every pregnancy is different and every person is different. Do what you feel is right for you. Congrats.
2007-07-31 08:15:45 · answer #6 · answered by witchy_mom2 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At least wait until the contractions are closer together, about 8-10 minutes, otherwise your doc will send you home, or make you sit in a waiting room for hours until you get a room. You would be more comfortable waiting at home.
My best friend woke up around 10pm with her first contractions. They were still about an hour apart so she had to wait until 11am to go to the hospital. by 5pm she had her little boy.
2007-07-31 08:13:41 · answer #7 · answered by Malina 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I went with my first as soon as contractions started. I ended up asking to be discharged to go back home and wait a bit longer. Labor is SOOOOO long and it is so pointless to go up right at the beginning. You would be more comfortable at home resting without having the nurses bother you every 20 minutes. You could even go when the contractions are 10 minutes, or at least regular, but don't go at the first contraction.
2007-07-31 08:12:20 · answer #8 · answered by paganmom26 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since you live that far from the hospital you should probably go before they are 3-5. Wait untill they are at regular intervals to make sure they are not braxton hicks also ask your doctor because he will have a better idea of when to leave. If your water breaks call your doctorand head for the hospital immediatly, because that can make contractions come faster and stronger.
2007-07-31 08:33:25 · answer #9 · answered by mrs.madson 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You may end up regretting it...you may end up laying up in a bed for hours until your labor is active or sent home. It is best to keep active and walking during the early contractions will help progress the labor. Being you are a first time mom, I can understand the fear and concern, if it makes you feel any better go when you have them, they will check you vaginally and either send you home, or keep you...at least it will put your mind at ease.
I did babysit for a friend like 5 times that she was GOING to give birth....she was sent home each time because it was too soon! Good luck and happy birth and healthy baby!
2007-07-31 08:12:48 · answer #10 · answered by Marriedtothearmy 2 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I went in as soon as my water broke. Even though I wanted to stay home. Subsequently I had to spend the next 2 days at the hospital, in labor. 43 1/2 hours, pacing the halls. I COULD have stayed home and been comfortable. I live 45 minutes from my hospital.
Do what your comfortable with. If you'd be more comfortable knowing doctors can see and touch you, then go right in.
However, unless your contractions are close and regular they will send you home with false labor.
2007-07-31 08:11:24 · answer #11 · answered by amosunknown 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋