1st stage of labor, prenatal class said would be 7-8 hours long so dont go to hospital -anyone else different?

Question

i was telling my mom how my prenatal class said contractions will take 7-8 hours usually before they reach 5 minutes apart, so to spend most of time at home relaxing/resting/timing. my mom said that each time she went into labor (had 3 kids) they were pretty much already about 5 minutes apart to begin with and had to go in right away. is anyone "right" or does it depend on each individual? what should i expect? i'm also worried i will deny i am in labor because i am too embarassed to be false, like i am "bothering" people/hospital.

Answer 1

Each pregnancy and labor is different. A lot of the time, the beginning stages are so mild that it's hard to tell if it's braxton hicks or real contractions. When they start feeling regular, time them for an hour or so and call your doctor. They will let you know if it is time. Of course, if your water breaks, you need to call them right away. Good luck!

Answer 2

It depends on the person and their tolerance for pain...most people don't start "timing" contractions until they get uncomfortable and that is usually when they are about 5-10 minutes apart! It is true that the first stage of labor is usually the longest, but you may be in the early first stage and not even know it! Some things you may notice even before the contractions are the loss of your mucous plug (it will just be a glob of mucous that comes out when you go to the bathroom), you may lose it all at once or a little at a time...also you may have some lose bowel movements (I know, TMI...but it can happen!), that is the body's way of "cleaning itself out" in preparation for labor! If you aren't sure if you're in true labor or not, and you're having contractions that aren't too bad, try taking a warm bath or laying down to rest, if the contractions stop, it is probably a false alarm, but if they continue, it is more than likely the real deal! You may also notice (during the later part of early labor), some "bloody show" it will look like a mucousy discharge tinged w/ a little blood...I know, TMI again...LOL...Don't be frightened by it, it is normal and is a sign that you are dialating! However, if you notice alot of bright red blood, get to the hospital ASAP! Don't worry about bothering the people at the hospital, that's what they're there for...its better to be safe than sorry!!! Hope that helps!! Best of luck!!!

Answer 3

Your first baby "typically" takes a long time. When I had my son I was so used to hearing it was gonna take forever that when I first started feeling contractions I just took it easy at home, they weren't too painful or close together. I stayed at home a couple hours before my husband convinced me to go to the hospital, by the time I got there (only 3 hours after I felt my first contractions) I was 8 centimeters dialated. Again they told me "oh your first baby takes forever" and the nurse left to go teach a class. within an hour and a half of checking in I was a proud new mommy (14 minutes of pushing later). Stay at home as long as you are comfortable because every labor is different. But don't worry about going into the hospital and getting sent back, they see it many many times a day and I promise they won't be mad at you. Better to play it safe and get sent home from the hospital than wait to long and have the baby in the backseat, or worse. My neighbor figured labor would take forever so she told her husband to just go to work and take her to the hospital when he got home, she ended up having her son on her couch. :)
Every labor is different and nobody can tell you "how it's gonna go" so just be prepared for everything.

Answer 4

Everyone has a different pace that they go into active labor.

A better rule of thumb is this...if your hospital is more than 20 minutes away go to the hospital as soon as your contractions become painful and/or are 5 minutes or less apart.

If your hospital is rather close - wait until your contractions are painful - to the point where you have to stop walking when one hits you - this will reduce your risk of being sent home, your need for interventions and how long you are in labor - people at home are more relaxed and therefore labor faster.

Good luck and congratulations on your upcoming birth.

Answer 5

Every labor is different. I've given birth twice, and each time it was completely different. With my daughter, I was in "early labor" for about 4 weeks. Random contractions off and on and slowly dialating. With my son, I didn't have any contractions until all of a sudden my water broke.

And don't worry about false labor. I went into the hospital 3 times thinking for sure this was it! Only to be sent home... (This was with my second, LOL)

Answer 6

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Answer 7

I have to say that each person is different. my water broke at 3:30 pm and contractions started at 3:45pm and by 11:30 pm that same day my first son was born. I was only in labor for 8 hours total so I have to say that i was not one of those that followed the 1st stage of labor that lasted 7 or 8 hours.

Answer 8

every pregnancy is different. If your water breaks, leaks or contractions get about 4 minutes apart i would call the Dr and head to the hospital or if any other weird stuff starts happening that just doesn't feel right to you I would call the Dr.

My mom went from no contractions to water breaking to fully dialated in less than an hour with me and i was her first.

Answer 9

It's a good thing I didn't listen to that advice. My labor started and 2 hours later my daughter was born. It was super fast, and I was only at the hospital for about an hour.

Answer 10

depends on the person...It took me about 28 hours to dilate 10cms...no one is right or wrong