how many cm dilated do you have to be for them to keep you in the hospital?

Question

becasue i am 3cm. and i keep getting these sharp pains in my vaginal area

Answer 1

Usually 3-5 cm depending on the hospital's policy. They want you to be in "active labor" and have contractions less than 5 minutes apart.

With my first two babies, I was admitted at 5 cm and at that point it was hard to talk while having a contraction. That's a good sign.

With my third baby, I used a midwife and went to a birthing center. They admitted me that time because my water broke even though I was barely at 3 cm.

The longer you can labor at home, the better, because most mothers are more comfortable at home anyway and like to get "last minute" things done before heading for a 3-day hospital stay. I always clean my house while in early labor because I know family will be coming. LOL

Answer 2

When I went into labor with my son I was four cm dilated and I was in so much pain I could not stand it, this was my second pregnancy so I knew it had to be labor but when the doctor came in he told me I was in false labor and sent me home.

I live a half hour away from the hospital and when we got home we went straight back and this time a cop pulled us over and we told him I was in labor and he escorted us to the hospital. When we got in there I told them I was not going home and to do something. It was about 2:00 am at the time and by 4:00 am I was induced and my son was born at 9:47 am the next day...I was in labor a total of 17 hours.

So in general you do not have to be a certain number of centimeters dilated, every doctor is different and every pregnancy is different. When you go in the hospital they will monitor you and be able to tell how fast or slow the baby is coming down and if the contractions are there but the baby is not coming down they very well could send you home and just give you a shot to stop the contractions. This is what they did for me but it did not work, it just made them worse.

Good Luck and Congratulations on your new bundle of joy!

Answer 3

Its not so much cm dilated as time/regularity of contractions. If you are having regular contractions (less than 6mins apart) they would probably keep you there,
and if you were more than 3-4cm's dialated they would probably keep you there and possibly break you waters to get things moving if the contractions weren't completely regular or close together. It also depends on if its your first or second baby, how busy they are, how 'bothered' you look (so fake the pain if you have to!!)etc...
When I got to the hospital with my second, my contractions were 3-5 mins apart but I was only dilated 4cm but I stayed in and had him 5hrs later.

I think the general rule is when you're contractions get to 5-6mins apart, then you should go to the hospital unless you live more than 1/2 an hour away (then I would go when they got to 7-9mins apart.)

I heard of a lady that went for her 41wk checkup and booking in for induction appointment two weeks ago, when they examined her they found she was 5cm dilated and checked her straight into delivery ward, broke her waters and baby was born 2.5hrs later. She wasn't even having contractions that she could feel but was 5cm dilated! Lucky woman!

Best of luck.

Answer 4

I have been at 6 cm before and they were still willing to let me go home. (I only live 10 minutes from the hospital). but I was induced. If I had to do over, I probably would have waited because pitocin can cause some complications. But at the time I was Sooo miserable and at that point you just want to get it over with... If you aren't having contractions, they will probably send you home, unless you live far away

Answer 5

that would depend on your circumstances. if you are high risk they would probably keep you there as soon as your labor started.. Otherwise if every thing is normal they could wait to 4 or 5 cm or what is called "active labor" or when pains are coming every 3 to 5 minutes regularly. good luck,,

Answer 6

I think it depends on other factors. They may keep you if you're dilated to a one if your water has broken. Usually, they may keep you after five or more. But even then they may watch you for a bit and if you aren't progressing much they may still send you home and tell you to walk, etc. to help it along.

Answer 7

It depends on a number of things including your doctor's wishes and guidelines, your preferences, hospital policy, and whether you are having contractions regularly, increasing in intensity and length while you are being monitored.
The longer you can labor outside of the hospital the more relaxed and comfortable you might find it.
Birth blessings.

Answer 8

Usually between 6 - 8 Cms

Answer 9

It depends on if you are in active labor. They should be able to give you a non stress test and see if you're having contractions and how far apart and how intense they are. You should call your doctor

Answer 10

You sit right there after walking in and say "I am not leaving until this baby is out"... assuming you are at least 36 weeks. It works, well it worked for me.