Labor contractions, why did they send me home? HELP?

Question

Last night I started having contractions that were 3-5 minutes apart, so I called the MBU 2 1/2 hours later and they told me to come in. They checked my cervix and said that I was still 3cm but that I was now 90% effaced (I had been 75% for over a month) and that the baby had gone from -1 to +1 since the previos day when I had my doctors visit. Anyways, they hooked me up to the monitor and the contractions kept coming at MOST 5 minutes apart. They said the contractions weren't consistent or strong enough to admit me, so we ended up coming home. Well my contractions have stayed between 3-5 minutes since last night...and it's not like they are getting any more painful... so what now? I was told that some women won't be consistant and they won't feel the contractions until their water breaks....but how do you get admited if your water doesn't break and you still aren't feeling your contractions? How will I know to go back? What if baby keeps dropping and I don't dialate anymore?

I forgot to mention that I lost my mucus plug over 2 weeks ago and then my doctor stripped my membranes two days ago... I have tried walking, castor oil, and nipple stimulation. My husband doesn't want to have sex because it weirds him out and we can't find any of the loose leaf raspberry tea.

I guess I am just confused as to how I am going to know when to go back to the hopital if my water doesn't break on it's own or if my contractions won't become more painful.... I feel a little frustrated because I don't know what to do at this point and I am worried that if the baby keeps dropping and my cervix won't dialate that it will cause complications.

I'm stuck in Guam and the only JACO accredited hospital is the Naval Hospital. My husband is in the Navy so it works out, but they only have 4 delivery rooms and 4 recovery rooms so you have prove you are in full on labor to get admitted. AHHHHHH

Answer 1

This is common practice for many hospitals not just in Guam. You will really know when your in true labor and you won't even think if it is ok to go to the hospital you just will and won't let them send you home. If you are really in so much unbearable pain go back to the hospital.

Answer 2

Your contractions need to strengthen in intensity and get closer together before they admit you. You may only get every 2-3mins apart but they will definately get stronger. If they are too random and weak you are better off at home resting than sitting in a ward, uncomfortable and awake.

What now..? Well you play the waiting game. Don't expect your waters to break (this is actually quite uncommon and they will rupture them for you if they don't rupture naturally) but keep walking around to use gravity to help the labour along.
If in another 12hours they are still the same and no waters have broken then call the hospital again and give them an update. Call them sooner if your water breaks or they get more painful.
( I don't know where you are but I'm in Aus and its 7pm here so if it was me I would wait till the 7 in the morning) If its morning where you are wait till late this afternoon / early evening to call. If you bug them they are going to get annoyed and you don't want a p***ed off nurse looking after you!
They will just keep sending you home if you keep showing up too. Eventually though, in about 12-24 hours if nothing changes, they would most likely hook you up to pitocin to speed things up. This is something you want to avoid though, trust me!

Best of luck and hang in there. Pack those last few things you forgot before and try walking with rests inbetween. Drink lots of water to keep hydrated but most of all try anything you can to take your mind off it.

Good luck (and hugs!!)

Answer 3

Why would you want to be in the hospital before you are in full on labour anyway?

If you can sit at a computer and write a rant on Yahoo Answers then you're not in labour - early labour maybe, but it shows that the hospital was right to send you home.

You'll know when it's time to go. I wish you the best for a speedy healthy delivery.

Answer 4

hi, i wouldn't try to worrie to much about it. it all sounds ok really. the hospital shouldn't of sent you home tho, that's a bit wrong. where i'am if i went into there and my contractions were 3-5 Min's apart they would have kept my in there until my waters broke but i guess every hospital is different. if you pains get any worse just go back and make them keep you there till something about it is done. I'm 21 weeks pregnant and I've just started having braxton hicks contractions and they freaked me out on there own.

another thing, you may need to have sex because that helps sometimes with some woman. so maybe you might need to talk to your husband about that subject.

maybe you need to call the hospital and speak to the midwife there and see what she says again. if you ain't happy with her response get your husband to drive you to a different hospital to where they will keep you and do something about it.

i hope this helps.

Answer 5

My Dr told me to go to the hospital until i had regular contractions every 5 mins for an hour, otherwise its false labor...or if my water breaks i have an hour to go to the hospital,you probably had false labor

Answer 6

Not any help here on admittance, but just as a warning: Avoid the tea!!! I've been told by my midwife that Raspberry Leaf Tea can cause hemorraging. Not something you want when giving birth.

Also, I've read that unless you've got 3 hours to devote to nipple stimulation, I wouldn't do it.

Good luck!!

Answer 7

don't worry...they have all kinds of things to help you dialate and the baby will come out. do a lot of walking. sit on an excerise ball if you get a chance too...
and if they have to they will induce you. i got to a four and then they induced me and it worked...