When to go to hospital?

Question

So I’m only 28 weeks, but as a FTM i keep thinking about labor and all that! Everyone i know told me that it took them between 12-18hours to deliver after they started contracting. 
My question is, should i wait at home until my contractions are closer apart or should i go right away? And what if my water breaks? We live around 15-20 minutes from the hospital and my doctor has already told me that he will come as soon as i get admitted, so im not worried about that part, I’m just not loving the idea of spending all that time in a hospital just waiting when i can be comfortable at home. 
I’d love it if experienced moms share their stories 😊

Answer

You have to wait until your contractions are at least 3 minutes apart, I went when they were at 5 minutes and they made me go back to my house lol. And I had contraction during a whole day, after they got closer it took like 12 hours to finally have my baby, I had her at 39 weeks 😊

Answer

I went into hospital with my first when they was 5 minutes apart and my waters broke but they wouldn’t check to see how far on I was to avoid infection. She said I didn’t ‘look’ that far on in labour but I would know when I was because I wouldn’t be able to handle the pain. I just remembered thinking how bad is this going to get if this isn’t the worst yet I was crying thinking about it. 
I was sent home with some paracetamol lol. I got a warm bath for legit 5 minutes and said to my partner get up he said to me can’t we wait to morning I said no I need something for this pain now. This was only 30 minutes after I had got sent home. 
I went back and demanded to be checked as I wanted something a bit stronger then the paracetamol. They was shocked to say I was 6cm and not kidding I had my baby 40 mins later. If I have of listened to them and not demanded to be checked I would have had her at home overnight. 
If you have a high pain tolerance Like I do I would play it on thick or they won’t even acknowledge you are in labour.

Answer

My hospital wouldn’t admit me until my contractions were 5 minutes apart and dilated to a 4. I went in when they were 2 minutes apart but only dilated to a 2 so I got sent home the first time I went in.

Answer

My doctors office and hospital say 5-1-1, 5 mins apart, lasting for 1 minute, for at least an hour or your water breaks. But call if they haven’t given you any guidelines.

Answer

The longer you can stay at home the more comfortable you will be. 5 minutes apart is probably a good rule. But don’t wait too long because you never know. My sister and I both had very fast labors with our firsts. She barely made it to the hospital. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Answer

I’m not experienced. I’m 37+5 with my first but my midwife told me to stay at home as long as possible and head to hospital when contractions are 3-5 minutes apart. If my water break I put a pad on, wait 1 hour and if it’s soaked I call birthing suite who are likely to tell me to come in straight away.

Answer

Our hospital says to come in once they are 5 min apart or your water breaks.

Answer

If you are unsure just call the hospital. They will tell you the parameters before coming in. The 12-18 hour part, yes that is possible. It could also take way longer or much shorter. (I had to be induced with my first, but in total from my water being broken to baby being born took 6 hours that time) Giving birth is a biological process with so many factors involved that it is very hard to predict.
If you are experiencing contractions with a rythm and they are close together, before you are far enough along (37 weeks) you really should go to the hospital.

Answer

My midwife says to give her a call when my contraction are 5 minutes apart, lasting for 1 minute. She also said if my water breaks during the night, to pop a pad on and go back to sleep, give her a call first thing in the morning. If my water breaks during the day to give her a call. 
My water broke with my first during the night, but I didn’t deliver until 36 hours later. Nor did my contractions start until 20 hours after my waters had broke.

When to go to hospital?

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