When should I go to hospital? Is this labor?

Question

I've been having contractions pretty much all day. I haven't timed them but tonight I'm sure I've had at least 5 in the past hour. Should I head into the hospital? It's 45mins away. I was only 1cm dilated yesterday. Thoughts?

I've been losing bits on my mucus plug and I've had a lot of lightening crotch as well as feeling like my pelvis is splitting apart.

Answer

I was told prior to 37 weeks I should go to be checked if I had 5-6 in an hour regardless of how far apart. After 37 weeks to follow the 5-1-1 rule 5 contractions lasting a minute each for an hour.

Answer

Since it's 45 minutes away I would go, the worst thing they will do is send you home

Answer

Start timing them, if they are consistently less than 5 min apart for over an hour then go in

Answer

Hmmm, 5 contractions in an hour doesn't sound like real labour to me. Maybe early labour. Usually you're told to go to the hospital when you are having contractions every 5 minutes. Call your dr or L&D for advice but I would guess that you've got a bit to go before things get real!

Answer

Call your doctor. Being that far away, they may tell you to come in. That's what happened with my first. By the time I got there, they ended up inducing me. I was only at a 1 cm too!

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I would call your doctor before doing anything, they would know best!

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I would wait until they're more frequent.

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You should wait until your contractions are at least 3-4 minutes apart. Or at least that's what our local hospital says! 😄

Answer

I wouldn't go. 5 in 1 hour is not very many.