Labor Instructions?

I'm currently pregnant with DC #2. At my 36 week appointment, I was given the following labor instructions: if my contractions were a minute long and occurring every five minutes for an hour, I am to either call the OB office (if this is happening between 8 am - 11 pm) or go to the hospital (if this is happening between 11 pm - 8 am). Has anyone else headed to the hospital after only laboring at home for an hour? I feel like I'm going to rush to get there, I won't be progressed enough for them to admit me and I'll be stuck there for hours walking the hallways.

Can anyone offer any insight or experience?

TIA

Labor Instructions?

These were the instructions I received from my Dr as well, however, I would listen to your body as best you can. Although my DD was my first and only, turns out I have quick babies and she was born 2.75 hrs after I had my first contraction. I almost didn't make it to the hospital because I kept telling my husband we had to wait an hour, but things got so intense so quickly, I think we left about 30-45 min after I went into labor, drove the 40 min to SB and DD was born about 20 min later. I think she would've been born earlier, but they didn't believe me when I said I was about to give birth....so yeah, don't necessarily wait an hour!

Re: Labor Instructions?

It's unlikely your labor will start with minute long, 5 min intervals. It could take hours to get there. Everyone is different but typically the contractions are shorter and longer apart and grow more intense and closer together.

It's typical for the second one to come faster, so listen to your body. My first was 22 hours, my second 12

Re: Labor Instructions?

When your contractions are lasting a minute long and occurring every five minutes for an hour you will be in active labor. That's not an hour into just starting to go into labor. Your contractions will start erratically and usually be very short (not a full minute long). My OB gave me the same instructions.

That being said, after laboring for about 8 hours, my contractions were consistently 30 seconds long (never a minute) but only 2 minutes apart. So I called my OB and she told me to go into the hospital. I was 4cm then and an hour later I was at 9cm. So listen to your body.

Labor Instructions?

By the time my contractions were like that, I had DS less than 2 hours later so that would have been good advice for me.

I headed to the hospital when they were 3-4 minutes apart, but they were nowhere near 1 minute in length. I had DS 4 hours after I got to the hospital and 2 hours after they broke my water - if I have another kid, I will be going to the hospital ASAP.

Labor Instructions?

I was always told by my midwives that u labor at home and deliver at the hospital. Try ur best to stay at home for as long as u can, and once u feel that contractions are way too intense to the point u have to stop and breath while talking to someone, then it's time to go. Unfortunately sometimes when a pregnant woman goes to the hospital and she's not "ready yet", u're under their clock now and if things don't start moving pretty quickly, they'll start pushing (no pun intended, lol!) inductions.

Re: Labor Instructions?

go when you feel the time is right

with my second the contractions were SO random. I was only in labor at home for 1.5 hours at most and when i got to the hospital I was already 7 cm....but my water did not yet break. went to the hospital but was convinced they were going to send me home...i had DH park the car on the street instead of the lot bc i wanted to walk myself in to help progress things (in the rain). When they told me i was 7cm i was shocked!

follow your instincts

Message edited 4/19/2016 11:05:02 AM.