Can I take a shower and eat something while waiting to go to the hospital? You may need to see a doctor earlier in labor if you have a high-risk pregnancy. For example, if you`re carrying higher-value twins or multiples, or if you have a health condition that makes your pregnancy less risky, you should call your doctor or midwife at the first signs of labor — even if you`re not sure if you`re in labor. If you`ve never been pregnant before, it`s easy to confuse “exercise contractions” with reality. Here`s how to tell the difference between Braxton Hicks contractions and real contractions (real contractions). Braxton Hicks Contractions: A contraction is a tightening of the uterus that resembles cramps or pressure. You should feel it all over your uterus and maybe behind your back. As labor progresses, your contractions become more frequent and regular, so timing is a good way to determine when it`s time to go to the hospital. If your water in your bed or on your carpet is broken, try to clean it as soon as possible to avoid stains. Amniotic fluid is much easier to remove from a surface or tissue before drying. A mild detergent mixed with water will usually do. If you have pets, the products that are cleaned after them also work well.

According to Micah Garb, MD, FACOG, an obstetrician at Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, labor can begin with a water rupture or painful contractions. If you`re not sure when to work, here are some other signs that it`s time to go to the hospital. Paying close attention to your baby`s movements during a contraction can also help you distinguish between real and false labor. Contractions of actual labor move your baby over the cervix to the birth canal. Your baby`s head presses against your cervix, which serves to slowly thin (wipe) and open (widen) to prepare for birth. The “exercise contractions” of bad contractions do not enlarge your cervix. Here`s a look at the signs of labor, the differences between improper labor, real labor, and Braxton Hicks contractions, as well as the symptoms you need to watch out for in the final weeks of your pregnancy. These guidelines, along with advice from your doctor or midwife, can help you feel more confident when deciding when to go to the hospital if you`re in labor. You can also hear about Rule 511.

The only difference between rules 511 and 411 is the first number, which represents the number of minutes apart from your contractions. Depending on your medical history, especially if you have already given birth, your provider may recommend that you follow the more conservative 511 rule. If your contractions are mild to moderate and spaced more than five minutes apart (and up to 20 minutes apart), you`re probably at the beginning of labor. Contractions at this stage of labor can be regular or irregular, lasting 30-45 seconds at a time. Early labor can last several hours or even days. That`s why you probably won`t go to motherhood yet. It`s common to think that the first signs of labor are your signal to get to the hospital, but this is usually not the case. Early labor can last for days.

All we can do at this point is wait for the signs that your body is ready to deliver, so many people come too early and go home. Getting from point A to point B is not fun at any stage of the job, so call us before you come so we can help you avoid multiple trips. Counting your contractions can help you determine when it`s really time to go. The best way to determine if it`s time to go to the hospital is to keep an eye on your contractions and time them. According to Garb, if the work is spaced more than five minutes apart, it`s normal to stay home – this is the first part of the job and many stay at home during this time, as it can take about 12 to 20 hours. Your due date is certainly close, but maybe not yet close enough to rush to the delivery room. Knowing when to go to the hospital can prevent you from getting there too early (and being turned away) or not early enough (and no one wants that). There are misconceptions about the fact that water is broken before birth. The idea in the mind of most people is that it is a sudden jet of water and this is the main feature of the work. Unfortunately, it`s not that easy. According to the Mayo Clinic, it can be a sudden outbreak or a small net that occurs before or during labor. The differences between a runoff or a flare-up may be the result of a disruption of contractions usually associated with labor, or of the baby`s head, which essentially acts as a plug against the cervix.

You can start timing your contractions (or what you think are contractions) as soon as you feel them. In fact, the timing of the contractions you feel is a way to tell the difference between bad work and reality. There are several methods to time contractions, but the basic goal is to keep an eye on the model. Contractions move your baby down and open the entrance to your uterus (the cervix), ready for your baby to go through. You will know that you have entered active labor when your contractions are regular in their strength and frequency. Each contraction will be as strong or stronger than the previous one, and they will reliably separate within 5 minutes of each other. You`ll also likely feel a change in your mood and behavior as your concentration turns inward and you have to work through your contractions. If your water breaks, it means that the amniotic sac that holds your baby in the womb is broken. Typically, this can trigger contractions or make them stronger if they have already begun. When labor begins, your contractions usually become longer, stronger, and more frequent. During a contraction, the muscles tense and the pain increases. If you put your hand on your belly, you will feel that it becomes more difficult.

As the muscles relax, the pain subsides and you will feel the hardness relax. If your contractions begin with mild, irregular cramps, but slowly progress to more painful and regular events, this indicates that true labor has begun. Contractions of real labor can begin at any time of the day or night. Braxton Hicks contractions are more common at the end of the day, especially after being busy or physically active (including sex, which can also trigger Braxton Hicks). If you plan to have your baby in a maternity ward, call the hospital or go directly to the hospital. At the end of the day, listen carefully to your body and instincts, and you`ll probably know when it`s time to go to the hospital for childbirth. Are you ready for maternity care? Find a hospital or health care provider near you. As the due date approaches, your doctor or midwife will give you instructions on when to call them or go directly to the hospital. Depending on your medical history and how your pregnancy went, you may have special rules to follow. You may have Braxton Hicks contractions – also known as fake labor – as your due date approaches. These are essentially warm-ups for childbirth when your uterus expands and contracts, but you`re not in labor. If this is your first baby, come to the hospital when your contractions occur: call your midwife or maternity ward before going to the hospital.

Bring your prenatal card or pregnancy notes and bag. Some maternity wards now have electronic records. If you have a high-risk pregnancy, your doctor or midwife may want you to go to the hospital once you are in active labor. If your pregnancy was normal, you may not need to hurry – your midwife and doctor will give you instructions based on your last prenatal exam (for example. B the position of your baby and cervix). If your water breaks down at home – or elsewhere – you may not need to rush to the hospital. Call your doctor or midwife first. They may ask you to come to the office, hospital, or birth center so they can confirm that the amniotic sac is broken, but it is more likely that you will be able to stay home for a while.

As a general rule, you know that you are ready to go to the hospital if your contractions are spaced 4 minutes apart and last at least 1 minute. The timing is different for each pregnancy. During your prenatal appointments in the third trimester, we will talk about how to know when it is time, what to do and where to go, but ideally, you will arrive at the hospital when you are in active labor. .