https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 13 May 2026 08:55:10 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-hospital-in-labor/page/2#post-1632742 Tue, 13 May 2014 23:08:02 +0000 StbHisMrs 1632742@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had pre-term labor that started about 32 weeks, there were many times where I reached 5-1-1 and went in just be sent home (happened with baby #2 and #3). So I didn't go by that rule, I had felt great near perfect even the day before, but the morning of I felt really drained and just off. My contractions never really stopped, but they picked up in strength and consistency that morning and I was just a few days from my due date so I called and the on-call Dr. listened to me and told me I needed to come in except that my hospital was full! I had to wait for her to find hospital that had a room open, then drive an extra 20 minutes to it, making our trip 45 minutes long. The ride wasn't awful but it wasn't fun either. Once I got there I was at a 5, my water broke just as they were calling the Dr. up to break it for me. She was born at 4:24pm and we arrived at 12:20pm. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-hospital-in-labor/page/2#post-1632499 Tue, 13 May 2014 20:09:33 +0000 Tanjowen 1632499@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When my husband told me I was being ridiculous and needed to go to the hospital :) I had back labor and kept insisting that it wasn't labor and I was fine. Checked in at the hospital and was dilated to 8 cm, and had to rush to get in a room! So I guess my advice is don't hesitate to call your doctor or go get checked out. The worst they can do is send you home or tell you to walk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-hospital-in-labor/page/2#post-1632359 Tue, 13 May 2014 18:48:00 +0000 Mrs.Panda 1632359@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: did you have your little one yet?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-hospital-in-labor/page/2#post-1626105 Sat, 10 May 2014 07:25:05 +0000 matador84 1626105@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just go with your gut....I have lots of friends who had contractions and didn't even know it. My water broke with DS, I had contractions first with dd then my water broke on the way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-hospital-in-labor/page/2#post-1626098 Sat, 10 May 2014 07:20:51 +0000 78h2o 1626098@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsKoala: I'm so jealous that you could talk through contractions at 5-1-1.</p> <p>@Mae: I had a similar situation, with the hospital being kinda far 35-40 min, 1 hr+ in traffic. Luckily my parents were planning to get a hotel near the hospital, so that made it easier. I had a long, 34 hr labor. Contractions started at 11-1. Even at 10-1, I could not talk through them. I labored like that for about 16 hrs. We left the house at 8am after I'd been at 5-1-1. The drive took 1 hr and was rough....not fun having contractions in the car at rush hour. We went to the hotel first and my contractions moved further apart - ugh! From 5-1-1 for an hour back to 7-1 for the next 10 hrs. I was unable to walk/talk though any of them, and by 6pm I was crying a lot. At that time, my contractions were at 5-1-1 again and I was sick of being in labor. I called my doc and he said to come in, that Id been laboring on my own long enough. I was 4-5 cm at triage. I got an epidural and was 7-8 within minutes when the doc came to check me.. LO was born a few hours later. I wish I had gone in sooner. </p> <p>ETA: My LO was born with her hand above her head, so I think her poor position was why my labor was so slow/painful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-hospital-in-labor#post-1626073 Sat, 10 May 2014 07:00:28 +0000 ElbieKay 1626073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: My hospital was a 45 minute drive with lots of highway time but no way did I even consider a seat belt! I got in the back seat -- car seat base was removed -- and stayed on my hands and knees the entire time. But my water broke before contractions started, and even the first one was pretty painful. I didn't have an early labor with gradual buildup like some people describe. I was only at 3cm when we got to the hospital after about 7hrs of contractions.</p> <p>Anyway, my point is that YMMV but you could reconsider the seat belt. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-hospital-in-labor#post-1626063 Sat, 10 May 2014 06:46:34 +0000 AprilFool 1626063@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: I went in at the exact right time for me and it might sound silly but you just know. I had been in contact with my MW all evening and each time she asked if I was ok to stay home a little longer. My contractions never got to 5-1-1, they were every 2-3 mins but only 45 seconds and when I rang her the last time she asked if I needed to come in and I said yes. I was happy to stay home until I suddenly wasn't. I was a 5 when I arrived and in transition less than an hour later.</p> <p>As for the car, luckily for us it was the middle of the night and a 15 min drive instead of the 30 of peak hour but I sat in the back on my knees, leaning over the car seat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-hospital-in-labor#post-1625144 Fri, 09 May 2014 15:38:56 +0000 MamaMoose 1625144@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was 5-1-1 from the start. She we did 5-1 for two hours and then we headed in because I was in a lot of pain and I did want an epidural so I wanted to get started on the admit process and get comfortable ASAP : ) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-hospital-in-labor#post-1625128 Fri, 09 May 2014 15:29:40 +0000 mdf106 1625128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went in when my water broke. It did not make a mess. It was bloody, and I did not know what it was right away. I got an epidural when I was 6 cm, and I was not at 5-1-1 or in a lot of pain at the time. Labor took 8 hours after that, but I think I would have progressed much faster without the epidural. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-hospital-in-labor#post-1625065 Fri, 09 May 2014 15:00:42 +0000 danda 1625065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went in at 5-1-1 and I'm glad I didn't wait until it felt bad. I was lucky and had a fast/easy labor. The triage nurses thought I wasn't in active labor yet because I was too calm and contractions weren't painful enough. I waited for over an hour in triage until they checked me and the doc was shocked that I was at 10 (and feeling the urge to push)! Baby was born less than 3 hours from leaving the house. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-hospital-in-labor#post-1625035 Fri, 09 May 2014 14:49:13 +0000 kjpugs 1625035@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I called when I was 5-1-1 and they said to come on in. Triage saw me and I needed to dialate more before being admitted so I walked 2 hours and then my water broke and I was "in!" I labored while I worked all day though (I WFH so it wasn't awkward) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-hospital-in-labor#post-1625017 Fri, 09 May 2014 14:44:29 +0000 mrskc 1625017@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had to look back at my birth story on my blog and it looks like we left when contractions were about 1 min 20 seconds and coming on every 3-4 minutes. That was around 2:45 PM. We left for the hospital at 3:30. Only a 5 minute drive for us. I had my son at 7:15 pm. So I was only at the hospital a little over 3 hours before I had him. I think if I had a longer drive like you, we would have left sooner. Even that 5 minute drive was excruciating! Looking back I now see I was hitting transition when we got to the hospital. </p> <p>This time around, I told my DH I want to leave a little earlier because it was not fun checking into the hospital right when transition was starting! </p> <p>Good luck to you! I hope that baby doesn't keep you waiting too much longer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-hospital-in-labor#post-1625002 Fri, 09 May 2014 14:36:14 +0000 Mae 1625002@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cole: Oh I think I'd rather drive home v. deal with a hotel! I mean its really only bad in rush hour. I guess if I feel the need to go during rush hour, or just before, and they don't want to keep me-- maybe I'll just hang out and walk around campus (it's the university hospital) for a while to try to get things moving without going home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-hospital-in-labor#post-1624995 Fri, 09 May 2014 14:33:24 +0000 Bao 1624995@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went in when they were about 5-1-1, with A it went from 11 minutes to 3 minutes in an hour though so that was scary! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-hospital-in-labor#post-1624994 Fri, 09 May 2014 14:33:02 +0000 gilmoregirl 1624994@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I called my dr when I got to 5-1-1 and a nurse told me I should shower and have a snack before heading in. Then I asked if I could hang out at home for a bit longer and she said it was fine. I lasted about two additional hours at home, but I knew when it was time to go. There was little break between contractions and I felt ready to be at the hospital. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-hospital-in-labor#post-1624990 Fri, 09 May 2014 14:32:00 +0000 Cole 1624990@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: I can't answer your question but my dh was really pushing for me to consider a hospital that is 30 minutes (with no traffic) away as opposed to the one 5 blocks away. We agreed though that if I feel like I need to go in and get checked but am not ready to be admitted that we will just shell out the money for a nearby hotel. Maybe giving yourself that mental option will help take away some of the worry about going in too soon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-hospital-in-labor#post-1624962 Fri, 09 May 2014 14:24:23 +0000 MrsTiz 1624962@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>They sent me because I was so dizzy and couldn't breathe. Def didn't know I was having a baby that day. Or month! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-hospital-in-labor#post-1624948 Fri, 09 May 2014 14:21:27 +0000 Mae 1624948@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@septca: Yea that is what most people say. which is why I'm not waddling around my house carrying a trash bag to sit on ;) But it has definitely occurred to me that I hope I don't make a stain on the carpet... lol! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-hospital-in-labor#post-1624933 Fri, 09 May 2014 14:18:43 +0000 septca 1624933@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: Ha ha!!! My water broke when I squatted to move the laundry from the washing machine to the dryer. It felt just like a squee except it didn't stop... Nothing got ruined. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-hospital-in-labor#post-1624894 Fri, 09 May 2014 14:09:18 +0000 bhbee 1624894@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we wanted to wait until my water broke since we were going for natural labor (but I needed IV for GBS+). I was 5-1-1 a LONG time before that happened and I was still only 5cm dilated with 9 hours to go.<br /> the only hard thing about going right after my water broke was that that point is a big emotional/physical shift so I was kind of freaking out. luckily we only lived a few minutes away but both the doula and my husband had to work to keep me calm then. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-hospital-in-labor#post-1624887 Fri, 09 May 2014 14:08:36 +0000 swurlygurl 1624887@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My water broke at 8 am, I was in my labor room by 1 pm.</p> <p>@Mae: My broke broke when I was sitting on the edge of my bed trying to put my pants on, and it was just a pretty tiny squirt - nothing even got on the sheets. But it's a really awkward sensation... the constant dripping... yuck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-hospital-in-labor#post-1624859 Fri, 09 May 2014 13:58:25 +0000 Pumuckl 1624859@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went purely on instinct. I didn't even time contractions. They just got more painful by each one that came so we decided to head to the hospital. Also we didn't want to get stuck in rush-hour-traffic. They did an NST and a check and I was at 5cm and they still told me we would have to go for a walk because the contractions supposedly weren't strong and long enough to actually have a baby. Well things changed soon because baby was worn not even 1.5h after that. (We never made it for the walk and I went completely natural (at 41+2)).</p> <p>Hope LO will decide to leave the house soon :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-hospital-in-labor#post-1624833 Fri, 09 May 2014 13:53:06 +0000 jhd 1624833@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: oh and my water broke just as I was getting out of bed from taking a nap &amp; nothing got ruined! ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-hospital-in-labor#post-1624828 Fri, 09 May 2014 13:52:05 +0000 jhd 1624828@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My water broke at 40+6. I was having contractions but I felt them more in my back so I wasn't as aware of timing. I definitely felt off that day though! Fx your LO decides to come soon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-hospital-in-labor#post-1624818 Fri, 09 May 2014 13:49:05 +0000 Mae 1624818@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I sorta hope that my water breaks early so that I have a more defined timeline :) Being with midwives (and GSB neg) I think that will be somewhere between 12-24 hours, but at least there would be a defined end point! lol</p> <p>(But then I course I worry about WHERE in my home it would break and what I would ruin in the process... haha) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-hospital-in-labor#post-1624797 Fri, 09 May 2014 13:45:16 +0000 lamariniere 1624797@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For both of my babies, my water broke before contractions, so I went to the hospital right after. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-hospital-in-labor#post-1624632 Fri, 09 May 2014 13:01:24 +0000 rattles 1624632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My water broke before contractions. My docs said that they wanted me to come in within 4-6 hours regardless. I wanted to labor at home as long as I could, so I came in about 6 hours later. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-hospital-in-labor#post-1624241 Fri, 09 May 2014 10:58:51 +0000 Smurfette 1624241@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My water broke. I called the doctor and they said to come in even though I wasn't having contractions. I figured they would let me labor at home but I am glad that I went in when I did. Even though I did pre-registration still so many questions they were asking, can't imagine doing it while having contractions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-hospital-in-labor#post-1624232 Fri, 09 May 2014 10:56:08 +0000 hilsy85 1624232@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my water broke at 5am, but I didn't have any contractions. We're about 25 min from the hospital, and it was getting near rush hour, so we went over at about 645. We ended up sitting in traffic for 1.5 hours and got there at 815, 830--worst ride ever! If I hadn't had to worry about traffic, I probably would have stayed home a little bit longer--but it didn't end up affecting anything, my labor progressed quickly and I got my epi. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-hospital-in-labor#post-1624216 Fri, 09 May 2014 10:50:00 +0000 Beebug 1624216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another +1 for trust your gut! </p> <p>I was told 4-1-1 to go in, and probably waited too long, I couldn't walk or talk through contractions by the time we got there, but it worked for us, we definitely knew it was time to go!</p> <p>It sounds silly but I think we knew this was it, and that there wasn't any "am I progressed enough", I was hurtinggg. </p>