https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 11 May 2026 17:28:31 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-soon-do-you-go-to-the-hospital#post-2594721 Thu, 28 Jul 2016 15:52:30 +0000 Shantuck 2594721@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had tested positive for group B strep last time so I was told that if my water broke, I had to head to the hospital right away for an iv to reduce the chance of infection. My water broke around midnight and the doctor confirmed I needed to come in right away. Since I was a couple weeks early, I hadn't packed my bag yet (had made a list of what I'd need) so I scurried around throwing stuff in a bag and ran out the door. My son was born in less than 12 hours from when my water broke (and would have possibly come earlier if the doctor hadn't shown up late due to traffic). I know people expect first time mothers to have long labors (including my own doctor!) but it doesn't always happen that way! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-soon-do-you-go-to-the-hospital#post-2594008 Wed, 27 Jul 2016 20:35:05 +0000 JenGirl 2594008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Contractions started around 7 PM while we were at the movies. By the time the movie was over, I was pretty sure I was in labor, so we called OB on the way home. Labored at home until 5 AM (so 10 hours from start of contractions) when we drove the 20 minutes to the hospital. I was 5 cm and I labored at the hospital for another 9 hours before I hit 10 cm and then pushed for 3 hours. So I had plenty of time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-soon-do-you-go-to-the-hospital#post-2593938 Wed, 27 Jul 2016 18:43:57 +0000 MrsKoala 2593938@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I called my OB office when my contractions were 5 minutes apart, 1 minute in duration. They listened to me and said that i should wait to come in. So I did because I did not want to get sent home! I ended up going in 2 hours later when contractions were 2 minutes apart and 2 minutes long. I waited too long and was probably already in transition when I got to the hospital. I was 5 cm dilated and 2.5 hours later my kid was born. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-soon-do-you-go-to-the-hospital#post-2593932 Wed, 27 Jul 2016 18:29:45 +0000 Maysprout 2593932@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With my first It took 24 hrs from first contraction to hospital. With my second it was 1 hr. </p> <p>I'd be very hesitant to drive myself half hour with contractions though. Even over 24 hrs I had periods of decent pain and was nervous at first trying to figure out what was going on with my body (yes dummy you're 3 days past your due date you're in labor). but I didn't go in for awhile bc we were 2 min from the hospital and they'd subside to slower contractions then. With my second I wasn't even really sure they weren't braxton hicks and they turned super painful within 10 minutes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-soon-do-you-go-to-the-hospital#post-2593926 Wed, 27 Jul 2016 18:09:45 +0000 tlcbaby 2593926@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I followed what @Mrs. Pickle: said. I first felt contractions, but didn't really know what they were, around lunchtime and really knew I was in labor around 8:00pm. Stayed home until things picked up until 5-1-1 around 10:00. I was so scared of going to the hospital and being sent home so I wanted to be really sure. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-soon-do-you-go-to-the-hospital#post-2593905 Wed, 27 Jul 2016 17:01:05 +0000 superkate 2593905@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My water broke at 1 a.m. We wanted to wait a bit until my contractions started but they never did. I called the hospital at 3:30 a.m. and they told me to come in. We ate and showered and got there about 4:15 a.m. labor never progressed and DS was born at 8 a.m. the following day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-soon-do-you-go-to-the-hospital#post-2593888 Wed, 27 Jul 2016 16:09:13 +0000 MrsADS 2593888@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mamabolt I'm afraid if we ever have a #2, my 2nd labor will be like yours bc my 1st was pretty fast! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-soon-do-you-go-to-the-hospital#post-2593872 Wed, 27 Jul 2016 15:34:11 +0000 Periwinkle 2593872@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had pretty much been in labor all day but was totally in denial because I was scheduled for an induction later in the week. In my mind, I couldn't fathom how the baby could actually decide to come on his own when an induction had been scheduled!!!! I only realized what was going on at about 2am (40+2) and labored at home for a few hours and then we called the doctor at about 4am when contractions got very close together. I was still in denial after I woke up at 2am and convinced myself I was hungry (ate a bowl of cereal) and took a shower. Arrived at the hospital at 5am at 5cm already and LO was born that afternoon just after 1pm. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-soon-do-you-go-to-the-hospital#post-2593870 Wed, 27 Jul 2016 15:34:04 +0000 FaithFertility 2593870@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With my DD my water broke MOTN so I woke to that, was having no real contractions, but they told me if my water broke to come right in as I had low AF then!</p> <p>I remember my MW telling me a 5-1-1<br /> rule cant remember exactly how it goes...lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-soon-do-you-go-to-the-hospital#post-2593862 Wed, 27 Jul 2016 15:26:42 +0000 mediagirl 2593862@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I labored for over 12 hours before going to the hospital. If you feel that you are in labor, call your OB. They will tell you what to do. I knew when it was time, my body told me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-soon-do-you-go-to-the-hospital#post-2593856 Wed, 27 Jul 2016 15:22:42 +0000 mamabolt 2593856@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My first, labor started at 10 pm, we went to hospital at 230 am when contractions were 4 min apart, DD was born around 7 am. My second, labor started at 10 am, we went to hospital at 130 pm and contractions were about 3 min apart. DS was born 10 min after we got there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-soon-do-you-go-to-the-hospital#post-2593853 Wed, 27 Jul 2016 15:13:24 +0000 OldpuebloJenn 2593853@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Although the general rule is 5-1-1, my contractions began 4 minutes apart for 90 seconds and remained that way for 19.5 hours. The intensity of the contractions changed. if in doubt call, as others mentioned your care provider can tell a lot by your speech/breathing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-soon-do-you-go-to-the-hospital#post-2593849 Wed, 27 Jul 2016 15:10:36 +0000 Alba4 2593849@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With #1, I waited until I was in active labor and I felt nervous about being home. My contractions were inthe 5-1-1 pattern when we called the midwives and doula @1 am, but they all told us to come in the morning. We got to the hospital at 4 am and I delivered just before 8 am.</p> <p>With #2, I went in for an appointment and they sent me directly to the hospital because I was dilated 4-5 cm. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-soon-do-you-go-to-the-hospital#post-2593844 Wed, 27 Jul 2016 15:03:45 +0000 peaches1038 2593844@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Water broke at 9, contractions started at 1030, left for hospital (30 min drive) at 330 and he was born at 857. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-soon-do-you-go-to-the-hospital#post-2593779 Wed, 27 Jul 2016 13:58:07 +0000 Mrsbells 2593779@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: With my first pregnancy I was induced so I didnt get to use the app I downloaded. This time I have the babycenter app which has a contraction timer but I cant say how good it is yet. I also really agree with @caterw: about keeping your hospital bag in the car. I started doing that several weeks before the due date and it really benefited us because I went in for a regular appointment and had some complications and couldnt go home to pack, so it was nice to have the bag already in the car. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-soon-do-you-go-to-the-hospital#post-2593778 Wed, 27 Jul 2016 13:58:00 +0000 Rescuemom10 2593778@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I def felt the contraction timer app helped. Chances are you will have plenty of time. I woke at about 3am feeling off and that it was coming. By 7:30 am the contractions were time-able. I went into the hospital about 4:30 pm. Labored strong until 2pm the FOLLOWING day. Went to C-section. She was in distress and I developed an infection. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-soon-do-you-go-to-the-hospital#post-2593776 Wed, 27 Jul 2016 13:52:08 +0000 agold 2593776@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: Thanks for this suggestion. Maybe I will download that tonight so I have it ready when I need it. Do you have one that you like and can suggest?</p> <p>@Mama Bird: That would be ideal. But he works nights and sleeps pretty soundly during the day. At some point, I will tell him to leave the ringer on his phone on and I suppose I could just try to call him when the time comes.</p> <p>@Mrs. Pickle: Thanks for that info! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-soon-do-you-go-to-the-hospital#post-2593758 Wed, 27 Jul 2016 13:30:10 +0000 mauxie 2593758@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1st - no contractions but water leaked (tiny, tiny amt) around 2pm while I was at work. I was in denial LOL and worked the rest of the day, drove an hour home, ate dinner, showered, then checked into hospital with DH around 6:30pm. Delivered very early next morning. </p> <p>2nd - felt regular contractions but were manageable all morning, went to my scheduled OB appt at noon. She checked me there and said I was definitely in labor (6cm) and to get to the hospital. I was alone and drove myself (15 mins?) Delivered late afternoon.</p> <p>3rd - water broke (gush) as I got up from bed at 7am. Could slowly feel the contractions as I got the kids ready for the day. Headed out of the house around 8am and checked into hospital at 8:40am (DH drove). Delivered around 2pm.</p> <p>I'd probably head home and go to the hospital with DH; but I am used to lots of traffic/driving anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-soon-do-you-go-to-the-hospital#post-2593756 Wed, 27 Jul 2016 13:29:41 +0000 Anya 2593756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started labor at work in the afternoon and the contractions were fairly irregular and far apart so I finished out the day and went home, went to the hospital the next day. My water didn't break until I started pushing but I think I started bringing a change of clothes to work with me around 38 weeks just in case. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-soon-do-you-go-to-the-hospital#post-2593752 Wed, 27 Jul 2016 13:26:25 +0000 MrsADS 2593752@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I woke up and my water was trickling out - I wasn't sure if it was my water or not. But I was sure that I was having major contractions every 3 mins or so and it REALLY hurt. I did not have any doubts about what was happening, lol. I couldn't talk through them and would have had a tough time driving myself anywhere. I did call my doctor to get the "official ok to come in", which made me feel better. </p> <p>I woke up about 6am, got to the hospital at 8:30, baby born at 1pm (1st baby). Even when I got to the hospital, I was so worried that they'd check me and I was only like 1-2cm dilated. They confirmed that my water was broken and I was like 4-5 cm. </p> <p>So it was a fairly quick labor. But I think you'll know when the contractions are getting closing together/ramping up in intensity. But that's just my experience. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-soon-do-you-go-to-the-hospital#post-2593751 Wed, 27 Jul 2016 13:25:09 +0000 caterw 2593751@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would keep your hospital bag in the car lol. My husband works weird hours also (usually later night or split shifts at a restaurant), so he just kept checking his phone every half hour to an hour when I was getting close and had his phone on really loud ring when he was sleeping and I was out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-soon-do-you-go-to-the-hospital#post-2593749 Wed, 27 Jul 2016 13:23:49 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2593749@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A general rule is 5-1-1. Contractions every five minutes, lasting one minute, for at least an hour. As a FTM it will probably take a few hours to get to that point. I was induced so I don't have any real experience with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-soon-do-you-go-to-the-hospital#post-2593748 Wed, 27 Jul 2016 13:22:56 +0000 Adira 2593748@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: Yeah, and you can always call your doctor throughout the day and explain what is going on and they'll be able to help you. My first call to my midwife, she was all "Well, you still can talk to me just fine, so you're not ready to come in yet!" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-soon-do-you-go-to-the-hospital#post-2593746 Wed, 27 Jul 2016 13:22:16 +0000 Mama Bird 2593746@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can he pick you up if you go into labor at work? You'll probably have a few hours before you're ready to head to the hospital, but you shouldn't be getting home by yourself, because even early contractions are pretty uncomfortable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-soon-do-you-go-to-the-hospital#post-2593743 Wed, 27 Jul 2016 13:21:39 +0000 Mrsbells 2593743@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: Yeah you definitely should have enough time. What you can do now is download one of the contraction timer apps now so when you do go into labor you have an idea of how far apart the contractions are, that usually tells you how much time you have. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-soon-do-you-go-to-the-hospital#post-2593741 Wed, 27 Jul 2016 13:19:55 +0000 agold 2593741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: Great to know that you felt you started labor at work and then still drove home instead of straight to the hospital. I didn't know if that was a silly thing to do or not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-soon-do-you-go-to-the-hospital#post-2593739 Wed, 27 Jul 2016 13:17:52 +0000 Adira 2593739@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With my first, I started feeling contractions around 7:30 a.m., but at the time, I didn't know what they were! I was at work and I stayed at work until around 2:00 p.m. when I thought I should get home before it got difficult to drive. Then I packed my hospital bag, timed my contractions properly at home, called the midwife, and went to the hospital around 5:00 p.m. Xander was born in the middle of the night after that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-soon-do-you-go-to-the-hospital#post-2593737 Wed, 27 Jul 2016 13:17:06 +0000 agold 2593737@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: All these are great responses. I would love to be able to go home (30 minutes opposite direction from hospital) and then later go to the hospital with my husband (45 minutes from home). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-soon-do-you-go-to-the-hospital#post-2593728 Wed, 27 Jul 2016 13:13:26 +0000 catlady 2593728@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was lucky because it was sort of obvious. My water broke right as I woke up on a Sunday morning (39 weeks). I called the hospital and they said to come in so they could check me out but that I could take a shower and eat breakfast first, and also that I could go home again afterwards if labor hadn't really started. I took maybe an hour to get ready and then DH and I headed in. Labor ended up progressing very quickly after we got in the car so I just stayed at the hospital once I got there.</p> <p>I think if I went into labor at work, unless my water actually broke, I'd probably try to just head home if possible before heading to the hospital. Even though mine was quick to progress, I know that early labor can take awhile. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-soon-do-you-go-to-the-hospital#post-2593722 Wed, 27 Jul 2016 13:11:19 +0000 Mrsbells 2593722@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: I used to worry about this but if this is your first you usually should have plenty of time from when you first realize you are in labor til you need to be at the hospital. Its nothing like the movies where it happens very rapidly. Usually you call your doctor when your contractions are a few minutes apart and they'll advise when to come in </p>