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Contractions started at 6 p.m. and we went to the hospital at 4:30 the following morning. I needed to know where I was at as far as progress since it had been 10 hours. I was 40w3 days and already on maternity leave.

@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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I'd probably head home and go to the hospital with DH; but I am used to lots of traffic/driving anyway.

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.

Water broke at 9, contractions started at 1030, left for hospital (30 min drive) at 330 and he was born at 857.

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.

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.

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.

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.

With my first It took 24 hrs from first contraction to hospital. With my second it was 1 hr.

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.

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.