Updated 11/11/2019
Here are 3 things to consider when it's time to go to the hospital for labor + why it matters + video
The more you know about what to expect, how to listen to what your body might be telling you, and the physiologic patterns of late pregnancy and early labor, the less fear and anxiety you can have around the big question of when is the exact right time to go to the hospital in labor! (dig deeper into this topic with my friend and L&D nurse, Hanna, in the video at the bottom)
Why Does It Matter?
Once you’re admitted into the hospital, it seems like a sneaky little timer starts. Hospitals don’t have 1,000 labor rooms for everyone to labor in for the last month of their pregnancy (thank goodness! The food – ew!) The hospital staff generally expect that if you come into the hospital to be admitted for labor, then your goal is to have a baby in a timely manner.
I do think that the timer comes a little bit from the medical team’s goal of helping you achieve your goal (or your perceived goal): a baby in a timely manner. Also comes a little bit from the hospital as a business stand point. It’s logistically not possible for everyone in early labor to stay for their entire physiologic early labor.
It’s not super fun or a positive experience to get to the hospital, be admitted for what seems to be labor that is progressing, an then get sent home because it’s, in fact, still early labor. Hospitals don’t like to do that, and pregnant people don’t like to experience it.
SO, interventions are offered to help expedite labor. It’s important to know when is a good time to go to the hospital and when is the time in labor that you want to stay at the hospital, especially if you don’t want unnecessary interventions.
What a tricky topic – I use the phrase unecessary intervention, because your early labor experience may not really require any intervention. BUT, once you are in the hospital, admitted for labor, and things are going slower than you or your medical team expects, the interventions might then be offered instead of the go-home-and-wait-for-labor-to-rev-up option.
When Is It Real Labor?
I like to teach in my childbirth classes that we only really know that it was early labor in hindsight. Early labor and the end of pregnancy sort of melt into each other as irregular contractions become more noticeable, often start and stop, or perhaps go completely unnoticed until it’s clear that the body is telling us something.
- With that idea in mind, it may be helpful to Ignore Labor.
That’s right. Those contractions might be regular, they might feel different than you’re used to, but if you’re full term and expecting to go into labor and push out a baby, ignore, ignore, ignore.
Check out the video below for more details.
So, maybe this time is the real deal. Maybe after all of this ignoring and moving and working and living a regular day, you’ll feel the intensity pick up! When exactly should you start to consider calling your provider or going to the hospital?
Is It Time to Call My Doctor?
- The contractions take all of your attention
Sure, it’s important to know when contractions seem regular, and everyone wants to whip out the contraction timer app and get to timing. Focusing outward, however, on timing and really really wanting to be in labor can be less helpful for the labor process. Instead, start considering the timing and pattern and rhythm when they begin to take all of your attention.
This may occur sooner than you expect, which may signal that it’s time to get logistics covered (childcare for other kids, notify your labor team). Also, contractions that take all of your attention may have a different pattern than you expected. You may find that they are only six minutes apart, but they’re so intense that you want to call your provider sooner than previous planned. That’s great! Now’s the time to consider how you feel and when you feel comfortable making that trek to the hospital.
Find labor support Must Haves for your hospital bag on Amazon
Ok, You've Decided To Go To the Hospital
- Be prepared to go home.
I know that’s probably not what you want to hear right now. You’ve ignored your contractions, now they’re requiring all of your focus and many of your coping strategies, you’ve decided it’s time to go to the hospital to continue laboring and have your baby … now Mandy says get ready to go home?!
HUH?
I just want you to be aware of the option of going home. You’ll likely get more information about your labor, such as your cervical dilation or baby’s location in the pelvis, or perhaps contractions slow way down once at the hospital. If that information doesn’t align with your childbirth goals, you have the option of not staying, and returning when you might be more ready.
It’s a bummer, but if you aren’t in active labor, and you don’t want your labor augmented by interventions, then you might decide to stay out of the hospital until labor has progressed a bit.
There is not right or wrong decision here, and there’s usually certainly more to the story – like how you’re feeling, how the baby is doing, your unique health history or circumstances.
This is just an option! If you’re prepared that a journey to the hospital may not mean staying at the hospital, you may feel more empowered by your choice than discouraged by the events.
Learning your options now can make your experience in a hospital less intimidating. If you don’t feel totally confident that you can make decisions in pregnancy or childbirth, check out this online childbirth class that you can complete in one weekend!
Dive deeper into the topic in the video below
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