When should you head to your birth location, such as the hospital or birth center, or call your midwife if you are giving birth at home, if you think you are in labor?? This is a common question for those of us that are nearing our due dates and waiting to meet our babies!
We don’t want to show up too early at the hospital, and be turned away. And we also don’t want to necessarily have our babies in our cars on the way to our birth location! So when should you head to your birth location??
Let’s explore five reasons to head to your birth location!
Things to consider in your planning...
There are a few things we need to consider when planning on when we should head to our birth location:
- Distance/Time to Your Birth Location. When you make the decision to go to your birth location will likely be influenced by how far you are from your birth location! If you are 5 minutes away versus 2 hours away, it will change when you decide to head out.
- Did your provider give you any specific considerations for when you think you are in labor? This could be related to a prenatal complication, such as they recommend antibiotics for GBS, where they may want you to come in right away versus wait at home for a period of time.
- What do you want for pain relief? If you want an epidural, you may want to leave sooner, but if you are wanting to go unmedicated, it may be worth waiting to head in.
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5 Tips to Know When to Go in Labor!
So, when should you head to your birth location?? After we answer the previous questions, it can help us narrow down when it’s time to go!
- Are you having contractions?
- What is the intensity and timing of those contractions?
- What is your temperament?
- Did your water break? How long ago?
- Do you have any concerns?
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1) Are you having contractions?
The first question is are you in labor? We can usually tell that we are in labor by noticing contractions! But, what do contractions even feel like if you have never felt them before??
The difference between Braxton Hicks, or practice contractions or random cramping, and real labor contractions is if there is a change in intensity throughout the contraction and if they come at a frequency.
Braxton Hicks are generally random and sudden tightening, with no frequency or change in intensity throughout the tightening of your abdomen.
Contractions will feel like a wave, where you feel it starting to build. It will then peak in intensity for a short period of time, then release and gradually lower in intensity. I would compare a contraction to a charley horse, where you can feel it starting to build, it peaks, then releases.
Sometimes contractions will feel like strong menstrual cramps, starting low in the abdomen, and I would almost call it a burning, cramping sensation as it builds.
The other way to know that you are having real labor contractions is that they come at a frequency, such as every 20 minutes or every 5 minutes. Generally, contractions will come at a set frequency that gradually decreases in timing as labor progresses.
2) How far apart and how intense are you contractions?
After you have determined that you are in fact having contractions, we can assess how intense of these contractions and how far apart are these contractions. There is no set equation for if your contractions are this far apart, you are dilated this much, but generally we can make some assumptions based on the general population!
Typically, early labor contractions are anywhere from 5-20+ minutes apart. They will come at a frequency that slowing increases as your contractions build in intensity.
After early labor, we move into early active labor, which can be confusing because your contraction timer may be saying “head into the hospital” when you are still not quite in active labor. Usually in this early active labor, contractions are about 4-10 minutes apart. You can see how there is a bit of an overlap between the two phases already!
And then, we have active labor. This is usually when we want to head to your birth location (depending on how close or far you are. If you live fairly far, you may want to head there when you are in early active labor). Contractions are usually fairly intense, and about 2-3 minutes apart.
3) What is your temperament like?
But, I like to assess if someone is in active labor based on their temperament rather than how far or close their contractions are because this tends to be a better assessment of where they are in their labor timeline!
If you are in early labor, your contractions are noticeable, but you can usually eat, sleep, and continue about your day with minimal interruption.
If you are in early active labor, you are needing more support with contractions, and you may stop walking or talking during your contractions. But, in between contractions you return mentally to the space.
For example, you could be mid-conversation, and then you feel a contraction coming. You pause the conversation to focus on your contraction, and when the contraction passes, you continue the conversation. This is usually my clue that labor is progressing, but we are not quite active labor yet!
If you are in active labor, you are no longer mentally present in the space. You are completely focused on contractions when they come, you may even make more noises during them.
And in between contractions, you are no longer engaging in conversation, texting or playing on your phone, or interacting with your environment. You are in your own world now.
Usually, my biggest indicator that my doula client is in more active labor is when they no longer are the ones primarily communicating with me, and their partner has now begun to text or call me for support.
If your partner is noticing that you are not really mentally present anymore, you may be in more active labor! Temperament is a great clue on when to go to your birth location!
4) Did your water break?
Another consideration on when to go to your birth location is if your water has broken or not.
If you are not having any contractions and your water breaks, you should discuss with your provider their recommendation on when to go to your birth location. You could potentially see if contractions begin, but if not, you may need to go in for an induction.
If you are having contractions and then your water breaks, sometimes things can pick up in intensity and speed! It may be worth heading towards your location in case things pick up A LOT.
Other things to consider if your water has broken:
- What time did your water break?
- How much fluid is leaking out? Was it a big gush or a small trickle?
- What color is the fluid? If it is anything other than fairly clear, you should head to your birth location.
- Is there a smell or foul odor? If so, you should head to your birth location.
5) Do you have any concerns?
A big reason to go to your birth location is if you have ANY concerns! This could include:
- Concerning bleeding (saturating a pad is not normal, for example)
- You’re not feeling your baby move (yes, even during labor you should still feel baby moving around)
- You feel anxious or concerned about your labor or health
- You are noticing any signs or symptoms that make you believe your labor is abnormal in any way
You could always call your birth location to discuss your concerns for them to assess over the phone if you should head in right now or if it’s not something to worry about, as well!
When should you head to your birth location?
First, explore how far your birth location is from your home. If you live fairly far, you may want to consider either finding a place more local to labor (such as a hotel or friend’s house), or you may want to head in earlier rather than later. If you live fairly close, you could labor at home for a bit longer!
Then, we want to consider if your provider gave any specific recommendations based on your current medical situation! If they recommend you come in right away or wait at home can determine when you should head in.
And then we want to consider what you are planning for pain relief. If you are wanting an epidural, you may want to head in early to ensure you have time to get an epidural. But, if you are wanting to go unmedicated, it may be worth laboring at home for longer.
Then, are you in labor? If you are in active labor, it may be time to head in! If your water breaks or you have concerns, may also be good reasons to head in, as well!