Call doctor or go into hospital? Help!

Posted yesterday about my progress with this pregnancy, currrently 39w 4d. Dilated 3cm LAST week, had bloody show allll yesterday, meaning I've dilated more since then. Contractions started last night, between 7 to 15 minutes apart. Woke up this morning at 4:30 because of contractions. Woke up again at 5am because they hurt so bad, & since 5 they have been every 3, 4, 6 minutes and painful. Do I wait it out? (Been trying that to make sure they're consistent) Call my doctor? Or go in? My water hasn't broken.

I was told if they stay at or under 5 min apart for 2 hours to call or go in. Def at least call and see if they think you should come in.

Quoting Chelsea Dawns Mama:" I was told if they stay at or under 5 min apart for 2 hours to call or go in. Def at least call and see if they think you should come in."

An hour and 15 more minutes of timing them for me, thank you! So if they slow down or stop, just ignore it? Orrrrr, I dunno, I'm pregnancy stupid, first pregnancy.

Quoting MarieRoseAlexa:" An hour and 15 more minutes of timing them for me, thank you! So if they slow down or stop, just ignore it? Orrrrr, I dunno, I'm pregnancy stupid, first pregnancy."

Not completely, keep watching and timing. Even if they slow down, you could still call and ask a nurse, but time for at least 2 hours first, so they have something to go by, cuz if you don't thats probably what they'll tell you to do anyways.

I would recommend staying home for a bit. With the first baby you are likely looking at 10+ hours of labor after you become active (changing your cervix while contracting at least every 5 min regularly). The longer you can stay at home and remain free to move and eat as you wish the better. If you called me and told me that, I would tell you to come in if you want, but you could try a few things first like laying on your left side and drinking 4 tall glasses of water and tract contractions over an hour to see if they intensify and get closer. I would typically recommend staying home until the contractions were consistantly every 3-5 min apart last 60+ secs for 1-2 hours and painful enough that you can't talk through them. Again go in if you want, but don't be surprised if they send you home.

Call but expect them to tell you to wait and time longer.

Quoting Chelsea Dawns Mama:" Not completely, keep watching and timing. Even if they slow down, you could still call and ask a nurse, ... [snip!] ... at least 2 hours first, so they have something to go by, cuz if you don't thats probably what they'll tell you to do anyways."

Okay, thank you. Some of these are lasting a minute. Even the thirty second ones FEEL like minutes long. Ahhh, got one more long hour ahead of me.

I would call and go in when they are every 4 mins.

Go in and just get checked. When I had my first kiddo, I thought I was just having a braxton hicks since my water had not broken yet, but when I got to the hospital and they checked me I was dialated to 7cm. Within minutes of my doctor breaking my water, my son pretty much came flying out. Might be TMI, but what made me decide to go to the hospital is when I stuck my finger down in there and could feel my sons head. But it's always better to go in and get checked than to wait too long where you wont make it in time to have the baby at the hospital. I'll admit my biggest fear is not making it to the hospital in time.

Quoting nursemaya -mommy to 2:" I would recommend staying home for a bit. With the first baby you are likely looking at 10+ hours of ... [snip!] ... and painful enough that you can't talk through them. Again go in if you want, but don't be surprised if they send you home."

Not sure if I can talk through them, I haven't tried talking to anyone in my house, they're all sleeping. Haha. And some are lasting a minute, the pain is strong, strong enough to wake me up, and I currently have timed for an hour already and they've consistently been 3-4 minutes apart. I'm going to keep timing before I call. Thank you for all your help!

Yep i'd go in. I went when mine were 3mins apart got there and i was 8cm dialated and ready to give birth shorty after.

Quoting Cady Browne Kendrick:" Go in and just get checked. When I had my first kiddo, I thought I was just having a braxton hicks since ... [snip!] ... you wont make it in time to have the baby at the hospital. I'll admit my biggest fear is not making it to the hospital in time."

Oh my God, you felt his head!? O.o That scares me, I don't want to feel that. I don't know what I'd do. I want to get to the hospital in time for medication. My mom kept asking the nurse for the epidural and the nurse told her she wasn't having any contractions when she WAS, and by the time the doctor came in it was too late for medication and the nurse got into so much trouble.

<blockquote><b>Quoting MarieRoseAlexa:</b>" An hour and 15 more minutes of timing them for me, thank you! So if they slow down or stop, just ignore it? Orrrrr, I dunno, I'm pregnancy stupid, first pregnancy."</blockquote>




Call your doctor and go to the hospital

I'd go in, honestly.
And, good luck!  

Quoting MarieRoseAlexa:" Oh my God, you felt his head!? O.o That scares me, I don't want to feel that. I don't know what I'd ... [snip!] ... when she WAS, and by the time the doctor came in it was too late for medication and the nurse got into so much trouble."

keep in mind the quick first labor stories are the exception to the rule and the vast majority of the time a first time mom in your situation will come in with your symptoms and either have little or no change. I'm not saying that you couldn't be one of the exceptions, because i don't know. Its just that every first mother tends to jump the gun on going in and once you go to their house you have to play by their rules and at least some of your wishes could be limited. Everyone is always afraid of getting to the hospital at 8cm and delivering quickly, but really if you think about it, wouldn' that be ideal???