Did you follow the 5-1-1 rule?

[TrickyBob]

I'm sorry and I don't have answers for you, but yay almost baby time!

[Deleted]

I'd probably call if they're getting closer together and on average are more painful. Unless you want a more natural birth...then I might tough it out longer at home.

But I've been in the hospital three times and I'm still pregnant so what do I know?

[wannabe]

We followed it. Headed off to the hospital as directed, bean was born less than two hours later.

[Deleted]

Jun 27, 2013 1:49:29 GMT -5 @iamsnazzy said:

I reeeeeally want to call, but every time I'm about to, my frequency jumps up to 6 or 7 minutes.

How long are they lasting? If you're contracting for a minute or more at a time I might call anyway. If the length is fluctuating as well, I might wait and see if they get closer together.

You can always call and leave the decision to your OB. I do that sometimes...give them all the information and let them tell me whether they'd like to see me or not.

[Deleted]

Jun 27, 2013 2:01:15 GMT -5 @iamsnazzy said:

60-90 mins each. In the past 2 hours I've had 4 or 5 that were shorter than that.

And I'm being a wuss and feeling really guilty about calling my doctor at 3AM.

I'm going to assume that was seconds, cuz otherwise...ow!

I'm always a wuss about calling and I feel super embarrassed when I get sent home. But, as my H tells me, better that then giving birth in the parking lot! He also pointed out this is their job and most of the people you'll interact with have to be at work regardless of whether you call.

If you're in a lot of pain, don't second guess yourself. Worst case scenario, you get sent home and take a nap until your appointment. Best case, you're holding a baby in a few hours!

I know a lot of people recommend staying at home longer, but I honestly was not in much pain with my first and I was only in labor 5-6 hours at the hospital. We only went in because my contractions were regular for two hours.

[underwaterrhymes]

I did. Sort Of. The first time I went to the hospital, I was up all night with contractions that were 4 minutes apart, lasting 1 minute each for several hours.

When I got there I was not dilated at all so they sent me hone.

Two days later I was back for the real deal except my contractions quickly ramped up to 2 minutes apart, lasting a minute and a half each. Still only dilated 2 cm, but because of their length and frequency, they kept me.

Baby was born at 8:30 am the next day.

I would keep timing for a bit longer. The difference for me between Tuesday and Thursday was that on Tuesday the pain was manageable with deep breathing. On Thursday I was standing and leaning up against a chair and swaying my hips until H got home to keep it under control.

But if it keeps up, call your doctor. That's why they make the big bucks and it won't be the first or the last time they're woken up in the middle of the night.

Good luck! So exciting!!

[overture]

I had a few hours of timeable contractions each night for a couple of days before I delivered. When it was real labor, my contractions were all over the place for the first 8 hours or so, and I wasn't sure if I was really in labor. Even when I went to the hospital 12 hours in, I still had 15 more to go.

Generally, if you're posting about your contractions online, you've got a good while to go before you're in danger of not making it to the hospital. When things get serious, your mood gets serious and you won't be able to think about much else.

If it's false labor, doing something relaxing will often make it go away. My midwife's advice was to take a bath with a glass of wine. If contractions continue to get stronger after that, it's probably the real thing.

[Chelle]

There is some research that shows that stress hormones counteract labour hormones. So the more you stress, the more labour goes away. Try to relax and breathe, taking a bath is probably a great idea. Generally I agree with overture. When the time is here, you will be focused on baby and not on asking is for advice.

I hope this is it and you're holding your baby in no time!

[meganew]

Mine never followed a pattern. They were anywhere from 3-7 minutes apart, but nothing consistent. I did that for a few hours at home and then went to the hospital mostly because my H was freaking out.

They thought I'd be discharged, but 2 hours later I was 8cm! Sitting cross legged was the only thing that made me feel better, too!

Good luck!

[alzi]

How are you feeling this morning? I'm thinking about you Good luck!!

[Deleted]

How are you feeling? Thinking about you! The time is coming :-)

My midwife kept me at home long after they were 5 minutes apart. Her rule was if I couldn't talk through them. Lol. Not helpful, I know.

[Deleted]

This is so exciting!

[urbancowgirl]

Hope your contractions are more consistent this morning! Yay for baby!

[mala]

I'm tardy to the party but I would have called/gone into the hospital for that. When I was in labor with B contractions started at 1am. They got steadily closer together but arrived wildly. They would be 4 minutes apart for 20 minutes, then it would be 10 minutes before the next one. I didn't expect that. She was born at 9:29pm that night (she would have been earlier-I was at 10cm by 5:30pm- but silly girl didn't want to descend).

[hopecounts]

My take is if you can still take the time to wonder if you should go you probably don't need to.
When you reach the we're going now or the I don't want to move "nesting" point move it to the hospital.
At least if your planning a natural birth (which I'm basing on the fact you have a doula).
Of course this is assuming the hospital is a reasonable distance and you have no complications.

Hopefully you're busy meeting baby!

[Deleted]

Good luck today, snazzy

[Deleted]

Mine were all over the place like that too and I got to the hospital and was told I was nearly fully dilated.And I could still walk and talk through them. That was something they did not teach me in childbirth class. Good luck!

[Jalapeñomel]

I´m guessing you are having a baby!

Good luck!!!

[TrudyCampbell]

I wanted a med free birth so I followed the 3-1-1 rule. I'd try to stay home as long as possible. Good luck!

[liverandonions]

Do you have to poop or have you pooped? That's a good sign to follow too. Your body will start clearing out.