Is It That Time?

Hospital Choice

⇒ Labor

Hospital Admittance

Delivery and In-Hospital Care

Exactly how do you know that it really is time to head over to the hospital?

Sure Signs

It is normal to have Braxton Hicks contractions during the later months of pregnancy. Although, it can easily be confused with labor. If you are unsure, drink plenty of fluids and decrease your activity. If it is true labor, the contractions will continue to progress and get closer together.

The following are common signs of the early stage of labor:

• Consistent contractions that are occur every 5 - 20 minutes and that last for 30 - 50 seconds
• Backache that can be timed at regular intervals
• Frequent soft or loose bowel movements
• Leaking or gush of fluid from the vagina
• Loss of your mucus plug (which may contain a small amount of blood)

Actions to Take

Once true contractions begin, it is a good idea to track the frequency, strength, and duration of the contractions. The frequency, or "how often", is the time (in minutes) from the start of one contraction to the start of the next contraction. The duration of contractions are how long they last. So the duration is measured in seconds from the start of one contraction to the end of the same contraction. This is also a good time to call your doctor to discuss how things are progressing and to provide the information you have recorded.

This would also be a good time to inform those on your contact list who you have made arrangements with (e.g., to watch the kids, pets, provide transportation, etc.), and to get together those last minute things that you will need to bring with you to the hospital (hopefull you still have that list to help you remember what those last minute things were).

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