When to go to the hospital??

[11 is heaven]

I was not ever too concerned with not getting to the hospital on time before, until a birth I had this summer. If anything fist time moms go WAY too early. However, this one birth went so well the mom was laboring most of the night ,and then her labor slowed way down and she slept for an hour or so, when she woke up she went into hard labor very fast. No signs of transition, we just worked through the contractions and all of the sudden she said, "Let's go to the hospital", so we did............When we got there she was 10 cm and had the baby in less then 15 min.

I never tell my clients when to go to the hospital, they tell me. However, since this fast birth happened, I am concerned about "getting there on time." I love home births!! I would love to hear if any of you ever have this concern. I am just not ready to catch. Thanks ladies. I have attended many, many births but now I an second guessing myself, am I the only one???

[JackieM]

I tell my clients who choose to labor at home to consider the ride to the hospital -- how long it takes to get there, and how many contractions are they willing to go through during the car ride? Two of my moms got to the hospital very early (earlier than I would have recommended), and their labors progressed quickly. My other two moms who labored at home for hours and hours got the hospital and were only 3- 4 cm and spent many more hours laboring there before giving birth. One of my moms would have stayed at home until the very last minute, I think, until I reminded her that even though she was more comfortable at home, the longer she waited to go to the hospital, the more contractions she'd have to go through on the car ride. She thought about that for a while, then decided to leave for the hospital shortly thereafter.

Moms definitely seem to know when it's best to go; I don't try to talk them into or out of it either way. I just remind them of what to expect when they get there and what we had talked about prenatally and also remind them what their doctor has recommended they do. But they make the final call. If a birth happens at home or in the car, it's not the doula's fault if mom made the decision when to leave!

Each birth is different, so I don't really think there can be a concrete answer to the "when to leave for the hospital" question ... I wish there was, though; it would make everyone's jobs a lot easier and more predictable.

[Garden Doula]

Oh I do not involve myself in that decision, unless I think the concern is keeping mom from relaxing. On my handouts and in my classes we follow the 3-5 min apart for 1st timers and 5-7 for multips obviously with duration. I just encourage the mom to make that choice when she knows she is ready.

I agree that often they go too soon!

[doula Michele]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Birthing_Garden_Vanessa Oh I do not involve myself in that decision, unless I think the concern is keeping mom from relaxing. On my handouts and in my classes we follow the 3-5 min apart for 1st timers and 5-7 for multips obviously with duration. I just encourage the mom to make that choice when she knows she is ready. I agree that often they go too soon!

I find 3-5 minutes still to early in most cases. But thats just me.
My daugter went when her ctx were 2 min apart, for an hour.....with an hour car ride to the hospital. She was still only 6cm when we arrived.
I just tell them to go when they feel ready. If baby comes in the car we deal with it. I had one mom crowning in the parking lot....they arrived 5 minutes before me,a nd i just missed the birth.

[doula Michele]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Birthing_Garden_Vanessa Oh I do not involve myself in that decision, unless I think the concern is keeping mom from relaxing. On my handouts and in my classes we follow the 3-5 min apart for 1st timers and 5-7 for multips obviously with duration. I just encourage the mom to make that choice when she knows she is ready. I agree that often they go too soon!

I find 3-5 minutes still to early in most cases. But thats just me.
My daugter went when her ctx were 2 min apart, for an hour.....with an hour car ride to the hospital. She was still only 6cm when we arrived.
I just tell them to go when they feel ready. If baby comes in the car we deal with it. I had one mom crowning in the parking lot....they arrived 5 minutes before me,a nd i just missed the birth.
usually they arrive with more time to spare than that though.

[1stimestar]

But see, mom knew when to go.

[Garden Doula]

Quote:

Originally Posted by doula Michele I find 3-5 minutes still to early in most cases. But thats just me. My daugter went when her ctx were 2 min apart, for an hour.....with an hour car ride to the hospital. She was still only 6cm when we arrived. I just tell them to go when they feel ready. If baby comes in the car we deal with it. I had one mom crowning in the parking lot....they arrived 5 minutes before me,a nd i just missed the birth. usually they arrive with more time to spare than that though.

In reality I agree.. however this is the timing that all the handouts I've seen give and the books that I've read as well as the class I teach. I always follow up by telling mom that SHE is the only one who will know when its time.

[DoulaMegz]

I think it's best to follow mom's intuition. For instance, I was contracting every 2 to 3 minutes, they were a minute long, and I was in that pattern for 2 or 3 hours when we went to the hospital...I was still only 3 cm. I now believe there is no good rule of thumb. Granted I had the baby 5 hours later, so the timing wasn't that bad, but still...no good rule of thumb.

[*heather*]

i think it really depends on the mom. with my 4th baby (and 1st unassisted birth), my contractions never came closer than 6-7 minutes apart. obviously, though, our bodies were working together because he's here now! i wish there was something that was a little bit better for your rule of thumb, but every body is different.