how far should your contractions be before going to the hospital?
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Active labor (the time you should come into the hospital) is usually characterized by strong contractions that last 45 to 60 seconds and occur three to four minutes apart.
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Work out how far apart your contractions are – Subtract the start time of the previous contraction from the start time of your current contraction and you'll be able to work out how far apart they are.
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Your cervix opens from 7 to 10 centimeters. For most women, this is the hardest or most painful part of labor. This is when your cervix opens to its fullest. Contractions last about 60 to 90 seconds and come every 2 to 3 minutes.
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Contractions: Contractions are increasingly intense and last between 60 to 90 seconds, and they're 1 1/2 to 2 minutes apart. Other Signs: You may feel pelvic and rectal pressure, have hot flashes and/or chills, have cold feet, and feel nauseous or even vomit.
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In active labor, the contractions are less than 5 minutes apart, lasting 45-60 seconds and the cervix is dilated three centimeters or more. In the event you are in early labor and sent home, it is common to feel disappointed, maybe even embarrassed.
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When should I go to the hospital or call my health care provider? Your contractions have been 5 minutes apart or less for at least 1 hour. If several contractions are so painful you cannot walk or talk during one. Your bag of waters breaks.
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Contractions are the most common first sign of labor. Just before you go into labor, your cervix, the lower part of your uterus, will soften, thin out, and shorten. You may feel a little discomfort, maybe even a few light, irregular contractions.
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The time between contractions includes the length or duration of the contraction and the minutes in between the contractions (called the interval). Mild contractions generally begin 15 to 20 minutes apart and last 60 to 90 seconds. The contractions become more regular until they are less than 5 minutes apart.
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The likelihood is that your contractions will start within 24 hours to 48 hours of your waters breaking. So waiting for at least 24 hours before you're induced is probably what your midwife will advise.
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Remember that your baby's tummy is just the size of a marble. If you have a straightforward vaginal birth in a public hospital or birthing centre, you'll probably go home within 24 hours. A midwife might visit you at home. If you have your baby in a private hospital, you might be able to stay longer, if you want to.
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Labor Restrictions It may be that you must be at a certain point in labor, like four (4) centimeters before an epidural can be given.
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If you've experienced bloody show, you can usually expect to go into labor within the next day or two — unless you're a fast starter, in which case you could have your first contraction within the next several hours. (Nice and predictable, right?). So get ready, but don't head out the door just yet.
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The general advice has been to wait until the contractions have been five minutes apart for an hour before you call and make your way to the hospital.
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If you're being induced, you'll go into the hospital maternity unit. Contractions can be started by inserting a tablet (pessary) or gel into the vagina. Induction of labour may take a while, particularly if the cervix (the neck of the uterus) needs to be softened with pessaries or gels.
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Early labor These contractions are organized, coming at regular intervals of time. They may start out spaced far apart, but by the time you're nearing the end of early labor, they should be close to just five minutes apart. During early labor, you may also notice other signs that help you realize it's the real deal.
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Contractions may feel different from the first stage of labor -- they will slow to 2 to 5 minutes apart and last from about 60 to 90 seconds. You will feel a strong urge to push with your contractions. Try to rest as much as possible between intervals of pushing, and only push when the health care provider tells you.
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Active labor This is when you should head to the hospital. When you have contractions every 3 to 4 minutes and they each last about 60 seconds, it often means that your cervix is opening faster (about 1 centimeter per hour).