Women preparing to become mothers should know exactly when to go to the maternity hospital. This issue is especially relevant for first-time mothers.

An obstetrician or gynecologist must tell the expectant mother what is happening to the body during contractions and the breaking of water, so that she understands when it is time to go to the maternity hospital.

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All women are puzzled by the question of when to go to the maternity hospital during their first pregnancy. The doctor caring for the pregnant woman should inform her about her state of health, which will determine the nature of the delivery. At 35-36 weeks, the expectant mother will find out the planned place of birth, so that at 39 weeks of pregnancy, when it’s time to go to the maternity hospital, no unnecessary problems arise.

The woman undergoes numerous examinations reflecting the condition of the baby and the pregnant woman herself. The decision when to go to the maternity hospital as a first-time mother is based on an individual assessment of the results of all studies and risks.

During the first pregnancy, labor can last on average 12 hours and begin with pulling, cramping sensations that appear with temporary regularity. If such pain appears after the 37th week, you should suspect the onset of labor and understand that it is time to go to the maternity hospital, as was recommended by the doctor according to plan.

Contractions have started - is it time?

Contractions are muscle contractions of the uterus. Their occurrence marks the fact that the woman began to give birth. You should go to the maternity hospital immediately during contractions, when the cervix begins to dilate. This is especially true in the second and subsequent pregnancies, because a woman gives birth much faster than for the first time in her life.

There is a danger of rapid and rapid labor, when the fetus is expelled in a shorter period of time than expected. Therefore, if contractions occur before childbirth, it is urgent to go to the maternity hospital when the baby has just begun his journey.

At what interval should contractions not be postponed?

During various periods before childbirth, women experience false contractions, which are irregular and painless. Primiparas often cannot distinguish false contractions from true labor contractions and wonder which contractions to go to the maternity hospital with.

Birth pains:

• go at regular intervals;
• are painful and their intensity depends on the pain threshold of the woman in labor;
• the interval between contractions decreases;
• pain intensifies from contraction to contraction.

At what interval of contractions to go to the maternity hospital depends on the woman’s health condition. But it is better to call an ambulance when detecting the regularity of uterine contractions, without waiting for the cervix to open.

If there is a minute between contractions, then labor is already in full swing and the cervix is ​​fully dilated.

If the amniotic fluid has broken

The rupture of water during normal delivery indicates the end of the first labor period and complete dilatation of the uterine cervix. If your water breaks, you need to go to the maternity hospital, when the amniotic sac is opened, without delaying for more than a minute, because there is very little left before the birth of the baby. In the second period, the mother needs to start pushing to expel the baby from the uterus. When your waters break, you should go to the maternity hospital faster for another birth because of the possibility of giving birth before reaching the hospital.

What sensations make it clear that it’s about to start?

In addition to contractions and rupture of amniotic fluid, a woman will be told when to go to the maternity hospital during pregnancy by the release of the mucous plug covering the uterine cervix. It is an accumulation of dense mucus about three milliliters in volume and can come out a maximum of two weeks before birth, or maybe already during labor. The presence of blood streaks in the plug is normal and should not frighten the expectant mother.

Amniotic fluid and mucus plug

During the second and third births

It is easier for a woman to understand when to go to the maternity hospital during her second birth, since she can focus more accurately on her feelings experienced during her first birth.

It is necessary to go to the maternity hospital during the third birth, when regular cramping pains begin, as soon as possible to ensure the safety of the mother and the child, who will be born within five hours.

A gynecologist will tell a pregnant woman how to understand that it is time to go to the maternity hospital. There are the following methods for determining the date of birth of a baby:

• according to gynecological examination;
• according to the date of expected conception;
• by last menstruation;
• at the first movement of the fetus.

A woman prepares for childbirth in advance by visiting a gynecologist and specialists, undergoing examinations. Participation in classes at a school for pregnant women gives a positive result to your preparation, where they will competently tell you about when you need to go to the maternity hospital, how to behave there, and about the first steps in caring for a newborn baby. It is useful to prepare not only morally, but also physically, so that the body reacts correctly, and the muscles relax and tense where necessary. Breathing, yoga and walking will help with this.

When you need to go to the maternity hospital, the question arises of what you should take from the essentials. Maternity bag includes:

• documents: passport, insurance, exchange card, referral, sick leave;
• clothes for mom: robe, shirt, underwear, socks, washable slippers;
• hygiene items: pads, wet wipes, toilet paper, soap, toothpaste, brush, comb, shampoo;
• mug and spoon;
• clothes for the baby: diapers, caps, vests, rompers;
• for the child: diapers, disposable diapers, cotton pads, diaper cream, pacifier.

Approximate contents of the bag to the maternity hospital

Conclusion

1. should be aware of the timing of travel to the maternity hospital, which is individual in each case and depends on the health of the woman and her baby.
2. Gynecologists need to familiarize pregnant women with the order in which contractions occur, the peculiarities of cervical dilatation and the discharge of amniotic fluid.
3. Starting from the 37th week, a woman should be ready to go to the maternity hospital, knowing about the procedure for delivery and the rules of caring for a newborn baby.

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The beginning of labor is a very exciting moment. Many women are afraid not to understand what he looks like. What contractions look like and when to go to the hospital.

A wide variety of issues are of great concern to pregnant women, and especially those for whom this is the first time.

It is important to distinguish between birth contractions, because There are also precursors of childbirth, when the expectant mother does not necessarily need to be in the hospital.

Therefore, in order to arrive on time, you need to know all these points. When there is even a grain of doubt, it is better to play it safe by turning to doctors for help.

Harbingers of labor and labor pains - how to distinguish

The main clinical signs of precursors of labor are:

• pain in the lower abdomen at 37-42 weeks;
• pain does not disturb the established pattern of rest, work and sleep;
• usually occur at night;
• the woman practically does not feel them (but this depends on the pain sensitivity threshold individual for each woman).

In some cases, the precursors of childbirth can become pathological when you have to go to the maternity hospital. This condition is usually called the pathological preliminary period.

It is characterized by the absence of any changes in the cervix (its ripening) in the presence of severe pain.

Lack of timely correction can lead to weakness of labor or disruption of the normal propagation of the contraction wave through the uterus, which ultimately is not always treatable.

As a result, a situation may arise when it is the only method of delivery.

Labor pains have the following characteristics:

• pain occurs at approximately equal time intervals;
• at the beginning, the intervals are longer (4-6 grips per hour), gradually shortening;
• The strength of the contraction increases over time, as does its duration.

The role of precursors and contractions during childbirth

During contractions during childbirth, the cervical canal or uterine os opens with a smoothed cervix. This is their physiological meaning, and pain is a “side effect” that modern medicine copes well with.

Spinal or epidural labor analgesia is used.

With each contraction, the length of the cervical canal decreases, which leads to smoothing of the cervix, and at the same time, its opening is observed. However, sometimes there may be complications during this period.

In some situations, contractions remain painful, but this does not properly affect the condition of the cervix, suggesting weakness of labor contractions or their discoordination.

In order to relieve such pathological conditions, appropriate correction is carried out. If this is not done, then labor is delayed, and sometimes even stops completely, which requires surgical delivery.

In addition to labor pains, there are also. They are regarded as harbingers of childbirth. They prepare the cervix for the upcoming important event.

At this time, they acquire a certain anatomical and functional maturity. The main characteristics of the process are:

• its softening;
• shortening;
• slight opening;
• location along the wire axis;
• low position of the fetal head or pelvic end, depending on the nature of the presentation.

When to go to the maternity hospital

It is necessary to call an ambulance in the following cases:

• regular contractions on average every 5 minutes;
• the appearance of any bloody;
• constant aching or cramping pain that prevents the woman from falling asleep (most likely this is a pathological preliminary period).

A woman should know: she should not panic during contractions, since childbirth is a long process. It is customary to distinguish three periods:

• dilatation of the cervix (this is the longest period);
• birth of a fetus;
• succession period.

The initial period of labor is characterized by contractions that are not intense and short-lived; the intervals between them are relatively large, so there is no need to rush to call an ambulance.

You must wait until the intervals between them are reduced to 5 minutes.

The indicator corresponds to approximately half of the required opening of the cervix, being the most optimal option for admission to the maternity hospital.

However, we should not forget: sometimes labor can be fast or rapid, which is characterized by a fairly intense rate of dilatation of the cervix. This is something to think about in the following situations:

• previous births fit the category of fast or rapid;
• the intervals between contractions very quickly become 2-3 minutes;
• a woman’s fear even during the period between contractions;
• corresponding heredity, when the mother of the woman in labor had a history of rapid or rapid labor.

When to go to the maternity hospital for the second birth? There is an opinion that the birth of a second child is easier and faster, but this is not always the case. A woman in labor should be prepared for anything, since giving birth the second time may be no different from the first time. It all depends on the physiological characteristics of the body and other factors associated with the course of pregnancy.

Contractions during the second birth

There are training contractions. During such contractions, a woman should not go to the parental home, since this is only a warning about childbirth and she still needs to wait two or three weeks. If the pregnant woman has already decided that she has started having regular contractions, then she needs to control her emotional state. It is important to control the situation, not to panic, but to constantly remain calm. Contractions during childbirth are regularly repeated and intensified. First, they are repeated for five minutes, the field of which intensifies and lasts about ten minutes.

Labor contractions last from two to four hours. If there are complications, labor can last up to eight hours. The beginning of the second ones is similar, they do not differ in any significant way from the first ones, but often this process proceeds more easily.

When to go to the maternity hospital for the second time

The woman already understands that real contractions have begun and knows when to go to the doctor. But she should not forget that the second birth goes faster, so hurry up with the delivery. After all, there were many cases when a woman gave birth right on the way to the hospital. In order to prevent such situations, you should go immediately when a woman feels discomfort. It is advisable to wait no more than nine minutes between contractions so that you do not have to wait long for the next contractions. In the absence of severe pain, the pregnant woman should go to the doctors, where artificial treatment is needed.

You need to go to the parental home when regular and severe pain appears in the back, pelvis and abdomen. Women are different, but contractions are accompanied by aching pain, like during menstruation, and then only discomfort remains.

The closer the end of pregnancy is, the greater the woman’s anxiety about the upcoming birth. This period is especially exciting and troubling for those who will become mothers for the first time. A lot of questions arise about when to go to the maternity hospital, what to take with you and how the birth will take place.

Several days and sometimes weeks before the birth of the child, some changes appear in the woman’s well-being. During this period, you should worry about packing your bag for the maternity hospital, the necessary documents, and also informing your loved ones. Childbirth itself occurs in several stages. In some cases, early hospitalization is recommended.

A few days before the birth of the child, the woman’s body begins preparation. By monitoring her condition, a pregnant woman may detect the following signs:

• reduction and sometimes some weight loss;
• prolapse of the abdomen due to the movement of the child closer to the birth canal;
• reduction of heartburn and shortness of breath;
• increased urge to urinate;
• a feeling of heaviness and squeezing in the lumbar region;
• leg cramps;
• changes in intestinal motility: diarrhea, nausea, vomiting;
• decreased child activity;
• manifestation of the “nesting instinct” (the desire to prepare the house for the arrival of a child, wash everything, clean it, organize a child’s place in the bedroom);
• the development of false contractions - contractions that train the body and prepare the cervix for childbirth;
• the appearance of slight mucous discharge, odorless, transparent or slightly pinkish;
• discharge of a mucus plug (a clot that looks like a jellyfish).

If such signs are detected, there is no need to immediately contact the maternity hospital. It can take from several weeks to 1-2 days until the baby is born; it is impossible to determine the date of birth more accurately. The most important thing is to be alert so that at the first signs of labor you seek medical help.

When to go to the maternity hospital?

You need to go to the maternity hospital at the first signs of labor starting. You need to know these symptoms and carefully monitor changes in your condition:

1. The amniotic fluid has receded. During the normal course of labor, this occurs during the dilatation of the cervix. Often the amniotic sac ruptures before contractions and cramps begin. In such a situation, you must immediately contact the maternity hospital; the child should not be left without amniotic fluid for more than 10-12 hours. The rupture of amniotic fluid before the 37th week is dangerous; in this case, doctors will need time to prepare the baby’s lungs for functioning.
2. The first contractions appeared - periodic contractile attacks that occur along with nagging pain in the lower abdomen. Thanks to them, the cervix softens and opens. During the first birth, minor but long-lasting (up to 24 hours or more) contractions often develop. At first, the contractions do not cause much pain and last 15 seconds. During breaks, the muscles relax and the pregnant woman has the opportunity to relax. Labor gradually intensifies, contractions become more frequent, prolonged and painful. Breaks are shortened to 15-20 minutes, and during childbirth - to 2-3. The pain spreads to the lower back, rectum, thighs and calves, sometimes accompanied by chills. When contractions last a minute or more, and the breaks between them are reduced to 10-15 minutes, you need to go to the maternity hospital. This frequency is the main sign that a child will be born soon.

The difference between the first stage of labor in multiparous women is that it occurs more rapidly. It is also more common for amniotic fluid to leak before contractions occur.

Situations that require early hospitalization

A woman can go to the maternity hospital in advance at her own request, having received a referral from the doctor who has seen her. Some women in labor feel calmer under the supervision of medical staff, even despite the absence of loved ones nearby. Especially often, those who had complications in previous births ask for early hospitalization.

Indications for going to the maternity hospital in advance are the following situations:

1. Post-term pregnancy. At 42 weeks, it is better to go to the maternity hospital, even if there are no signs of labor yet. In the hospital, special procedures are carried out to prepare the body, soften the cervix and promote its dilation.
2. Preeclampsia. This condition itself requires hospitalization. One of its complications may be premature birth, and in severe cases of pathology, emergency surgical delivery will be required.
3. Planned caesarean section. Early hospitalization allows the woman and the staff to prepare for the upcoming operation: perform blood and urine tests, select anesthesia and other medications. The procedure is carried out a week before the expected date of birth (ED).

These are just the most common reasons to go to the maternity hospital in advance. The issue of early referral for hospitalization is decided by the obstetrician-gynecologist leading the pregnancy based on the woman’s condition, her health, and the characteristics of the pregnancy process (the presence of complications).

When is emergency help needed?

An immediate call to an ambulance is required in the following situations:

• contractions have become regular, repeating every 5 minutes or more often;
• amniotic fluid has broken;
• vaginal discharge becomes bloody or bleeding develops (scarlet blood);
• pain does not occur periodically, but torments constantly, its nature is aching or cramping.

A separate case is rapid labor. They cannot always be predicted; a distinctive feature is the rapid dilatation of the cervix. At the same time, rest periods are constantly shortened and soon last 2-3 minutes.

Therefore, if the previous birth was rapid or there is a hereditary factor, then an ambulance should be called at the first contractions.

In all of the above cases, you should seek emergency help. It is unsafe to get to the maternity hospital by your own transport, as labor may progress to the next stage and the woman’s condition will worsen. The medical assistance vehicle has the necessary equipment for such situations.

The birth of a child is a fairly long process consisting of several stages. A few days before its onset, changes in well-being appear, which are called precursors.

The first stage of labor includes the breaking of amniotic fluid and the appearance of contractions. You need to go to the maternity hospital when the intervals between contractions are 10-15 minutes, and the contraction itself lasts about 60 seconds.

Early hospitalization is necessary for the development of preeclampsia, post-term pregnancy, planned caesarean section and some other complications.

When is it time to go to the hospital?

“When to go to the maternity hospital” is perhaps the most pressing question that begins to worry the expectant mother in the last trimester of pregnancy. Women who are preparing to become mothers for the first time are usually especially worried. The fear of giving birth at home and not having time to get to the maternity hospital is absolutely natural. Among other things, anxiety is fueled by a favorite cinematic technique when a woman feels sharp pain and realizes that she is about to give birth.

Listening to our own body signals

In fact, in most cases, a woman manages not only to get to the maternity ward on time, but also to calmly collect the necessary things, call her loved ones and slowly go to give birth. It is only important to hear the signals that the body gives. These signals are harbingers of labor in a woman.

There are two symptoms that can be used to determine with a high degree of probability that labor will occur in the next 24 hours. These are regular contractions and discharge of amniotic fluid. In addition, there are many indirect signs that may occur, or may be completely absent or go unnoticed.

A few days before an important event, a woman’s body undergoes a restructuring and her hormonal levels change. In this regard, a woman may notice a slight weight loss and a decrease in swelling. This way the body gets rid of excess fluid. In addition, over a few days, bowel movements may become more frequent, and even diarrhea may occur. This is also a natural cleansing of the body before childbirth.

An important precursor to labor is the release of the mucus plug. A plug is a protective barrier that protects the entrance to the cervix from the external environment, bacteria and fungi that inhabit the vagina. A woman may notice thick mucus discharge, ranging from clear to bloody. They cannot be confused with dangerous bleeding, since these are precisely clots of mucus. The plug may come off entirely, or it may come off gradually over a long period of time, up to two weeks. It is important to understand that after the plug comes out, the entrance to the cervix is ​​no longer protected, which means you should not visit the pool, take a bath, and it is advisable to stop having sex.

A drooping abdomen is another sign of impending labor. After the fundus of the uterus has sank, it becomes easier for the woman to breathe, but the urge to urinate becomes more frequent. It is difficult to focus on this phenomenon in a temporary sense, since for some people the stomach drops 2 weeks before childbirth, and for others directly during the birth process.

If a woman notices any of the above symptoms, this is only a reminder and warning that labor will occur soon. None of these symptoms require seeing a doctor unless your general health worsens.

But there are two signals that indicate that you need to pack your things and go to the maternity hospital.

The first of these is the outpouring of water. Regardless of the stage of pregnancy and whether contractions have begun or not, if you find that your water has broken, you need to get to the maternity hospital within an hour or an hour and a half. It is impossible not to notice the passage of water. The amount of fluid after the rupture of the amniotic sac will be quite large. Don't be bothered by slightly damp underwear - this is a natural increase in mucus before childbirth.

True and training contractions

The most important sign of the onset of labor is contractions. Most women feel abdominal tension during the last months of pregnancy. The stomach seems to turn to stone, and a pulling sensation appears not only in the stomach itself, but also in the lower back. These sensations are similar to discomfort during menstruation.

There are so-called Braxton-Hicks training contractions. It is very easy to distinguish false contractions from true ones. They are not very painful, but that is not the main thing. True labor contractions are always regular, that is, they are repeated at certain intervals, which are gradually reduced. For example, abdominal tension occurs for 10 seconds every 12 minutes. At first, the interval between contractions is quite large, and their intensity and pain are very moderate. This allows you to calmly observe yourself and notice whether contractions are regular or not. The interval between false contractions is always different; in addition, they can subside and intensify depending on physical activity and body position. The real ones will grow regardless of your actions.

So, if you have decided that you have started having regular contractions, your emotional state will tell you when to go to the maternity hospital. You should go to the maternity hospital when you are no longer comfortable at home. But you should still wait at least 9 minutes between contractions, so as not to spend too much time waiting outside the house.

If this is not the first time giving birth

It is believed that the second and subsequent births are much faster than the first. In fact, this is not always the case. But a woman who is about to give birth for the second time can decide for herself when to go to the maternity hospital. She already knows what contractions are and how to count them. You just need to take into account that during the second birth, the rate of increase in labor activity, and, accordingly, the intensification and frequency of contractions usually occurs faster.

If the pregnancy proceeds with some peculiarities, planned hospitalization may be needed shortly before the expected date. The doctor can advise the patient about when to go to the hospital if she is breech. This may have to be done taking into account those very harbingers of childbirth. After all, only immediately before childbirth, the doctor usually makes a decision about how the birth will take place in a breech presentation - naturally or through a cesarean section.