Deciding when to go to the hospital is a subject that gets talked about a lot in childbirth class and in your midwife or doctor's office. You will want to talk about your expectations of labor and what pain medications you are planning or not planning to use and other possibilities.
Once you have a plan or preference, you simply wait for labor to execute that plan. If the time comes and something comes up that throws a wrench in your plans, you can always call your practitioner's office for advice. If you aren't sure if you should go to the hospital, consider these options:
- If it's office hours at the practitioner's, can you go in for a quick check?
- After hours can you call the office or can you call to the triage/birth center area for advice?
- Call your doula or childbirth educator for advice if it's a reasonable hour.
- Call your practitioner at any hour, day or night if you have any questions.
- Go immediately to your place of birth if you meet any previously agreed upon criteria (different for every mom but can include broken water, bleeding, etc.).
If you think it's time and you get to your place of birth, they will help you assess where you are in labor. This may include a vaginal exam, listening to your baby and potentially waiting a bit and rechecking your cervix. Every hospital and birth center will have different criteria for what constitutes you staying. It may be that you need to be dilated a certain amount or if your water is broken. You may also be admitted in labor if you or your baby are exhibiting problems or if during the waiting period your cervix makes changes that indicate labor progress.
If you are admitted - great! You know where to go from here. If you don't get admitted it may be a bit more of a gray area. For moms who live far away you may wish to stay in the area. Some hospitals have contracts with local hotels. Or you may choose to go to the mall to walk around. Then when you think things have changed again, head on back to the hospital to be checked again.
Source
Main, E. K., Moore, D., Barrell, B., Schimmel, L. D., Altman, R. J., Abrahams, C., et al. (2006). Is there a useful cesarean birth measure? Assessment of the nulliparous term singleton vertex cesarean birth rate as a tool for obstetric quality improvement. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 194, 1644 - 1652.
