Logan Reid
Knowing when to go to the hospital during labour can be tricky, especially as every woman's labour experience is unique. However, most obstetricians and midwives suggest contacting them when your contractions are five minutes apart, lasting 45 to 60 seconds each, and have been consistent for at least one hour. This is known as the 5-1-1 rule, but some doctors may recommend a 4-1-1 or 3-1-1 guideline, depending on your individual situation. If your water breaks, you should call your doctor immediately, and they may recommend heading to the hospital.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time between contractions | Every 3 to 5 minutes |
| Length of contractions | 45 to 60 seconds each |
| Duration of contractions | 1 to 2 hours |
| Water breaking | Contact your provider or go to the hospital |
| Colour of amniotic fluid | If greenish, brown, yellow or streaked with these colours, go to the hospital |
| First-time mothers | Stay at home until it's difficult to breathe through the contractions |
| Cervix dilation | 3 to 6 centimeters |
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What You'll Learn
- The 5-1-1 rule: contractions 5 minutes apart, lasting 1 minute, for 1 hour
- False labour: contractions don't lead to cervix dilation
- Water breaking: call your doctor, head to the hospital
- First-time mothers: stay home until hard to breathe through contractions
- Contact your doctor: they will guide you on when to head to the hospital
The 5-1-1 rule: contractions 5 minutes apart, lasting 1 minute, for 1 hour
The 5-1-1 rule is a commonly recommended guideline for pregnant women to determine when to head to the hospital for labour. It states that you should go to the hospital when your contractions are five minutes apart, lasting for one minute each, and have been coming for at least one hour. This rule is a general guideline, and labour can vary for each woman, so it is always best to consult your doctor or midwife for personalised advice.
It can be tricky to recognise true labour, especially as your due date approaches and you notice every little twinge. False labour, also known as prodromal labour or Braxton-Hicks contractions, can be convincing and is fairly common, occurring in more than 40% of pregnant women. False labour typically happens close to the due date and can involve contractions at regular intervals for several hours. However, false labour contractions will not cause dilation of the cervix.
To differentiate between true and false labour, you can monitor the frequency, duration, and intensity of your contractions. During true labour, contractions will typically occur at regular intervals, lasting about a minute each, and increasing in intensity. They may start at 30 seconds and gradually increase in length and strength. If your contractions are irregular, with varying intervals, they may be a sign of early labour, which can last up to 30 hours without being abnormal.
It is important to note that the 5-1-1 rule is not a strict guideline, and there may be exceptions or variations depending on individual circumstances. For example, if you live far from the hospital or have other concerns, you may need to leave for the hospital earlier than the rule suggests. Additionally, the length of contractions may be more important than the time between them. Consult with your doctor or midwife to receive clear guidelines and instructions specific to your situation.
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False labour: contractions don't lead to cervix dilation
When contractions occur five minutes apart, last for a minute each, and have been consistent for at least an hour, it's time to head to the hospital. This is known as the 5-1-1 rule, and it indicates that a woman is in active labour. However, it can be tricky to distinguish between true and false labour.
False labour, also known as prodromal labour, is characterised by contractions that do not lead to cervical dilation or effacement. These contractions can be painful and occur every five minutes, lasting for about 60 seconds each. However, they never progress beyond this point and do not indicate that labour is imminent or that the cervix has started to dilate or efface. Prodromal labour typically occurs in the third trimester and can feel very similar to true labour contractions.
During true labour, the cervix, or birth canal, dilates from 6 to 10 centimetres, allowing the baby to move through the birth canal. In contrast, false labour contractions do not cause any cervical changes, and the cervix remains closed. While the exact cause of prodromal labour is unknown, it is believed that these contractions help prepare the uterine muscles and ligaments for actual labour.
It is important to note that Braxton-Hicks contractions are another type of contraction that does not lead to cervical changes. They may occur less regularly than prodromal labour contractions and are typically mild and irregular. These contractions can begin as early as mid-pregnancy and do not indicate that labour is imminent.
If you are unsure whether you are experiencing true or false labour, it is always best to consult your healthcare provider. They may ask you to time your contractions, describe your pain, or come in for an examination to check for cervical dilation.
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Water breaking: call your doctor, head to the hospital
Water breaking is a sign that labour is coming. The fluid you feel gushing or trickling from your vagina is amniotic fluid, the liquid that surrounds and protects a fetus. If your water breaks, call your doctor or midwife immediately.
If you are 37 weeks pregnant or earlier, head to the hospital right away. If you haven't been receiving prenatal care and don't have a doctor, call your local emergency room when your water breaks. They will be able to guide you on what to do next. If your water breaks before you're 37 weeks pregnant, it's called preterm premature rupture of the membranes, or PPROM. If this happens, contact your provider right away.
If you tested positive for group B streptococcus, your provider will want you to go to the hospital as soon as your water breaks so you can start receiving antibiotics. Your doctor or midwife may recommend waiting at home until you have regular contractions or a certain amount of time has passed. The risk of infection increases 6 to 12 hours after your water breaks.
Follow your doctor's advice about when to head to the hospital once your water has broken. If they've advised you to wait at home for your contractions to kick in, go to the hospital once your contractions are occurring at the intervals they've told you.
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First-time mothers: stay home until hard to breathe through contractions
For first-time mothers, it is recommended to stay at home until it becomes difficult to breathe through contractions. This is because labour can start differently from what is typically portrayed in movies, where a character's water breaks as a sign of surprise labour. In reality, your water can break before labour begins, or even right before you deliver your baby.
False labour, also known as prodromal labour, can be quite convincing, and it is common for women to feel contractions without their cervix dilating or effacing. To differentiate between false and true labour, you can check your symptoms or contact your OB-GYN or midwife. True labour is characterised by contractions that occur at regular intervals, typically five minutes apart, lasting for one minute each, and have been consistent for at least one hour. This is known as the 5-1-1 rule.
However, it is important to note that there are other guidelines, such as the 4-1-1 or 3-1-1 rule, where contractions occur every four or three minutes, respectively. For first-time mothers, it is generally advised to stay at home and manage contractions with breathing techniques until it becomes challenging to do so.
Breathing techniques during labour can help increase the mother's focus and provide oxygen to both her and the baby. One such technique is the organising breath, where you take a deep breath before and after each contraction, inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth. This can help you stay centred and process what is happening. Additionally, you can try to relax at home by engaging in activities such as walking, showering, resting, drinking fluids, or listening to music.
If you live far from the hospital, are concerned about not getting there on time, or have special concerns, you may want to leave for the hospital earlier, even if you are a first-time mother managing contractions at home.
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Contact your doctor: they will guide you on when to head to the hospital
As you approach your due date, you may experience contractions, which are a sign of labour. It is important to contact your doctor or midwife to inform them of your symptoms so they can guide you on when to go to the hospital.
If you are experiencing contractions, you should time them to determine how far apart they are, how long they last, and how frequent they are. You can use a stopwatch on your phone to help you with this. Note down the time so you can keep track of when the contractions started and measure the amount of time between contractions from the beginning of one to the start of the next.
Once you have this information, contact your doctor or midwife. They may recommend that you head to the hospital, or they may advise you to stay at home. First-time mothers may be advised to stay at home until it becomes difficult to breathe through the contractions. However, if you live far from the hospital or have other concerns, you may need to leave sooner. Your doctor will take into account your individual situation, such as whether you have a high-risk pregnancy or other complications.
Your doctor or midwife may recommend guidelines for when to go to the hospital, such as the 5-1-1 guideline, which means contractions are five minutes apart, lasting one minute each, and have been coming for an hour. Other guidelines include 4-1-1, 3-1-1, or 3-1-2. If you are in active labour, with contractions less than five minutes apart and your cervix is dilated three centimetres or more, you should be on your way to the hospital.
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Frequently asked questions
Contractions should be 3 to 5 minutes apart before you contact your midwife or head to the hospital.
Contractions should last for about 45 to 60 seconds each.
Contractions should occur for at least one hour before you contact your midwife or head to the hospital.
Other signs include your water breaking, vaginal bleeding, severe abdominal pain, fever, or symptoms of preeclampsia.
