Reasons to GO to the hospital…
- Labor
- Rupture of membranes
- Spotting vs. bleeding
- Decreased fetal movement (“I don’t feel baby moving”)
1. Labor is the first reason to consider going into the hospital. Sounds obvious, right? Well, let me clarify. For 1st Time Moms it can be tricky to understand when you are actually in labor. You have never felt active (FULL ON) labor before; so, how in the world do you know if it is actually happening?
Dr. Boyd uses many analogies to help you understand active labor. Frequency of contractions, length of time with frequent contractions, and increasing labor pain are key indicators. He likes to ask women, “Have you ever been hit in the head with a wood 2 x 4? Ninety-nine percent of women say, “Well, of course not”. He then proceeds to say… “If you did get hit in the head with a 2 x 4 would you know? And I am sure most women would say, ‘Well, of course’.”
Before Dr. Boyd goes any further, I want to mention the FREE Pearently Natural Birth Workbook! This 4 Step Process is a great start if you are considering a med-free birth. Click the button below to download the workbook…
This is what labor pain is like. You are CERTAIN that you are in labor because you know it hit you like a BIG plank of wood. On top of the pain, the contractions just keep happening at frequent intervals. It is a key element to consider the timing of contractions (described by Dr. Boyd in the video).
2. The second reason you should (or shouldn’t) go to the hospital is the rupture of your membranes (aka “my water broke!”). Many women end up at the hospital and they have only lost urine NOT their membranes. This is embarrassing (but it’s ok). It is important to understand the difference between ruptured membranes and simply losing urine due to a weak urethra late in pregnancy (check out the video to know if your water broke or if it was just urine from your bladder).
3. The third reason you may or may not end up at the hospital is bleeding. Spotting is acceptable in late pregnancy as your cervix begins to thin and open (efface and dilate). However, bleeding is not a good sign. Call your healthcare provider or go to your local hospital if you are bleeding. Stay at home if you are spotting.
4. The last thing that may take you into the hospital is decreased fetal movement. Every woman that is pregnant feels their baby move throughout pregnancy. However, as you reach the end of your pregnancy your baby begins to run out of space. So, the movement is going to decrease relative to earlier in gestation. It is important to monitor fetal movement everyday. Go to the hospital for evaluation if you don’t feel baby move like normal.
More about when to go into the hospital in the video!
*Do you want some help making a plan? This FREE Natural Birth Workbook is just for you. This 4 Step Process is a great start if you are considering a med-free birth. Download below…
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