Contractions Question

macchiatto

I know you're supposed to go in to the hospital when your contractions are 5 mins apart, lasting at least a minute, for at least an hour.

Does anyone know how significant the "lasting at least a minute" part is? Cos what if they're 5 mins apart but some don't last that long?

I ask b/c I've had 10 contractions over the past hour--a little irregular, 5 to 7 mins apart, but definitely more contractions and more regular than I've had them before, so I'm thinking I might get to "5 mins apart" before long--but some of them last less than a minute.

... But I just realized, I haven't started timing the individual ones until they're peaked (so it's a definite contraction) so would the minute include the whole "rise and fall" of the contraction? Or is it a minute at the fully contracted/tight state?

Anyone know?

sweater

Um...call your doc!!! When I was in-patient, they got nervous if I had more than 5 contractions an hour!

macchiatto

Yeah, when I was preterm I was supposed to go in if I had 6 or more in an hour, but now that I'm full-term the doc said to follow the "5 mins apart lasting at least a minute for at least an hour" rule.

I did some googling and found out how to time the contractions, and I should be starting from the start rather than the peak, so now I know they are at least a minute. They've gotten a little more irregular again though--several were 10 or 8 mins apart--so we'll see ...

copwife08

keep us posted!

VCMCG

If they're getting stronger over time, I'd definitely call your doc.  Good luck!

kyluvsaj

Fingers are crossed for you!