Help!!?!?? Was sent home with contractions 5 minutes apart?!

kngrimsley

Im so darn confused. Last night I started having contractions at 7:30 and they were about 10 minutes apart but we're progressively getting closer together. My contractions were 5 minutes apart by 11pm so I called my hospital and they told me to come in so they could check my contractions and cervix. I went in and they hooked me up to the monitor. I'm a FTM so at this point I'm not sure if what I'm feeling are contractions or what. I get to the hospital they hook me up to the monitor and monitor me for about 30 minute. They come back in to check my cervix and she tells me that I'm 1 centimeter dilated and my cervix is very soft. I asked her if what I was feeling was contractions and she confirmed, "yes you are having contractions about every 5 minutes." She then asked me how far away I lived, which to me is startling, and I told her about 10-15 minutes. Was she trying to decide wether or not to keep me there? So needless to say she says to me, " we are gonna send you home for now, you just need to monitor your contractions. When they get stronger and take your breath away and are 3-5 minutes apart that's when you need to come back in." Is this normal to be sent home with contractions this close together? Is it safe? I am not trying to have a baby in the car on our 10-15 minute drive to the hospital...I don't want to sound dramatic...just worried. My husbands military so I know the Army hospital does stuff kinda different than civilian hospitals. Thanks for any advice! My next OB appt is on Wednesday.

hclzmm14

If the contractions aren't close enough together they probably don't want to admit you in case they need the room. I delivered on Tuesday and by 10 am all 27 beds were full in L&D. So I think they try to reserve the beds for people ready to deliver in a few hours (with the exception of broken waters). I would say you live pretty close, I wouldn't worry about having to deliver in the car. You are already registered at the hospital, so when you are close enough you will get right in.

CaliforniaDream87

Yep, it's normal. I was in labor for two days with DS before they admitted me. If your contractions are not productive than you're not quite in active labor. Sounds like this is the start of something but not just yet. My hospital won't even admit you, unless you have complications or your water breaks, until
you're about 3-4 cms.

nakoppel

Sometimes even though contractions are close together they aren't considered productive. She may have told you to come back when they were stronger meaning more productive. Also since you weren't dialated very much that can be another indicator they weren't productive. It could have been false labor. Obviously I'm not a doctor or a nurse these are just some reasons why she could have sent you home. I would have been confused and worried as well. Just hang in there

cg0112358

Are you a FTM? Labor will not generally progress that quickly if you are. From what I've read you could have been sent home because it wasn't active labor. Usually after 4-5 cm with contractions every 5 min you will be admitted, although I have read of some women being sent home because their contractions weren't causing a cervical change fast enough. I drove myself to the hospital on Thursday morning with contractions 5 min apart and my hospital is about 40 min away. I even stopped at McDonald's on the way b/c I was in denial I was in active labor and knew if I was that I might not eat again. I was attempting a vba2c and this was my first time not induced (39w and 40w respectively) so I was in denial about being in labor at 38w5d, I fully expected to go over 40w. I was 4 cm when admitted, labored for 5/5.5 and pushed for 30 min. I think you're probably okay on time given how close you are. Good luck!

ann_jeremiah

This is normal... Even when I've gone in with contractions 3 min apart, they have asked me how far away I life... I love about a half hour away, so they've always kept me.

Laboring at home as long as you can really(IMO) is your best option... As you can do what you want at that point.

breezymeema7

It's so frustrating, isn't it. Unfortunately, contractions like that (unproductive) can go on for hours, sometimes days. The good news is that your body is gearing up, so it's only a matter of time. I really hope things pick up for you and your body starts to respond. GL!

kngrimsley

Thank you all!!! Yes I am a first time mom. I've been having some labor symptoms for a week now prior to our hospital trip last night. I total understand the "keeping the beds open for moms who are delivering" but my hospital will defer you out to one of the local hospitals if they're full. Again it's a military hospital so it's kinda different I guess. But when I called last night they told me to come in that they had plenty of room for me. So that couldn't have been it. I guess my contractions just are progressing like they'd like to see. Still having them this morning but they're 10 minute apart...definitely stronger but further apart. I feel like I'm all over the place! Just gonna take this time to clean the house really good and get a fresh coat of paint on these toes!

kngrimsley

Arent*

kngrimsley

@breezymeema7 So annoying but hey, they're the professionals so I guess I'll just go with the flow. It's good to know that things are coming along though!! I was so hoping I wouldn't have to wait till 41 weeks to be induced!

mommyofX

@kngrimsley I got sent home on Friday bc my contractions weren't painful. They were showing up on the monitor how they wanted to see them. But I wasn't in pain. BUT I was 4cm dilated at 38wks FTM. My midwife said I was more dilated then her other patient who's in "real labor" in the next room. She also asked me how far Iived from the hospital and sent me home. I've never wanted to feel real pain before more in my life! I'm so sick n tired of waiting and walking and bouncing.. Not sick of having sex yet lol. Too bad we're not one person or they'd admit us. With ur contractions and my dilation! Lol

missmychard

@kngrimsley SO frustrating and I understand your fear. FTM as well, and I felt the same way. I went in at midnight on Monday with contractions 5 minutes apart, I was 4cm dilated and they still sent me home because contractions weren't bad enough. I went home from 1:30-6:30am and when I came back it was much more obvious to me why they sent me home because I could barely walk into the hospital, wanted to cry, etc. When you're in active labor, you will not be bumping! When I got to the hospital the second time I was a 6...I think things just progress more slowly the first time. Hang in there, make sure to keep eating and drinking to prepare yourself...it's coming soon!

kngrimsley

@mommyofX I'm right there with you! Definitely having contractions but they aren't painful just uncomfortable and annoying....I'm so tired of waiting as well...I'm being super impatient. But I think that comes with being a FTM. I'll be 38 weeks tomorrow so I'm hoping for a baby within the next week or so but we will see!!! Sounds like there's literally no telling. Everyone is different! Guess I'll just wait for the obvious signs like my water breaking or intense pain!

kngrimsley

@noobmama83 Such a scary thing. Especially being a FTM. I'm happy to know others are going through it with me though! I was about to lose my mind! Eating has not been a problem for me at all!!! Hahaha

Lalala2326

I was having contraction 2-3 minutes apart at just over 38 weeks. I wasn't very dilated and they weren't particularly painful. I was to have an RCS and live about 30 min from the hospital so it freaked me out a bit. They stopped though and I had my scheduled c-section at 39 weeks 6 days with no further progress. Close doesn't always mean productive.

KateDerek

I had contractions with my last two babies a few times that were only 5 minutes apart for several hours. I think it's a magic potion of lots of things that will make them admit you. Dilation, increasing strength in contractions, cervix progression, etc. Since so many women can contract a lot before going into active labor it's not uncommon for them to send you home.

kelseyrayay

My midwife explained it to me like this. She would send me home too but she said do you want me to induce you and you sit at 1 or 2 cm for 6 hours with bad contractions? They won't give epidurals until 4 cm. she made a good point especially since my epidural didn't work plus my contractions were off the charts every 2 mins sometimes more often. So I'm glad she waited until I was further dilated to give me pitocin and such like that.

twogreenpeas

It sounds like you are in early labor (which can last a long time I'm sorry to say, I have been in early labor for 5 days now with my third baby). I was sent home Friday night after several hours at L&D at 5cm dilated 80% effaced because my contractions which were originally 2 mins apart had spaced to 10-20 mins apart and weren't dilating me any further. Here I am on Monday am still preggers . Trying real hard to trust she will be born when she is ready but def feeling antsy. I am 40 mins from the hospital so I totally hear you about being nervous to make it on time! Sounds like you are close enough you should be ok. Wishing you a safe and happy birth!