How much should it hurt?

AllieBelle1 · February 2012

I'm having contractions. Over the last hour, they have averaged every 6 1/2 minutes, lasting about 1:20. The have decreased in frequency slightly, after having been every 5 1/4 minutes for 2 hours. My midwife said to call following the 5-1-1 rule and so I called her a bit ago. We agreed that I should wait a while since they are not too intense yet, but now I am wondering how strong they should get before I act. I live 40 minutes from the hospital, have to drop my son off at my MIL's first (another 15 minutes) and plan on getting an epidural. But also I'm planning a VBAC and don't want to get to the hospital too early.

I never had any contractions with my first so I don't really have a perception of the pain level to expect, even though I'm sure it's different from person to person and pregnancy to pregnancy.

So what should contractions feel like when it's time to go to the hospital?

greeneyed_bride · February 2012

I'm a FTM, so I can't say from experience, but today when I was talking to my friend about my contractions, she said that she realized she needed to go to the hospital when she could no longer do anything while she was having a contraction. She couldn't talk or walk around, she just had to wait for it to pass.

clarks415 · February 2012

Once you can't talk through them it usually means your close. I would leave though once you are in pain because it sounds like you have a while to go running around before hitting the hospital.

bingham101 · February 2012

My doctor explained that I wouldnt be able to talk through them. That sounds pretty painfull!

Beles · February 2012

When they are "real", you can't just no talk through it, you want to climb the walls. It'll be unlike anything else. I thought they were bad, called, my midwife told me to wait, and then I found out what bad was.

I lived an hour from the hospital and it was the worst drive ever, so consider that! I was already at 7cm when I got there. Probably should've gone a bit earlier...

gwennec · February 2012

You will know. It starts with cramping and just gets stronger. I had to lean over and just breathe with each one. We left for the hospital when they were a few minutes apart since that is what my ob said to do. I was only 3 cm when I got there and still had 17 more hours left. So strong contractions do not always mean you are close.

pinksweetpea2 · February 2012

Wen you can't talk through them and cannot write on the bump, you will probably be ready.

knottie3c0525a8a3c64eaa · February 2012

go to the hospital like NOW

CC.to.be · February 2012

Well, my contractions didn't even hurt until I was about 7 cm dialated. That is purely a guess because I went from 4 cm to 10 cm in about an hour and 30 minutes. So in my case if you are in severe pain its too late and its time to push. If I were you I would still go to the hospital to get checked out. Everyone told me I would labor for a long time because I was a FTM, boy were they wrong. So I would go If I were you.

Lina1030 · February 2012

I am going as soon as I feel anything slightly different or more frequent than BH even if they are not consistent (they also really did not hurt...maybe 1 or two made me stop and pause to catch my breath, but nothing crazy)...considering my son was born 20 min after I got to the hospital...my labor starts off mild almost like BH but then goes from 0-60 in no time so I don't want to give birth on the way to the hospital....although I am planning a natural birth, my laboring at home doesn't exist! I need to go straight to the hospital ASAP!

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