At what point did your OB say to go into L & D?

Cara1024 · December 2013

No baby excitement going on over here, I was just reading several different answers to this question and thought I'd see what the consensus was of the board. Were you told the 5-1-1 rule? or sooner than that? 5-7 mins apart? What about if your water breaks....automatically go in even if your contractions haven't started yet? Just curious because my OB hasn't mentioned any of this to me yet.

jgraham80 · December 2013

Mine goes by the 5-1-1 rule if there are no other complications...

kosbo06 · December 2013

My midwife said just to call, and they will tell me when to go in. She even said that I don't necessary have to go in when/if my water breaks... Which is strange to me....

rowanthefrog · December 2013

Is it sad that I don't even remember what she said? Since I've been through this before I know that I'll know when its real. For me it was when they started getting more and more intense, couldn't talk through them anymore and they were timeable and regular. With DS2 they were 2 minutes apart from the start of my labor, even though I was in labor for 36 hrs.

A

jaclynwas17 · December 2013

At my last appt I asked when I should call, but also said I wanted to labor at home for as long as possible. She said, if my water breaks, I waited too long. Hospital is only 20-25 minutes away, but I'll call when they get to be 5-7 minutes apart.

MamaP19 · December 2013

kosbo06 said:

My midwife said just to call, and they will tell me when to go in. She even said that I don't necessary have to go in when/if my water breaks... Which is strange to me....

Why do you find that strange? Most OBs don't want you in L&D until you're in active labor, especially if you're a FTM because it can take a really long time. They only start to worry about the possibility of infection at around 12-24 hours after your water breaks (depending on GBS, your temp, etc).

My doctor usually goes by the 5-1-1 rule but said I'm free to labor at home as long as I feel comfortable, which is what I want. That being said, I live 10 minutes from my hospital. If you have a longer drive, they might tell you to come in sooner.

csandroo · December 2013

Do you know if your group b strep positive? That affects when you should go in. My midwife said if I'm gbs positive I need to go in when my water breaks so they can start antibiotics. If you don't know if you're positive or not than go in to play it safe.

Besides that my midwife said the 5-1-1 rule.. I can stay home even after my water breaks. She said to labor at home as long as I can and when I feel like I need to come in... Labor at home some more until I really know I need to come in.

kosbo06 · December 2013

MamaP19 said:

kosbo06 said:

My midwife said just to call, and they will tell me when to go in. She even said that I don't necessary have to go in when/if my water breaks... Which is strange to me....

Why do you find that strange? Most OBs don't want you in L&D until you're in active labor, especially if you're a FTM because it can take a really long time. They only start to worry about the possibility of infection at around 12-24 hours after your water breaks (depending on GBS, your temp, etc).

My doctor usually goes by the 5-1-1 rule but said I'm free to labor at home as long as I feel comfortable, which is what I want. That being said, I live 10 minutes from my hospital. If you have a longer drive, they might tell you to come in sooner.

The only part I find strange is about my water breaking. Only because of the risk of infection. I totally understanding not running to l and d at the beginning of contractions. Everything else I have ever been told is that if your water breaks, you go in.

sarahmarie2 · December 2013

My doctor says to call when contractions are 5-1-1, or water breaks. She also said generally they'd encourage FTM to wait as long as possible after that call to come in, at the least an hour, but since I live almost an hour away on a good day, I can head in once I call.

SandFHasse · December 2013

When contractions are 5 minutes apart they want a phone call. If my water breaks go in.

pennstated912 · December 2013

Our hospital goes by the 5-1-1 rule

daltosostarby · December 2013

My dr, and the hospital said at 5-1-1 to call L&D to go in. They did say you could wait til 3-1-1 if you're a FTM. when I went in last night I was having 2-1-1 (and I was only at 2cm when they checked me, luckily they got them to stop).
If my water breaks I was told to come in right away.

kosbo06 · December 2013

carisue143 said:

Do you know if your group b strep positive? That affects when you should go in. My midwife said if I'm gbs positive I need to go in when my water breaks so they can start antibiotics. If you don't know if you're positive or not than go in to play it safe. Besides that my midwife said the 5-1-1 rule.. I can stay home even after my water breaks. She said to labor at home as long as I can and when I feel like I need to come in... Labor at home some more until I really know I need to come in.

Ahh, this makes sense. I was confused because she never explained that part to me. I don't have GBS, so this is probably why she said I'm fine to stay home if my water breaks. Thanks for explaining it @carisue143 and @MamaP19

COgirl29 · December 2013

If my water breaks or if I have heavy bright red bleeding, I'm supposed to call my doc (or on call doc) and she said she will tell me what to do at that point. If I start labor by contractions, I'm supposed to wait until I'm having contractions for one minute, 5 minutes apart, for TWO hours (which I know is diff than most) - then I'm supposed to call. Either way, I'm supposed to call before going in to l & d.

valigrl21 · December 2013

With DD1, I was told 3-1-1.

This time, I am supposed to go in as soon as I think I am in labor. I am group b strep positive this time. I had a fast first labor and we live 40 minutes from the hospital.

Deblondie1 · December 2013

Special snowflake? Because my cervix really likes to dilate (OB's words), I'm to head in as soon as I notice a pattern to my contractions. She is afraid I will dilate too quickly if I try to labor at home and not make it to the hospital in time.

Cara1024 · December 2013

carisue143 said:

Do you know if your group b strep positive? That affects when you should go in. My midwife said if I'm gbs positive I need to go in when my water breaks so they can start antibiotics. If you don't know if you're positive or not than go in to play it safe. Besides that my midwife said the 5-1-1 rule.. I can stay home even after my water breaks. She said to labor at home as long as I can and when I feel like I need to come in... Labor at home some more until I really know I need to come in.

Mine came back negative thankfully.

blue_elle · December 2013

5-1-1, when water breaks, or when "you can't talk through contractions anymore and you're dreaming of morphine". Apparently my OB's wife never had regular, rhythmic contractions and nearly gave birth at home.

ETA: I live an hour from the hospital

Piach · December 2013

For my first, based on my birth preferences (labor as long as possible at home), my OB said to call at 4-1-1. My contractions actually were 3 minutes apart from the beginning, so I called after an hour. I went to l&d after 3 hours.

AnnikaD20 · December 2013

Mine has you call and then make a plan depending on what's happening. I'm supposed to call anytime I have more than 6 contractions in an hour, if my water breaks, any bleeding, or if I haven't felt the baby move in a while. I'm pretty sure if I call about contractions, she'll tell me to wait for 5-1-1.

shortstuff15 · December 2013

I did 5-1-1 for my first (contractions started at 5) and was only a stretchy 3 when I got there. They don't admit until 4 here so we were sent home. Went later when they picked up in intensity almost 12 hours latet and was a 4. With my second I didn't even time I went with how they felt. Got there at 3.5, walked the waiting room for an hour and was admitted. Baby was born 2.5 hours later. I will be refusing antibiotics if I am GBS+ so fot water breaking it doesn't really matter. My doctor didn't even mention it last time.

megngregk · December 2013

Mine says any sign of bleeding, and sign of fluid (even slow trickle), and 10 minutes between contractions. I'm also an hour away an weather is very unpredictable right now, so I'm not sure if that's her standard practice or because she knows I'm farther away.

BShreeve · December 2013

MamaP19 said:

kosbo06 said:

My midwife said just to call, and they will tell me when to go in. She even said that I don't necessary have to go in when/if my water breaks... Which is strange to me....

Why do you find that strange? Most OBs don't want you in L&D until you're in active labor, especially if you're a FTM because it can take a really long time. They only start to worry about the possibility of infection at around 12-24 hours after your water breaks (depending on GBS, your temp, etc).

Also my midwife's advice.

holly142 · December 2013

dhviel said:

I did 5-1-1 for my first (contractions started at 5) and was only a stretchy 3 when I got there. They don't admit until 4 here so we were sent home. Went later when they picked up in intensity almost 12 hours latet and was a 4. With my second I didn't even time I went with how they felt. Got there at 3.5, walked the waiting room for an hour and was admitted. Baby was born 2.5 hours later. I will be refusing antibiotics if I am GBS+ so fot water breaking it doesn't really matter. My doctor didn't even mention it last time.

dhviel - I found out that I am GBS+ and just began researching it. I am wondering why you are refusing antibiotics if you are GBS+. Would you take herbal remedies instead? Do you have concerns about the antibiotics? Thanks!

casholmes · December 2013

If my water breaks I'm supposed to go straight there. Otherwise 5 mins apart.

ChuggingWater · December 2013

Really strong contractions that I can't walk out talk through at about 6 min apart, or call of my water breaks.

I went from 0 dilated & 0 effaced to holding DS1 in two hours fifty minutes... so, there is some worry there about whether my labor will be that fast again.

Ljessen13 · December 2013

Mine typically did the 5-1-1 rule but my labor with my son was around 5 hrs. So he said contractions 10 min apart it less....or water breaking. I was induced so it didn't matter.

csandroo · December 2013

I am also curious why to refuse antibiotics @dhivel? I know even if you're positive it's rare LO would get it but still a risk they seem to take very seriously.

jwp325 · December 2013

I went in shortly after my water broke. We had to pack bags & get stepdaughter up and dressed first. I'm gbs + so ob wanted to start antibiotics right away. @dhivel, I'm curious too as to why you'd refuse antibiotics. There's a 1 in 200 chance of LO getting an infection without them but 1 in 4000 chance with antibiotics.

gina0485 · December 2013

My OB, who I adore, goes by 3-5/1/1. You call when your water breaks to alert them and you labor at home if you want until you are ready to come in (she says I will KNOW when I am ready). Only exceptions are if I am bleeding or earlier than 35 weeks.

amt0312 · December 2013

In my birthing class, they said wait until they were 3 minutes apart for FTMs and 4-5 mins apart (so basically the 5-1-1 rule) for STMs+. My doctor, however, has not given me specific guidelines (yet). I figured I'll just call if I don't know or wait until they are 3 mins apart and then call. But I do have to call my doc regardless so they can call L&D and let them know I am coming. I can't just show up unless it is an emergency.

nolagal79 · December 2013

My OB said to go to L&D for bleeding, fluid leaking, extreme visual changes, or 6 or more contractions in an hour.

Eta - typing with sausage fingers proved difficult this morning.

jmdaisy2 · December 2013

5-1-1, and only go in if/when my water breaks if I test GBS +. I'll probably wait a bit longer than 5 minutes between because I am literally 3-5 minutes away from the hospital. My OB agreed this is fine, considering.

mrsjenni · December 2013

In general, yes the 5-1-1 rule is a great one to follow. But I also think everyone is different and should decide when to go based on their own personal situation.

With #2 and #3, I was extremely dilated really early on (5-6cm before 37w) so I'd probably go in MUCH sooner than someone who wasn't dilated at all at last check (not that it matters too much, but I also don't want to deliver on the side of the road either.) Also, I had GBS with #1 and #3, so I'd go in a little earlier for that to ensure I got the proper dose of antibiotics. My labors are also fairly short (4 hours from first contraction to birth) so yeah. I'll basically go in once I have timeable contractions.

But I fully anticipate a 4th induction for this "peanut"

cpm1223 · December 2013

Unfortuntly I have to go in if my water breaks because I tested + for GBS

I need to ask about what happens if I'm having contractions only and no water breaking though....

jmjj1310 · December 2013

My doctor wants me to come in when my contractions are 5-7 minutes apart, because I'm a STM. Also, I am to go in as soon as my water breaks.

angiek1 · December 2013

My hospital does 5-1-1 rule and if my water breaks I just need to call and come in within the hour.

holly142 · December 2013

cpm1223 said:

Unfortuntly I have to go in if my water breaks because I tested + for GBS I need to ask about what happens if I'm having contractions only and no water breaking though....

I know all doctors are different, but mine said I just need to be there at least 45 minutes before I deliver to get the antibiotics. If my contractions are slowly getting closer together, I will go in at 5-1-1. However, if things are moving quickly, I might go in a little earlier since I am GBS+. Dr. said that if I don't get the antibiotics at least 45 minutes before (unlikely since I am a FTM), baby will probably have to stay an extra 24 hours to be monitored.

moosebaby2011 · December 2013

My OB gave me a sheet of instructions, which my DH promptly threw out while he was cleaning. I have to ask for another when I go in tomorrow.

kschref · December 2013

OB said if water breaks but there are no contractions I don't need to go in for up to 12 hours. She said as far as all the "rules" go, most women will experience an urge to go and I should just trust my instincts and go whenever I feel the need to do so. We will also have a doula who will be with us in the house for early labor if all goes well so I'm hoping to also draw on her expertise as far as timing.

shortstuff15 · December 2013

I should never reply on my phone. I always shortcut my response because I hate typing on that thing.

Anyway, what I should have said was I would probably refuse antibiotics if I am GBS+, however there are some situations in which I would agree. For the most part though, I would refuse. I am not against antibiotics, however I am against the overuse of antibiotics and using them for "just in case" scenarios, which is what a normal, low risk mother with GBS is. The Canadian OB/GYN society (not it's actual name) has 5 high risk situations for GBS+ transmission. If I were to fall under any of these, I would take the antibiotics without question.

Start labour before they reach 37 weeks gestation (with or without ruptured membranes).
Reach full term. but their membranes rupture (water breaks) and it seems as through the labour will last more than 18 hours.
If they have an unexplained, mild fever during labour.
If they have already had a baby who had a GBS infection.
If they have (or had) a bladder or kidney infection which was caused by the GBS bacteria.

If I do test positive today (today is my test so I'll know next week) then I will do natural treatments and get re-tested at 39 weeks to see if it worked. I don't take GBS lightly, but I am slightly crunchy with regards to antibiotics and medicine. If the risk is low (and overall the risk is less than 1% of a baby contracting GBS from a positive mother) then I generally tend to hold off.

And I am not trying to post and run, but my kids did just wake up so I will have to wait until this afternoon before I come back to defend/answer questions/put out the fire.

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