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November 2014 Moms
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STMs: An hour away from the hospital - when should I leave?

mamaluzimamaluzi member
in November 2014 Moms
Hey all! I'm a FTM here and I had a question about timing: I live about 8 minutes away from the Brigham and Women's satellite hospital center I've been having all my prenatal appointments at, but we will have to travel into Boston for the delivery. The actual delivery hospital is about 40 minutes away without traffic, close to an hour (possibly plus, depending on time of day/construction) in traffic. When do you think my husband and I should plan to start the trip when the time comes? Thanks!
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Re: STMs: An hour away from the hospital - when should I leave?

  • abbyfulabbyful member
    edited June 2014
    They recommend going to the hospital onc you're at "5-1-1". Contractions 5 minutes apart, lasting for 1 minute each, going on for 1 hour.

    If you are worried about traffic and distance, I would start heading there maybe after 45 minutes rather than an hour. Either way, you *should* get there in plenty of time. (Though it's always possible you may be one of those women that labor and delivery happens super fast and even living 5 minutes away you wouldn't get there in time, but that's rare. )
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  • sweetbabyrahesweetbabyrahe member
    I waited until my contractions were 5 minutes apart and I had to stop what I was doing while they happened (to gauge the severity), but sitting still on the drive kind of slowed things down and I had to walk again for awhile at the hospital to get things back to where they were.  I don't know if that's helpful, but my drive was about 45 minutes last pregnancy.
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  • wildflower75wildflower75 member
    You should discuss this with the doctor that will be delivering your baby but most doctors tell you to head to the hospital as soon as your water breaks or you see any blood.
    If your water doesn't break but you go into active labor then most doctors say 511.
    511 means contractions every 5 minutes that last 1 minute that have been going on for 1 hour.

    One thing you don't want to do is get the hospital too early and then they don't admit you because you are not far enough along yet...


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  • wallygirlwallygirl member
    The rule is 5 minutes apart lasting 1 min each for 1 hour. I live about 45 minutes away from the hospital where I deliver. With DD I left when my contractions were 2 minutes apart but my water hadn't broke. We hit morning rush hour and it took longer and I was still there in plenty of time. This time I'll probably leave sooner just because my contractions went from 10 min apart to 2 min apart in less than 30 minutes.
    Make sure to discuss this with your dr.
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  • PineApple85PineApple85 member
    edited June 2014
    That's a hard question to answer.  I think the best understanding will come from a labor class that should teach you signs of labor and the different phases or your OB/MW would be able to break it down for you. 

    We live about 30 minutes from our hospital but don't live in a city nearly as large as Boston.  It turned out to be a non-issue but for SO's sake we were going to get a room near the hospital when labor started and hang out there until things really got going (was planning a med-free birth and wanted to labor outside of the hospital as long as possible).  I was also in early labor for over 12 hours (as in I went to work for a full day and everything) before I had a partial water break and headed over to the hospital.

    I don't know if any of that's helpful.  :-/

    ETA: I forgot about 5-1-1.  Derp.  My contractions never regulated (ever) so it never applied to me though.
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  • momtojadmomtojad member
    i live 45 minutes away and I left 12 hours after my water broke just because I felt ready.  There was really no cut off for when I had to leave my midwife just said to come when I wanted to.

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  • emoxymooseemoxymoose member
    momtojad said:

    i live 45 minutes away and I left 12 hours after my water broke just because I felt ready.  There was really no cut off for when I had to leave my midwife just said to come when I wanted to.


    If you're group b strep positive then you need to leave immediately to receive antibiotics to prevent complications. Even if you're not, you should never wait that long, because if your labor doesn't progress 24 hours after rupture you can also get an infection.

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  • tinkerbell1658tinkerbell1658 member
    I thought Brigham & Women's was good. I cant remember what I did! Lol but I think it would depend on your route too. Do you need to go through the city or can you go around (least traffic route)? Also rush hour vs. middle of the day.
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  • mamaluzimamaluzi member
    Thanks everyone! I'll ask my Dr. on Wednesday when I go in. Hopefully I'll make it with the 511 rule considering this is my 1st baby and I'll (hopefully!) have time :)
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    October Challenge: How I feel about the 3rd trimester:
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    Throwback: Hubby and I on our first date (Nov 2007), and then again on our wedding day (Nov 2012)
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  • jlove253jlove253 member
    Don't leave any time soon. You have months to go! ;) just kidding. I think you have settled on a good plan. Hope that baby makes it easy for you, regardless of what happens :)
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