Early or Active labor Question

for me it was the pain and intensity of the contractions. i couldn’t handle the pain anymore. first time i went in they said i wasn’t dilated enough and sent me home. i went back a few hours later bc of how painful they were and i couldn’t take it anymore.

Hi! I had an en caul birth! (Water never broke until he was out.) We just timed contractions, like they suggest at appointments. So about 5 minutes apart and 1 minute long. But always call the hospital and talk to the on call nurses and midwives! They will be able to tell you when it's time to come in.

I went when I couldn't do the pain anymore and figured I'd have to be in labor. I went in at 7cm and stayed that way for hours - then they gave me pitocin and broke my waters at 8cm

@Katrina how was getting your water broken? I heard it hurt

It’s actually more common to start labor before your water breaks, your water breaking is often not the first sign of early labor - it happens just not often! Usually you’ll start to feel contractions before your water breaks. Once those contractions hit the 5-1-1 rule you go in, or if the pain is really bad whatever is first.

@Andrea honestly at that point with all the pain and extra strength pitocin contractions I don't remember it hurting more than anything else. I do remember being upset my feet were now all wet in my socks lol.

@Katrina love that attitude

Honestly i havent had my baby yet but ive been having what i think are contractions and it hurts but their not close enough to make me want to go to the hospital. I do not even think my water has broken at all and my contractions are at least 2 hours apart

@Jessie girl I’m on the treadmill right now. Trying to keep this level progressing. I’m 10 minutes apart for 7hrs now. Water hasn’t broken. I don’t feel like my baby has dropped.

Mine has dropped and i mean dropped to where the dr could feel his head. So mine could come anytime and my fiancé doesnt want me driving incase he comes while im driving but oh well imma drive anyways 😂

With my first I went to the hospital because I had a feeling (contractions were coming about 30-60 minutes apart and I had been having them for around 12 hours). Ended up being 6 cm when I was checked in triage. Water didn’t break until about 10 hours after that. With my second I went to the hospital because my doctor told me I should. I was 4 cm dilated at my 37 week appointment and I live 2 hours away. As soon as I got home from that appointment I started having contractions and my doctor told me to go in. They ended up breaking my water at the end of labor about 30-45 minutes before she was born. With this babe I’ve been having contractions off and on since Friday when I was 3 cm dilated but haven’t progressed since then. Struggling with knowing when to go to hospital since we still live 2 hours away and things have been so up and down. I’m guessing my water will break near the end of labor again this time.

Just had my son 4 days ago. My water didn’t break and I didn’t have a bloody show. I was 1cm dilated on Monday, didn’t feel contractions all week, and by Friday night I was having regular contractions. At first I wasn’t convinced they were real. It felt painful like a menstrual cramp and the timing between felt inconsistent. Once they started getting more painful and closer together we decided to go in. By the time I got to the hospital at 2am the contractions were a minute apart and the pain was so intense I couldn’t think and it was very clear I was in labor. Trust yourself and don’t hesitate to call your doctor if you are questioning going in.