Going to the hospital
How to know if you are in term labor
- Regular, painful contractions that get closer together despite movement and/or rest
- Can be felt in the low back, the front, the pelvis but the big hallmark is that they continue to increase in intensity
How to know and what to do if your water breaks
- Call our office if you have a large gush of fluid and/or a continuous leakage of fluid- note whether the fluid is clear and watery or has a green tint
- If your water has broken and you are 37 weeks or greater and your GBS culture is negative you may opt to labor at home for several hours. Please call and let us know your water has broken even if you plan to labor at home.
When to call the office
- Contractions at 36 weeks or greater are every 4 minutes, lasting a minute, for an hour. Your individual provider, knowing your personal history, may alter these instructions for you, please go by their recommendations
- Baby is not moving
- Bright red bleeding
- Leaking of fluid or a gush followed by continuous leakage
What to bring to the hospital
- Your favorite soaps/toothpaste/shampoo (the hospital has some, but, trust us, you will not want to use them)
- Infant car seat properly installed
- Nursing bra
- Outfit for baby
- Outfit for you ( you will still look pregnant as the uterus has not had time to shrink fully)
- Slippers and a robe