At the end of your third trimester, it’s completely normal to be hypersensitive to every change, movement or pain going on with your body.
You’re waiting for the moment to arrive when you finally start labor and get to meet your new bundle of joy!
Unfortunately, we usually can’t predict when that moment is going to come.
Babies are unpredictable.
We know it’s going to happen around your due date.
However, there is no guarantee that when the day arrives you’re going to suddenly kick into labor.
When it does happen you will need to know how to count and time contractions so you can judge when to go to hospital.
Going too early can cause unneeded irritation. Going too late will certainly cause a lot of excitement and probably a lot of stress too.
Signs to Look For
Every woman is different, so it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what you need to look for.
However, there are some common clues that labor is starting.
Look for the following:
- Strong contractions. Waves of pain which come in a pattern and last for same amount of of time. The closer you get to delivery, the more intense and closer together these will be.
- Waters breaking. If you notice a trickle or a gush of fluid from your vagina, your water may have broken. Call your health care provider for instructions.
Once you notice these signs, call your hospital to ask what you should do.
They will ask you some questions and tell you to either wait or come in.
It can be very tempting to grab your bag and head there as soon as you feel the smallest of contractions but it’s just a waste of time.
Your unit will usually send you home if you are in very early labor.
How to Time Contractions
Birthing classes are a great idea during pregnancy. You will be given hands on advice on what contractions feel like and how to count and time them.
Having this information will make this potentially scary yet exciting time much clearer.
You’ll need a stopwatch of some sort. You can use the stopwatch on your phone, a contraction timing app or you can go old-school and actually buy a stopwatch.
If none of these are to hand then a good old fashioned clock will work just fine.
It’s also a good idea to tell your partner how to time contractions.
By the time they are coming fast and strong you are not going to feel like counting and they may need to take over.
Different contractions tell you what stage of labor you are in.
There are different instructions for each stage.
If you are experiencing any of the following but are not yet due, you should call your health care provider immediately.
The three stages of labor are:
- Early Labor – Mild contractions that feel little like period cramps. These will be irregular and around 5 to 30 minutes apart. They should last for up to 45 seconds at this point.
- Active or Established Labor – Contractions will start to become stronger and closer together. At this point, contractions will last up to 60 seconds and should be between 3 to 5 minutes apart. This is when you need to call your health care provider. You are not far off now
- Transition – This is the pushing phase. Contractions may seem to merge into one and will be at their strongest. They can last for up to 90 seconds and will be no more than 2 minutes apart. Baby is coming!
Start timing your contractions once you are sure they are real contractions and not Braxton-Hicks. You need to be on the look out for them arriving every 5 minutes.
This is when active labor is upon you.
You need to be aware of:
- When the contraction starts and ends
- How long the contraction lasted (do the math from the information above)
- The duration between contractions. It’s a good idea to write this down, so you can see if they are getting closer together
Once you notice a pattern and you feel contractions getting closer together, you should start preparing to go.
The pattern usually needs to be established for at least an hour if you are having your first baby. If this is not your first pregnancy things can go much faster.
When to go to the Hospital
If you have already called your health care provider, follow their instructions.
If you haven’t, you should head to the hospital when you reach active labor.
This is when your contractions are at least 5 minutes apart, last for 45 seconds up to 1 minute, and have been in a steady pattern for at least an hour (if you are having your first baby).
For second or more babies, you should go to the hospital when you have noticed that your contractions are coming every 5 to 7 minutes and last for 45 seconds to 1 minute.
As soon as that number arrives, make your way to your hospital.