It’s essential to know when to head to the hospital. Generally, you should go to the hospital if:
- Contractions are 5 minutes apart: If contractions are consistently 5 minutes apart, lasting 1 minute each, and have been occurring for at least 1 hour (the 5-1-1 rule). - Water breaks: If your water has broken, especially if the fluid is greenish or brownish, which can indicate the presence of meconium. - Heavy bleeding: If there is heavy vaginal bleeding, more than what would be considered normal spotting or the "bloody show." - Severe pain: If there is severe, continuous pain, especially if it does not correlate with contractions. - Decreased fetal movement: If there is a significant decrease in fetal movement.
