At the end of your pregnancy you may begin wondering when it's time to go the hospital. The short answer is that you ought to go if you are either restless or in need of more pain relief than a warm bath or Tylenol can offer. No matter how many children you have, it's normal to fret about getting to the hospital just to be sent home again. Although, that is far preferable to leaving things too late.



The following is a more detailed list to help you know when to rush to the hospital. Leave home if:

-The contractions are coming in less than 5-minute intervals.

-Your contractions are so strong that they distract you from everything else.

-You are restless staying at home.

-Your water breaks.

-You find a bright red discharge from your vagina.

-The baby is moving less than normal.

When your water breaks, it's not usually a symptom of premature labor; rather it is typically a sign that the second phase of labor is coming. Although, now and then the baby takes a position in your pelvis that creates a small lump of water-filled membrane to develop between the top of the baby�s head and your vagina. When a contraction comes, stress is put on this bag and the membranes break. This tends to indicate that your baby is in back-to-back position. Back-to-back labors tend to be longer, but in 80% of cases, the baby wiggles him/herself into a more ideal position before it�s born.

If, at any point in your pregnancy, you have bright red blood being released from your vagina, call 911. This is an emergency and an ambulance should be sent for you.

If your baby is moving less frequently than usual, the chances are that it is simply resting or sleeping. However, any slowing down of your baby's usual movements while in the womb can be a sign that all is not well. This isn't an emergency, however, you ought to call your doctor and get the baby�s heartbeat monitored.

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