As soon as the pregnancy is nearing completion, many expectant mothers begin to worry: when will they go to the hospital? And most importantly - how to understand that the time for this has already come? In fact, everything is simple: there are several main points to be guided by.

Are these contractions?

Contractions are main feature the beginning of labor. Even before they start, you can feel that there was heaviness, a slight pain in the lower back, lower abdomen, the uterus tensed and became very dense to the touch. But it is important to recognize the true contractions, and not the "training", which may occur in the second trimester of pregnancy. Real labor pains repeated at regular intervals, which are gradually shortened, and the duration of the contraction itself increases, training contractions are irregular in time, and their intensity is almost always the same. Real contractions, unlike training ones, are very painful, they do not go away after a change in body position or a warm shower.

We count the interval between contractions

If the contractions have begun for sure, you should not immediately go to the hospital. After all, the first stage of labor lasts long enough, and it is much more comfortable to spend it in a familiar home environment. Therefore, first calculate how often contractions occur and how long they last. It is usually recommended to go to the hospital if the interval between contractions is approximately 10 minutes... usually pass faster than the first, so if you are expecting a second child, then the cervix will open much faster and you need to go to the hospital as soon as the contractions become regular and rhythmic.

You need to prepare for the trip to the hospital. Find out what is allowed to be taken to the maternity ward in the maternity hospital where you plan to give birth. Make a list of the essentials and, closer to the due date, collect the main items included in it.

The road to the hospital

The maternity hospital can be located next to the house, or it can be located at the other end of the city, regional center, region. So calculate the time you will have to spend on the trip... If the maternity hospital is located nearby and you can get to it quickly, then you can safely wait for the recommended interval between contractions - 10 minutes. If you have to go through the whole city and there may be traffic jams on the streets, then it is better to leave the house early, for example, when the interval between contractions will be another 15-20 minutes.

If the water has moved away

If the laundry has become unusually wet, and even more so if liquid has flowed down the legs, this is a sign that the water has moved away... It does not matter how much fluid is poured out - a little or all of 1-1.5 liters, there are contractions or not, there is no need to wait for the start of regular labor (it will start a little later). Go to the hospital immediately... After all, if the water is poured out or leaks slightly, this means that the integrity of the membranes is violated and the child is no longer protected from the effects of the external environment, primarily from infectious agents. In addition, if the contractions are already regular, the outpouring of water suggests that the birth of a baby is not far off. But if the mucous plug (a clot of a jelly-like substance) has moved away, this is just a harbinger of childbirth and you do not need to go to the hospital right away.

Immediately to the hospital!

Rarely, but situations are possible in which you need to go to the hospital immediately and without thinking... This must be done if:

• bloody discharge appeared from the genital tract, especially if it is significant;
• the uterus does not relax between contractions, pain very strong;
• the child has changed: they have become either very weak, or, on the contrary, have become stronger;
• the head hurts badly, blood pressure has risen, vision has changed (it became indistinct, "flies" flicker in front of my eyes);
• if labor begins before 38 weeks of gestation or labor has begun with multiple pregnancies.

Be sure to keep in a conspicuous place all the documents necessary for childbirth: exchange card, passport, compulsory medical insurance policy. If an accompanied delivery is planned, the partner will also need documents: a passport; if childbirth without a contract, then permission to accompany in childbirth (it is taken in advance from the head physician of the maternity hospital or his deputy); the results of examinations of the partner in childbirth (the list must be clarified in advance at the hospital).

To the hospital by ambulance or on your own

You can get to the hospital in two ways: on your own or by calling an ambulance. Today, if you have a compulsory medical insurance policy, any maternity hospital is obliged to accept a woman in labor - of course, if it has free places. It is desirable that the trip to the hospital be comfortable for the expectant mother.

In addition, in each locality(city, regional center) there is specialized obstetric "Ambulance", whose phone number can be found in the antenatal clinic or simply by dialing "03". A car with a midwife will come for the expectant mother and take her to the hospital. True, this maternity hospital will be the closest, and if a woman has chosen another institution, then this will need to be taken into account. Often if future mom signed a contract with the maternity hospital, it also includes such a service as delivery to childbirth (regardless of how far away the mother's house is).

Every pregnant woman, especially if she is expecting a baby for the first time, sooner or later asks the question: How to understand that it is time to go to the hospital? In addition to the obvious "symptoms" of onset of labor, such as contractions or passing amniotic fluid, there are also so-called precursors of childbirth, which allow you to prepare in advance and understand that the birth of a baby is just around the corner.

What are the harbingers of childbirth?

Harbingers represent certain signs by which one can assume the onset of labor activity in the near future.

The last weeks of gestation are characterized by a change hormonal background... As a result of obsolescence of the placenta, the level of progesterone produced by the body, which was responsible for the preservation and normal flow pregnancy throughout the nine months. It was the amount of this hormone that depended on the normal tone of the uterus, the formation of a mucous plug, the development of the baby, the supply of oxygen and other necessary substances to it, etc. Instead of progesterone, estrogen begins to be intensively produced, which is necessary to prepare the female body for the upcoming birth. It provides elasticity and patency of the birth canal, as well as the speed of dilatation of the cervix. In addition, as soon as the required amount of estrogen accumulates, a nerve impulse will be sent to the brain, and labor will begin.

Harbingers of childbirth become an external response to hormonal changes that occur before childbirth in the body of the expectant mother. Their appearance is absolutely normal, so you should not worry and urgently consult a doctor if a woman has found one or several symptoms at once. At the same time, there is no need to worry if the pregnant woman does not notice them, since this does not mean at all that there is no preparation for childbirth. This only indicates that it goes unnoticed by a woman.

It is important to note that the harbingers of labor may appear a week or even two before the birth. They do not mean that labor will begin immediately. As a rule, the shortening of the time between the appearance of the first signs and childbirth is characteristic of multiparous. In this case, the harbingers can appear in 1-2 days.

What symptoms indicate an imminent onset of labor?

Among the main symptoms indicating the imminent onset of labor activity, one can single out:

1. Loose stools. In order to facilitate the upcoming birth and the passage of the baby through the birth canal, the body begins to remove all unnecessary from itself. As a result, diarrhea may occur. It can appear several times a day, but it is accompanied by dehydration, as well as a change in the color and smell of stool. As a rule, this sign, unlike the others, appears almost before childbirth in 1-2 days. However, it may be absent if the woman is multiparous.
2. Weight loss. As a result of hormonal changes, excess fluid is eliminated before childbirth. It is the more, the stronger the edema was during pregnancy. The fluid was retained in the body under the influence of progesterone, but its reduction leads to its release, which contributes to weight loss from 0.5 to 3 kg.
3. Isolation of the mucous plug. A mucous plug created from a special secretion of the cervical canal is necessary during pregnancy to protect the fetus. It is needed to prevent infection from the vagina from entering the uterine cavity. Estrogen softens the cervix, opens its canal, resulting in yellowish-brown discharge, transparent or jelly-like, but not having an unpleasant odor. The mucous plug can come out completely or in parts. Usually not accompanied painful sensations, however, the presence of pulling, mild pain as before menstruation is also a variant of the norm. As soon as the cork has come off the baby, nothing protects from bacteria, so it is not recommended to take a bath, you can only use a shower.
4. "Abdominal prolapse". As a rule, the child is in a cephalic presentation. Before giving birth, his head pulls the uterus downward, pressing against the entrance to the small pelvis and preparing to move along the birth canal. Thanks to these changes, the uterus ceases to press so hard on the diaphragm, as a result, a woman can feel the following improvements - shortness of breath disappears, heartburn and a feeling of heaviness stop. However, the pressure on the organs located in the pelvic region increases, as a result, the urge to use the toilet increases.
5. The discomfort. As a result of sprained ligaments, as well as a rush of blood to the pelvic organs, unpleasant sensations may appear in the lower abdomen, in the lumbar region or slightly below. The pain should not be severe, it resembles a pulling sensation before menstruation. Discomfort can manifest itself both when the mucous plug comes off or training fights, or for no apparent reason.
6. Training bouts. Harbinger contractions are contractions of the walls of the uterus within a few seconds. The expectant mother feels how the uterus strains, “stiffens,” and then relaxes, while the cervix does not open. It is not difficult to distinguish them - they are irregular, or the gap between them is very large. Moreover, they are weak and not accompanied by pain. Real contractions increase over time, they become more frequent and last longer.
7. Cervical changes. Only a doctor can determine them during the next examination. The neck is significantly shortened, from about 4 to 1 centimeter, and also softens.

When do you need to go to the hospital:

Depending on whether a woman is primiparous, or the pregnancy is not the first in a row, the birth process will differ significantly, as well as the factors that need to be paid attention to in order to understand that it is time to go to the hospital.

- at the first birth

If the mucous plug has departed or some of the above-mentioned precursors of childbirth have appeared, you should not go to the hospital, they simply will not accept you there, since there may be several days or several weeks before the onset of labor. But when regular fights began (not to be confused with training ones), it's time to get ready. Since the first birth, as a rule, takes at least 12-20 hours, you should not go to the hospital or, moreover, call an ambulance immediately after the onset of contractions. Wait until the interval between contractions is about 10 minutes.

It is important to understand that the described procedure applies only to those situations when the pregnancy proceeds without complications, and there are no additional factors, such as abnormal presentation of the fetus or premature discharge of amniotic fluid.

- with repeated childbirth

Repeated labor is usually faster because the cervix softens and opens much more easily than the first time. On average, the entire process of childbirth in the second and subsequent times takes about 6-7 hours. Therefore, so that the birth of a child does not take place in a completely inappropriate place for this, it is necessary to go to the hospital immediately after it became clear that the contractions are regular and the interval of contractions decreases.

When is emergency help needed?

It is worth not rushing to send to the hospital only in those cases when labor begins without any complications. But there are certain symptoms, in the event of which, you should immediately call an ambulance, as they indicate a risk to the life and health of the child. Seek emergency help when the following situations arise:

1. Discharge or leakage of amniotic fluid. It is important to understand that even a slight leakage of water indicates a violation of the integrity of the amniotic membrane, which means that the child is no longer protected from various infections and environmental influences. Ideally, no more than 10-12 hours should pass between the moment the water leaves and the delivery itself. When in a hospital under the supervision of doctors and the timely administration of the necessary drugs, this period can be 24 hours or more (but such a situation is considered undesirable).
2. You have gnarled discharge or bleeding (scarlet blood). Even a small amount of red discharge may indicate detachment of the placenta or the development of other pathological conditions that threaten the life of the child.
3. Sharp pain between contractions. When the contraction is released, the discomfort should also disappear. If sharp or aching pain persists all the time, this is an unconditional sign of complications.
4. Contractions occur more often than once every 5 minutes. If the interval between contractions is rapidly decreasing, it means that there is less and less time before childbirth. In this case, it is not recommended to get to the hospital on your own. Also, if there is already a rapid birth in the anamnesis, or it happened earlier in the immediate family, it is necessary to go to the hospital with the beginning of the first regular contractions.

It is important to understand that at the first sign of sickness or deterioration in health ambulance must be triggered immediately without waiting for more serious symptoms to appear.

Finally

The last weeks of pregnancy are an extremely exciting period for every expectant mother, regardless of whether she is going to give birth for the first time, second or third. Precursors of childbirth are not a reliable guideline, as in some cases they may simply not be there. Therefore, after the onset of contractions, it is important to remain calm, make sure that contractions are the beginning of labor (and not training contractions), and go to the hospital when the breaks between them are reduced to 10 minutes (first birth) or 15-20 minutes (subsequent).

Especially for- Olga Pavlova

Of course, such an abundance of contradictory and unreasoned recommendations only adds to the future mother's anxiety: after all, incorrect advice on hospitalization for childbirth, implemented, can turn into serious problems during childbirth. And the health of the mother and the baby largely depends on how this important process will take place, in particular, on the timely commenced observation and the timely medical care provided.

When is it time to go to the hospital - when will the belly go down?

The change in the shape of the abdomen on the eve of childbirth is associated with the "starting position" taken by the baby before the start of the process. The fetus presses the head against the pelvic bones, dragging the uterus down. As a result, the belly sags, as it were, sinks lower, resembling a pear in shape. The expectant mother can pay attention not only to the external change in the shape of the abdomen, but also to changes in well-being. For example, on increased frequency of stool and urination (the baby's head presses harder on the rectum and bladder) and the disappearance of shortness of breath (the sagging bottom of the uterus ceases to press on the diaphragm, making breathing easier). A sagging belly is evidence of preparation for childbirth, but does not require immediate hospitalization.
Firstly, from the moment the shape of the abdomen changes until the onset of labor, it can normally take ... about two weeks! Secondly, abdominal prolapse is not required attribute harbingers and the beginning of labor: sometimes this just does not happen. Whether the stomach goes down on the eve of childbirth or not depends on the shape of the pelvis of the expectant mother, as well as on the amount of water, the size and presentation of the fetus (head or buttocks down).

How to understand that you are giving birth: water

Indeed, if the expectant mother is running out of water, it is necessary to immediately go to the hospital. However, in most cases, you should hit the road much earlier! The fact is that childbirth does not necessarily begin with the outpouring of amniotic fluid. Depending on the volume of water, the location of the fetus in the uterus, the size of the baby and the gestational age, the membranes can break at the beginning, middle and even at the very end of the process. In some cases, the fetal bladder does not rupture on its own, and the child is born in the membranes.
Birth "in a shirt" - in a fetal bladder filled with fluid - is mortally dangerous for a newborn: after all, having been born, he must breathe in air, not water. The old Russian proverb "happy - was born in a shirt" implies that this person does not care about anything, since he remained alive in such a dangerous situation... Despite the fact that many women consider the discharge of water to be the beginning of childbirth, their outpouring simultaneously with the appearance of contractions or even before them is not at all the norm. In fact, the whole fetal bladder, filled with water, must participate in the process of childbirth: during the first contractions, when the opening is still very small, it tenses and presses on the cervix, forcing it to stretch.

Staying at home after the onset of regular contractions and waiting for the water to flow is completely wrong. Ideally, the fetal bladder should remain intact until the middle (!) Of the first stage of labor - until the cervix dilates by 4-5 cm. the first stage of labor - until the cervix is ​​fully dilated. Sometimes in the middle of childbirth, against the background of a whole fetal bladder, the contractions gradually begin to weaken. In this case, to normalize labor, the doctor opens the bladder.

When is it time to go to the hospital: the traffic jam is gone

The cork is a jelly-like mass in the form of lumps or strands of yellowish, pink or brown color. This discharge from the genital tract, correctly called cervical mucus, does not necessarily appear at the beginning of labor. Like drooping belly cork release is a harbinger of childbirth - a manifestation of changes in the body of a pregnant woman shortly before the birth of the baby. During pregnancy, the plug that fills the cervical canal protects the fetus from the adverse effects of the bacterial flora of the vagina. Before childbirth, the cervix softens and begins to open slightly. In this case, the mucous plug can stand out outward (or it can remain inside the cervical canal and stand out during childbirth). Sometimes the plug is separated "in several passes" - not immediately, but in 2-3 days. It can also take 7-10 days from the first discharge of cervical mucus to the onset of labor.
Sometimes preliminary departurestraffic jams just doesn't happen! The appearance of mucous discharge from the cervix at the end of pregnancy (as well as the absence of this discharge) is considered normal and does not require a visit to the hospital.

How to understand that you are giving birth - contractions

Despite the credibility of this statement, even it is not always true! During pregnancy, a woman periodically experiences contractions of the uterus - training bouts Braxton Hicks. At the beginning of pregnancy, such contractions are extremely rare - 1-2 contractions per week, and are completely painless. They just feel like a slight tension in the uterus. As the duration of pregnancy increases, contractions may appear more often - up to several times a day in the form of single (separate) short painless abdominal strains that occur in different time day. These contractions are found in absolutely all pregnant women. However, not everyone feels them. Of course, such contractions, which are a variant of the norm, do not require going to the hospital. About 2 weeks before the expected date of birth, the expectant mother may experience new sensations - false, or precursor bouts... In strength and sensation, they are very similar to the real contractions with which childbirth begins. These are periodically recurring sensations of undulating tension in the uterus, sometimes accompanied by "stretching" in the lower abdomen and in the lower back. Unlike real labor pains, precursors do not lead to the opening of the cervix and end rather quickly.

Harbinger skirmishes may occur every day during the week before childbirth, may disturb the expectant mother 1-2 times on the eve of childbirth, or may not appear at all. The presence of precursor contractions, as well as their absence, is the norm and does not require a visit to a doctor.

When you need to go to the hospital, it's better in advance!

Supporters of this point of view motivate their position simply: a pregnant woman will be under the supervision of doctors all the time, so it is calmer for doctors, relatives, and herself. Despite the seeming logic of this statement, it cannot be considered absolutely true. More precisely, this advice is not universal - early antenatal hospitalization is needed only in special cases, or, as doctors say, "according to indications":

• When preparing for a planned caesarean section: in order to reduce the risk of operational complications, the pregnant woman must be examined and prepared in advance. In this case, the expectant mother is recommended to go to the hospital no later than 38 weeks of pregnancy. The woman is admitted to the department of pathology of pregnant women and a preoperative examination plan is prescribed.
• If pregnancy complications are detected on the eve of childbirth. In this case, early hospitalization in the hospital will help to fully examine, correct identified health problems and monitor the condition of the fetus during treatment. It is necessary to go to the hospital in advance, for example, with gestosis (late toxicosis of pregnant women, manifested by an increase blood pressure, edema and the appearance of protein in the urine), impaired blood flow in the placenta, fetal growth retardation, the threat of premature placental abruption.
• With an exacerbation of general chronic diseases, since any violation of the health of the expectant mother can affect the condition of the fetus and preparation for childbirth.
• If a woman has previously undergone surgery on the uterus, she is also hospitalized in the maternity hospital no later than the 38th week of pregnancy: at this time, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the postoperative scar.
• With a tendency to overdue. In the absence of precursors of childbirth for a period of more than 40 weeks, prenatal hospitalization is recommended for a pregnant woman. In the maternity hospital, the expectant mother is examined, the purpose of which is to exclude the fact of prolongation (a condition in which the organism of the expectant mother ceases to cope with the life support of the baby and his condition worsens), to control the level of placental blood flow and monitor the condition of the fetus. If necessary, a pregnant woman is prescribed medical measures to prepare for childbirth.

In other cases go to the hospital in advance is not necessary. On the contrary, often this unnecessary precaution can do the pregnant woman a disservice. When hospitalized in the department of pathology of pregnant women, the expectant mother is limited to physical activity, which adversely affects her blood circulation.
Often in the maternity hospital, pregnant women do not sleep well: neighbors in the ward, noise coming from the children's and maternity wards, morning procedures (analyzes, thermometry) interfere. However, the most harmful factor of an unreasonable stay in the antenatal department is the scary stories about childbirth, which expectant mothers tell each other "out of nothing to do". Physical inactivity, insomnia and "horror films" that whip up fear of childbirth have a negative effect on the physiological and psychological readiness for childbirth.

From the very first weeks of pregnancy, every pregnant woman begins to be concerned about the questions: where to give birth, what things are needed with you, what method of delivery to choose. But now almost nine months of pregnancy are already behind, the woman chose a maternity hospital, she clearly knows what to take.

There is one important question left - when should i go to the hospital?

I don’t want to go very early, but I don’t want to be late, and then give birth in an ambulance or even at home. But, unfortunately, no doctor can accurately determine the date and time of delivery.

Therefore, you should know a few things that will help you prepare for childbirth and arrive at the hospital on time.

What every mother-to-be needs to know?

The gestational age at which a child is considered full-term varies significantly according to different experts and, on average, is in the interval between 39 and 42 weeks.

The main harbinger are precursor contractions - painless contractions of the abdominal muscles. Such contractions appear at any time, are irregular, and pass quickly after taking antispasmodic drugs.

With the help of precursor contractions, the woman's body begins to prepare for the upcoming labor.

Less often, a few days before childbirth, women fix it in the form small amount mucus that appears in the vagina. This plug serves additional protection at the entrance to the cervix.

A little about the beginning of labor

When do you need to go to the hospital? The answer is simple - at. However, there is urgent reasons, when a delay in admission to the hospital threatens with various complications.

Such reasons are the appearance of bloody discharge and prenatal rupture of amniotic fluid.

Generic activity presents that are regular, painful, and recur at regular intervals.

Gradually, the frequency of contractions increases, while contractions are not stopped using conventional antispasmodic drugs, what distinguishes them from the harbingers.

It can be difficult to distinguish between these two types of contractions, in which case it is better to play it safe and go to the hospital.

The emergence can accompany normal labor (dilatation of the cervix is ​​accompanied by minor vascular damage), but most often the appearance of blood is a sign of placental abruption and other pathological conditions.

The development of placental abruption threatens the death of the fetus and the mother, therefore, when even a small amount of blood appears, it is better to call an ambulance.

Outpouring of amniotic fluid it is usually easy to determine - amniotic fluid is often of a large volume, although, again, there may be little water, there may be a gradual leakage.

The feeling of the appearance and discharge of water (not mucus) from the vagina is also an indication for calling an ambulance.

In conclusion, it should be said that in the presence or with a complicated course of pregnancy, prenatal hospitalization in a hospital is planned in advance. All other cases are the responsibility of the woman herself.

So when is the best time to go to the hospital? Better to come to the hospital earlier then why worry - will the ambulance arrive in time?

It is also worth insuring primiparas, because the first birth usually lasts a long time, up to 10-13 hours, repeated births are much faster.

The closer the end of pregnancy, the stronger the woman's anxiety about the upcoming birth. This period is especially exciting and alarming for those who become a mother for the first time. There are a lot of questions about when to go to the hospital, what to take with you and how the birth will take place.

A few days, and sometimes weeks before the birth of a child, there are some changes in the woman's well-being. During this period, it is worth worrying about collecting the bag at the maternity hospital, the necessary documents, and also informing loved ones. The birth itself takes place in several stages. In some cases, early hospitalization is recommended.

A few days before the birth of the child, the woman's body begins to prepare. Observing her condition, a pregnant woman can detect the following signs:

• decrease, and sometimes some weight loss;
• omission of the abdomen by moving the child closer to the birth canal;
• reduction of heartburn and shortness of breath;
• increased urge to urinate;
• a feeling of heaviness and squeezing in the lumbar region;
• leg cramps;
• changes in intestinal motility: diarrhea, nausea, retching;
• decreased child activity;
• manifestation of the "nesting instinct" (the desire to prepare the house for the arrival of a child, wash everything, clean it, organize a child's place in the bedroom);
• the development of false contractions - contractions that train the body and prepare the cervix for childbirth;
• the appearance of slight mucous discharge, odorless, transparent or slightly pinkish;
• discharge of a mucous plug (a clot that looks like a jellyfish).

If such signs are found, there is no need to immediately contact the hospital. It can take from several weeks to 1-2 days before the baby appears, it is impossible to determine the date of birth more precisely. The most important thing is to be on the lookout for medical attention at the first sign of labor.

When to go to the hospital?

You need to go to the hospital at the first signs of the onset of childbirth. These symptoms need to be known and closely monitored for changes in the condition:

1. The amniotic fluid is gone. In the normal course of labor, this occurs during the period of cervical dilatation. Often, the amniotic fluid ruptures before the onset of labor and cramping. In such a situation, you must immediately contact maternity hospital, a child without amniotic fluid should not be more than 10-12 hours. It is dangerous to discharge amniotic fluid before the 37th week, in this case, doctors will need time to prepare the child's lungs for functioning.
2. The first contractions appeared - periodic contractile attacks that occur along with pulling pains in the lower abdomen. Thanks to them, the cervix softens and opens. During the first birth, minor, but prolonged (up to 24 hours or more) contractions often develop. At first, the contractions do not cause much pain and last 15 seconds. During breaks, the muscles relax and the pregnant woman has the opportunity to rest. Labor activity gradually intensifies, contractions become more frequent, prolonged and painful. Breaks are shortened to 15-20 minutes, and during childbirth - up to 2-3. The pain extends to the lower back, rectum, thighs and calves, sometimes accompanied by chills. When contractions last a minute or more, and the breaks between them are reduced to 10-15 minutes, you need to go to the hospital. This frequency is the main sign of the imminent birth of a child.

The difference between the first stage of childbirth in multiparous women is that it passes more rapidly. Also, more often there is a discharge of amniotic fluid before the onset of contractions.

Situations in which early hospitalization is needed

A woman can go to the hospital in advance of her own free will, having received a referral from the doctor who supervised her. Some women in labor feel calmer under the supervision of the medical staff, even though there are no loved ones around. Especially often those who have had complications in previous childbirth ask for early hospitalization.

The indications for going to the hospital in advance are the following situations:

1. Postterm pregnancy. At the 42nd week, it is better to go to the hospital, even if there are no signs of labor yet. In the hospital, special procedures are carried out that prepare the body, soften the cervix and facilitate its disclosure.
2. Gestosis. This condition itself requires hospitalization. One of its complications can be premature birth, and in case of a severe form of pathology, emergency delivery by a surgical method will be required.
3. Planned cesarean section. Early hospitalization allows the woman and the staff to prepare for the upcoming surgery: perform blood and urine tests, choose anesthesia and other medications. The procedure is performed one week before the expected due date (PDD).

This is just the most common reasons to go to the hospital in advance. The issue of an early referral to hospitalization is decided by the leading obstetrician-gynecologist, who is leading the pregnancy, based on the woman's condition, her health, and the characteristics of the gestation process (the presence of complications).

When is emergency help needed?

An immediate call for an ambulance is required in the following situations:

• contractions have become regular, repeated every 5 minutes or more;
• the amniotic fluid has departed;
• vaginal discharge becomes bloody or bleeding (scarlet blood) has developed;
• pains do not arise periodically, but torment constantly, by nature - aching or cramping.

Rapid childbirth is a separate case. They can not always be foreseen, a distinctive feature is the rapid opening of the cervix. At the same time, the rest periods are constantly shortened and soon last 2-3 minutes.

Therefore, if the previous birth was rapid or there is a hereditary factor, then an ambulance should be called at the first contractions.

In all of the above cases, it is worth seeking emergency help. It is unsafe to get to the maternity hospital on your own transport, as childbirth may progress to the next stage and the woman's condition will worsen. The ambulance car has the necessary equipment for such situations.