Whether it is necessary to go to the hospital in advance to negotiate. When is it time to go to the hospital? What are the symptoms indicating the imminent onset of labor

Of course, such an abundance of conflicting and unreasoned recommendations only adds to the expectant mother's anxiety: after all, the wrong advice on hospitalization for childbirth, put into practice, can turn into serious problems during childbirth. And on how this important process will go, in particular, on the timely start of observation and on time medical care The health of mother and baby depends on a lot.

When is it time to go to the hospital - when will the stomach drop?

The change in the shape of the abdomen on the eve of childbirth is associated with the “starting position” occupied by the baby before the start of the process. The fetus presses its head against the bones of the small pelvis, dragging the uterus down. As a result, the stomach seems to sag, sinking 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, to increase stool and urination (the baby's head puts more pressure on the rectum and bladder) and the disappearance of shortness of breath (the lowered bottom of the uterus stops pressing on the diaphragm, making breathing easier). A lowered belly is evidence of preparation for childbirth, but does not require immediate hospitalization.
Firstly, from the moment the shape of the abdomen changes to the onset of labor, it can normally take ... about two weeks! Secondly, the prolapse of the abdomen is not a mandatory attribute of the precursors and the onset of childbirth: sometimes this simply does not happen. Whether the belly drops 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, size and presentation of the fetus (head or buttocks down).

How to understand what you are giving birth: water

Indeed, if the future mother's water breaks, you must 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 duration of pregnancy, 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 burst on its own, and the baby is born in the fetal membranes.
Birth "in a shirt" - in a fetal bladder filled with liquid - is deadly for a newborn: after all, having been born, he must inhale air, not water. The old Russian saying "happy - born in a shirt" implies that this person does not care at all, 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 outflow simultaneously with the onset of contractions or even before them is not at all the norm. In fact, a whole fetal bladder filled with water should participate in the birth process: during the first contractions, when the opening is still very small, it tenses and puts pressure on the neck, causing it to stretch.

Staying at home after the start 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 opens by 4–5 cm. the first stage of labor - until the cervix is \u200b\u200bfully 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 activity the doctor opens the bladder.

When it's time to go to the hospital: the cork has gone

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, properly called cervical mucus, does not necessarily appear at the onset of labor. As well as the prolapse of the abdomen, cork discharge is a harbinger of childbirth - a manifestation of changes in the body of a pregnant woman shortly before the birth of a baby. During pregnancy, the cork filling 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 may stand out (or may remain inside the cervical canal and stand out during childbirth). Sometimes the cork 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 dischargetraffic jams it just doesn't happen! The appearance of mucous secretions from the cervix at the end of pregnancy (as well as the absence of these secretions) is considered normal and does not require a visit to the maternity hospital.

How to understand that you are giving birth - contractions

Despite the persuasiveness of this statement, even it is not always true! During pregnancy, a woman periodically experiences uterine contractions - training bouts Braxton Hicks. At the beginning of pregnancy, such contractions are extremely rare - 1-2 contractions per week, and are completely painless. They are felt simply as a slight tension in the uterus. As the gestational age increases, contractions may appear more often - up to several times a day in the form of single (separate) short, painless abdominal tensions that occur at different times of the day. These contractions occur 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 maternity hospital. Approximately 2 weeks before the expected date of birth, the expectant mother may have new sensations - false, or precursor contractions. In terms of strength and sensations, they are very similar to real contractions, with which childbirth begins. These are periodically repeated sensations of undulating tension of the uterus, sometimes accompanied by "sipping" 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 contractions 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 the doctor.

When you need to go to the hospital - better in advance!

Supporters of this point of view justify 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 apparent 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 occasions, or, as doctors say, "according to indications":

When preparing for a planned caesarean section: in order to reduce the risk of surgical 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 hospitalized in the department of pathology of pregnant women and a preoperative examination plan is prescribed.
If complications of pregnancy are detected on the eve of childbirth. In this case, early hospitalization in the maternity hospital will help to fully examine, correct the 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 increased blood pressure, edema and the appearance of protein in the urine), impaired blood flow in the placenta, fetal growth retardation, and the threat of premature placental abruption.
With an exacerbation of common 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 control the condition of the postoperative scar.
With a tendency to overwear. In the absence of harbingers of childbirth for a period of more than 40 weeks, a pregnant woman is recommended antenatal hospitalization. In the maternity hospital, the expectant mother undergoes an examination, the purpose of which is to exclude the fact of overgestation (a condition in which the body of the expectant mother ceases to cope with the life support of the baby and his condition worsens), control the level of placental blood flow and monitor the condition of the fetus. If necessary, a pregnant woman is prescribed therapeutic measures to prepare for childbirth.

In other cases go to the hospital early is not necessary. On the contrary, this excessive precaution can often do a pregnant woman a disservice. During hospitalization in the department of pathology of pregnant women future mom is limited in 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 (tests, thermometry) interfere. However, the most harmful factor unreasonable stay in the antenatal ward - scary stories about childbirth, which expectant mothers tell each other “out of nothing to do”. Hypodynamia, insomnia and "horror movies", forcing fear of childbirth, negatively affect the physiological and psychological readiness for childbirth.

The closer the end of pregnancy, the greater the woman's anxiety about the upcoming birth. This period is especially exciting and disturbing for those who will 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 well-being of a woman. During this period, you should worry about collecting a bag for the hospital, required documents and inform loved ones. The birth itself takes place in several stages. In some cases, early hospitalization is recommended.

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

reduction, and sometimes some weight loss;
prolapse of the abdomen due to the movement of the child closer to the birth canal;
reduction of heartburn and shortness of breath;
increased urge to urinate;
feeling of heaviness and squeezing in the lumbar region;
leg cramps;
change in intestinal motility: diarrhea, nausea, urge to vomit;
decreased activity of the child;
manifestation of the “nesting instinct” (the desire to prepare the house for the appearance of a child, wash everything, clean, organize children'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 the mucous plug (a clot that looks like a jellyfish).

If such signs are found, there is no need to immediately contact the hospital. Before the appearance of the baby, it can take from several weeks to 1-2 days, it is impossible to determine the date of birth more accurately. The most important thing is to be on the alert so that at the first signs of labor, seek medical help.

When to go to the hospital?

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

departed amniotic fluid. In the normal course of labor, this occurs during the opening of the cervix. Often amniotic sac breaks before contractions and spasms appear. In such a situation, you must immediately contact the maternity hospital, the child should not be without amniotic fluid for more than 10-12 hours. Dangerous outpouring of amniotic fluid before the 37th week, in which case the doctors will need time to prepare the baby's lungs for functioning.
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. At the first birth, minor, but prolonged (up to 24 hours or more) contractions often develop. At first, contractions do not cause much pain and last 15 seconds. During breaks, the muscles relax and the pregnant woman has the opportunity to relax. Labor activity gradually intensifies, contractions become more frequent, prolonged and painful. Breaks are shortened to 15-20 minutes, and in the process of childbirth - up to 2-3. The pain extends to the lower back, rectum, thighs and calves, sometimes accompanied by chills. When the 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 main feature the imminent birth of a child.

The difference between the first stage of labor in multiparous women is that it passes more rapidly. It is also more common for amniotic fluid to pass before contractions occur.

Situations requiring early hospitalization

A woman can go to the maternity hospital in advance at her own request, having received a referral from the doctor who observed her. Some women in labor feel calmer under the supervision of medical staff, even despite the absence of close people nearby. Especially often, early hospitalization is requested by those who had complications in previous births.

Indications for going to the hospital in advance are the following situations:

Postponed pregnancy. At the 42nd week, it is better to go to the hospital, even if there are no signs of childbirth yet. In the hospital, special procedures are carried out that prepare the body, soften the cervix and contribute to its disclosure.
Preeclampsia. This condition in itself requires hospitalization. One of its complications can be premature birth, and in a severe form of pathology, an emergency surgical delivery will be required.
Planned C-section. Early hospitalization allows the woman and staff to prepare for the upcoming operation: perform blood and urine tests, select anesthesia, etc. medications. The procedure is carried out a week before the expected date of birth (PDR).

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

When is emergency help needed?

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

contractions become regular, repeat every 5 minutes or more often;
amniotic fluid broke;
vaginal discharge became bloody or bleeding developed (scarlet blood);
pains do not occur periodically, but torment constantly, by nature - aching or cramping.

A separate case is a rapid birth. They can not always be foreseen, the hallmark is the rapid opening of the cervix. At the same time, rest periods are constantly reduced and soon last 2-3 minutes.

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

In all of the above cases, please contact emergency care. It is unsafe to get to the maternity hospital in your own transport, as childbirth can go to the next stage and the woman's condition will worsen. The ambulance has the necessary equipment for such situations.

First, you need to know the expected calendar date of birth. The duration of pregnancy for each woman is individual; on average, it is 280 days, or 40 weeks, fluctuations from 38 to 42 weeks are considered normal.

How to find out the date of birth?

Exist various ways calculation of the date of birth. Some try to determine the day of conception and count the days from it. However, the day when sexual intercourse occurred and the day of conception itself may not coincide, since spermatozoa are able to maintain their viability and “wait” for an egg in the woman’s genital tract for several days.

Determination of the date of birth by menstruation

The most common way to calculate the due date is “by menstruation”. This is usually a well documented event. It is necessary to remember exactly the first day of the last menstruation, from the beginning of which it is proposed to count 280 days. And even easier - add another 7 days to the date of the first day of the last menstruation and count back three months. For example, last period started September 5th. Then childbirth can be expected on June 12 (5 + 7 days = 12, 9th month of September - 3 = 6th month of June). But this method will be unreliable if the woman has an irregular menstrual cycle or she does not remember the date of the menstruation.

Our due date calculator will help you calculate your due date based on your period.

Determining the date of birth by ultrasound

In modern conditions, the date of birth is determined quite accurately, focusing on the data of an ultrasound examination (ultrasound) performed before the 12th week of pregnancy. AT late dates pregnancy error in determining the term using ultrasound increases. This is due to the fact that the dimensions of the fetus, which the doctor is guided by in his calculations, at the end of pregnancy have large individual fluctuations.

In the same way, the calculation is made on the basis of the date and duration of pregnancy established at the first visit to the doctor (the method “on the first appearance at the antenatal clinic”). The sooner your doctor determines your due date, the more accurate your due date predictions will be.

Determining the date of birth by fetal movements

You can roughly calculate the date of birth and the first movement of the fetus: in nulliparous women, this occurs on average at 20 weeks, and in multiparous women, at 18 weeks. Of course, these are very subjective sensations, because the moment of the first movement of the child is not always well distinguishable.

You can find out about full-term pregnancy and upcoming childbirth by several signs. Approximately in 1 - 2 weeks, the so-called "harbingers" of childbirth appear.

Harbingers of childbirth

Most women notice at the end of their pregnancy that their belly has “drooped” and it has become easier to breathe. This is because during a full-term pregnancy, the amount of amniotic fluid decreases slightly, and the head of the fetus is pressed against the entrance to the woman's small pelvis. The uterus becomes more excitable, it “trains”, prepares for the upcoming big work. Irregular, painless tension of the uterus and a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen and in the lower back are called “pregnancy contractions”. It is not always possible even for a doctor to say with certainty whether labor is starting or preparatory contractions are taking place. If such a state of increased irregular excitability of the uterus continues for 1-2 days, then it is better to contact maternity hospital where they can assess whether the child suffers.

A few days before delivery (or on the day of delivery), light mucous discharge may appear from the genital tract, sometimes with small streaks of blood. Usually they say that "the mucous plug has come off." This is a favorable sign of softening and "ripening" of the cervix.

In many women, towards the end of pregnancy, colostrum is secreted from the nipples - the precursor of mother's milk.

A healthy woman with a favorable pregnancy can stay at home until the onset of labor. If there are deviations in the state of health of a woman, pregnancy has complications, if signs of fetal suffering are established, then, of course, the last 1-2 weeks (and more if necessary) should be in the maternity hospital under the supervision of specialists. Recently, many women, especially city dwellers, prefer to go to the maternity hospital in advance. This is obviously due to the general deterioration in the health of the population, the desire of the family, if possible, to insure against various accidents.

When is it time to go to the hospital?

So, at home, you felt some changes in your condition. There was heaviness, a slight pain in the lower back, in the lower abdomen, the uterus tensed up and became very dense to the touch. At first, the contractions and relaxation of the uterus are irregular, lasting 5-10 seconds with long breaks (up to half an hour). Then their frequency and intensity increase. This started the fight. If you are giving birth for the first time and live close to maternity hospital, then you can wait until the contractions become regular - once every 5 to 7 minutes. If the birth is repeated, then immediately with the onset of contractions, you should go to maternity hospital. Repeated births are usually faster than the first, there is a risk of giving birth outside a medical institution.

Often, before the onset of contractions, amniotic fluid may be released. The normal content of water in the uterus by the end of pregnancy is up to 1.5 liters. You may feel that a clear, warm fluid is leaking from your vagina (no connection with urination). A little liquid may pour out, or maybe all 1.5 - 2 liters. Be that as it may, if you notice unusually wet laundry - this is a situation in which you must, without delay, go to maternity hospital. If the water has completely poured out or is leaking slightly, this means that the integrity of the fetal membranes has been violated, and the child is no longer protected from the effects of the external environment, primarily from infectious agents. Time is counted by the clock; in such a situation, it is advisable for a child to be born no later than 12 hours after the outpouring of water. Doctor in maternity hospital must determine whether you have a chance of giving birth through the birth canal, or is it better to perform a caesarean section. In most cases, after the outpouring of water, normal contractions begin, and childbirth ends safely.

The above was about typical normal situations at the end of pregnancy. But complications are also possible. There are situations that require special attention and emergency care that a woman with a full-term pregnancy should be aware of. Call an ambulance immediately and go to maternity hospital, if:

Bloody discharge appeared from the genital tract, smearing or “like menstruation”;

The waters are stained with blood;

The pain is very strong, the uterus is painful to the touch, does not relax between contractions;

The fetal movements have become unusually strong, or weak, or painful;

headache, vision became fuzzy (“flies” before the eyes), pain appeared in the epigastric region, blood pressure increased, you cannot urinate.

In any case, if you feel any discomfort, then be sure to consult a doctor who is observing your pregnancy, and at night, contact maternity hospital. Practice shows that it is better to be safe than to underestimate the seriousness of the situation and endanger the life of the child and your own.

1. Determine in advance in which institution you will give birth. Many women prefer to have the same doctor conduct the pregnancy and deliver the baby. In practice, this is not always feasible. The state system for monitoring pregnant women is organized in such a way that the doctor is not necessarily present at the birth of his patient. And in non-state clinics, the obstetrician who observed you, due to various circumstances, may not be next to you at this very moment. However, it should not be taken as a tragedy when an unfamiliar doctor conducts childbirth. Choose a delivery facility with a good reputation; if you are not “assigned” to it on a territorial basis (formal objections may arise during hospitalization), decide in advance for yourself whether you agree to paid services. It is advisable to undergo a set of examinations adopted in this institution, to conclude a service contract.

2. Keep your documents organized, namely:

An exchange card with the data of all analyzes and ultrasound in the III trimester;

The passport;

Insurance policy.

IT IS BETTER TO ALWAYS HAVE THESE DOCUMENTS WITH YOU!

In the absence of medical documents, childbirth is supposed to be carried out in the II obstetric (observation department) or even in a specialized infectious maternity hospital! If you do not have a passport or an insurance policy with you, then there may be problems with the possibility of free birth (under compulsory health insurance). Be careful.

3. Prepare a bag with things: 2 - 3 cotton shirts, 3 - 4 diapers (preferably special disposable ones), 3 - 4 pairs of cotton shorts, pads (largest), bathrobe, washable slippers, 2 - 3 pairs of cotton socks, toiletries, towels .

However, in the maternity ward itself, you will not need anything other than slippers: usually, during childbirth, the necessary linen and clothes are given out in maternity hospital. Everything else, including things for the baby, relatives will bring to you after childbirth.

What to bring with you to the hospital will be prompted by our service List of things to the hospital

It will be more convenient for doctors, and for you too, if, having felt the approach of childbirth, you will not particularly burden your stomach. While waiting for labor to begin at home, limit your diet to light crackers, a cup of broth, and tea.

Trim your nails; you can shave your pubis on your own - these are mandatory procedures before childbirth.

Do not lose your presence of mind, be decisive and collected - you have a hard but joyful work ahead of you. Remember that you are primarily responsible for yourself and your child.

From the first weeks of pregnancy, every pregnant woman begins to worry about questions: where to give birth, what things you need with you, which method of delivery to choose. But after almost nine months of pregnancy, the woman chose the maternity hospital, she clearly knows what to take.

There remains one important question - when should you 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 birth.

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

What should every expectant mother 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, quickly disappear after taking antispasmodic drugs.

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

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

A little about the beginning of labor

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

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

generic activity represents, which are regular, painful and repeated at regular intervals.

Gradually, the frequency of contractions increases, while the contractions are not stopped by the use of conventional antispasmodic drugs, what distinguishes them from forerunner contractions.

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.

Appearance may accompany normal labor (opening of the cervix is accompanied by minor damage to blood vessels), 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 mother, therefore, if even a small amount of blood appears, it is better to call an ambulance.

Outflow of amniotic fluid usually easy to determine - amniotic fluid often has a large volume, although, again, there may be little water, their gradual leakage may take place.

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 under the jurisdiction of the woman herself.

So when is the best time to go to the hospital? It is better to come to the hospital earlier than to worry later - will the ambulance arrive in time?

It is also worth insuring primiparous, because first births usually take a long time, up to 10-13 hours, repeated births run much faster.

As soon as the pregnancy approaches 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 that you need to focus on.

Are these contractions?

Contractions are the main sign of the onset of labor. Even before they start, you can feel that there is heaviness, a slight pain in the lower back, in the lower abdomen, the uterus is tense and feels very dense to the touch. But it is important to recognize true contractions, and not "training" ones, which can occur as early as the second trimester of pregnancy. Real labor pains are repeated at regular intervals, which are gradually shortened, and the duration of the fight itself increases, training fights 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.

Calculate the interval between contractions

If the contractions have definitely begun, 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 come 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 opening of the cervix will pass much faster and you need to go to the hospital as soon as the contractions become regular and rhythmic.

Prepare for the trip to the hospital. Find out what is allowed to take to the maternity unit in the maternity hospital where you plan to give birth. Make a list of the necessary things and, closer to the date of delivery, collect the main things included in it.

The road to the maternity hospital

The maternity hospital may be located next to the house, or it may be located at the other end of the city, district center, region. That's why calculate the time it takes to travel. 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 traffic jams are possible 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 waters broke

If the laundry has become unusually wet, and even more so if liquid has flowed down the legs, this is a sign that the waters broke. It doesn’t matter how much fluid is poured out - a little or all 1-1.5 liters, there are contractions or not, you don’t have to wait for the start of regular labor (it will start a little later). Go straight to the hospital. After all, if the waters have poured out or are slightly leaking, this means that the integrity of the fetal membranes has been violated and the child is no longer protected from the influences of the external environment, primarily from infectious agents. In addition, if the contractions are already regular, the outpouring of water indicates that the birth of a baby is just around the corner. But if the mucous plug (a clot of a jelly-like substance) has come off, this is just a harbinger of childbirth and you don’t need to go to the hospital right away.

Immediately to the hospital!

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

spotting appeared from the genital tract, especially if they are 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 intensified;
the head hurts a lot, blood pressure has risen, vision has changed (it has become fuzzy, “flies” flash before the eyes);
if childbirth began before 38 weeks of pregnancy or labor began during multiple pregnancy.

Be sure to keep in a conspicuous place all the documents necessary for childbirth: exchange card, passport, compulsory medical insurance policy. If childbirth is planned with accompaniment, then the partner will also need documents: a passport; if the birth is without a contract, then permission to accompany the 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 maternity hospital).

To the maternity hospital by ambulance or on your own

There are two ways to get to the hospital: on your own or by calling an ambulance. Today, if there is 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 maternity hospital is comfortable for the expectant mother.

In addition, each locality (city, district center) has 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 maternity hospital. True, this maternity hospital will be the closest, and if a woman has chosen another institution, then this will have to be taken into account. Often, if the expectant mother has entered into a contract with the maternity hospital, then it also includes such a service as delivery to childbirth (regardless of how far the mother's house is located).