Patient's question:
At 38 weeks, I experienced spotting and went to the hospital for delivery. There were no contractions or labor pains, and I was discharged. I don't know when I gave birth.Doctor's answer:
Generally speaking, when contractions occur every 5 minutes, you can go to the hospital to wait for delivery. How long it will take to give birth once you arrive at the hospital cannot be determined precisely. Because of differences in individual constitutions, some people may start contractions quickly and have their cervix fully dilated, followed by direct delivery. Others may be slower, even taking more than 10 hours for the cervix to fully dilate. These situations vary from person to person.For contractions that occur in the early stages of labor, the mother needs to learn how to judge them. True contractions usually cause pain in the abdomen, though for some people it may be in the lower back. Additionally, the intensity of the pain can vary depending on each person's constitution. At first, the pain may be mild, but as time progresses, it gradually intensifies, the intervals between contractions shorten, and the duration of pain increases. At this time, the mother must not panic, as this will amplify the pain caused by contractions. It is best to distract herself, relax, regulate her breathing, and cooperate with the doctor to ensure a smooth delivery.