Signs that labor is 24 to 48 hours away

When to go to the hospital for labor

It depends, but for women with an uncomplicated pregnancy, it's usually time to go to the hospital when your contractions have been coming at regular intervals (such as every four or five minutes), lasting about a minute each, for an hour or more.

The goal is to go when you're in active labor.

Toward the end of your pregnancy, your doctor or midwife will most likely give you clear guidelines about when to let them know that you're having contractions, and when to grab your hospital bag and head to the hospital or birth center.

Your instructions will depend on your individual situation – such as whether you have a high-risk pregnancy or other complications, if this is your first baby, if you've had fast labors in the past, if you're planning a cesarean delivery, if you're group B strep positive, and how far you live from the hospital or birth center.

If you're unsure whether it's time, go ahead and call.

Doctors and midwives

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