September 2, 2003 (revised) 
LABOR INFORMATION SHEET FOR PATIENTS
BE PREPARED:☺
Labor is a process that begins near your "due date". This "due date" is actually a range of dates spanning approximately one week. Most pregnant patients go into labor about three days before their due date OR three days after their due date. We have assigned your "due date" based on evaluation of your last menstrual period, sonogram data and other clinical information. We use a total time interval of 40 weeks. Do not use months to calculate your "due date", since most months have more than 28 days (4 weeks). However, beginning as early as 24 weeks of EGA you should be prepared to go to the main Northside Hospital (1000 Johnson Ferry Rd. Atlanta, GA. 404-851-6733) Labor & Delivery unit if you have a problem or any uterine activity that COULD be contractions. There is a special entrance for Labor & Delivery in the Women’s Center. We will usually see you in the office during office hours. After hours, be prepared to go to the hospital. Also have your pharmacy number readily available in case we need to call in a prescription. Have a temporary overnight bag packed that you can grab in a hurry. Approximately 20% of the time unexpected events like vaginal bleeding or leaking membranes occur.
Normal labor takes 12-24 hours and it often
comes and goes (like waves on a beach- also called latent phase). It may
start as false labor for a day or two before real labor occurs. However, you
MUST come in to be evaluated because it is impossible to sort out false labor
from real labor (on the phone) without an exam that spans a 1-2 hour time
interval. We also need to monitor the baby’s heartbeat in relation to the
contractions and check your cervix. Bring your fetal movement chart with you.
Labor is characterized by REGULAR uterine contraction that cause the cervix to dilate and the head to descend (active phase).Most of the time labor progresses through these phases but sometimes there is an arrest of the labor process. Such an arrest may require pitocin or even a Cesarean birth. If your baby is feet first (breech) you will probably need to deliver by Cesarean birth (Sometimes a version is possible). These contractions
MAY NOT BE PAINFUL, but they are still real labor. They can start in the front, the back or the lower pelvic region. ► So the rule is:
IF YOU HAVE TEN CONTRACTIONS IN ONE HOUR, THEN YOU
NEED TO COME IN TO BE EXAMINED- NO MATTER WHAT TIME IT IS.
Sometimes labor will start without warning before your
"due date", even as early as 24 weeks. If you go into labor before 36 weeks we
will probably suppress your labor. If you go into labor after 36 weeks we will
usually proceed to delivery. Be prepared to come in to the office or go to the
hospital.
If you have an emergency call 911.
Please always call us (770-475-7275 or 770-844-0546) before going to the hospital, so we can notify them in advance of your arrival.
It is also helpful to be aware of your beta strep status when you arrive in L&D. If it is
positive you will need antibiotics during labor. Please inform the nurse of any drug allergies when you check in.
770-475-7275