What is the 5-1-1?
Often, birthing people hear their provider talk about when to head in to the hospital or birth center. For most people, the ideal would be to labor at home during pre-labor and early labor, and heading in to their birth place when they are in active labor.
Why is this??
Built into our biology and makeup is a special fight or flight response. From years past, when people labored in potentially dangerous situations, their body would literally stop labor if they had danger approaching so they could fight or flee as needed. Even today, a birthing person’s body can shut down and slow or stop the laboring process if they feel scared or threatened.
When a birthing person is feeling comfortable at home and labor is just starting, the transition to a sterile hospital environment or to a new provider they have never met can definitely slow down or stall their labor. This isn’t a hard and fast rule, but it definitely does happen. And when labor stalls or stops, often times that is when providers will suggest augmentation (oxytocin - Pitocin) to get labor back on track or speed it up.
When someone decides to wait until active labor to go in, it is less likely that the labor will stall when they experience that change of environment.
So how do I know when I’m in active labor?
Technically active labor starts at 6cm of dilation. If you’re laboring at home, you typically wouldn’t know how dilated you are, but here are a few tips to help.
Enter… the 5-1-1
The 5 stands for 5 minutes. When timing contractions, you start the timer at the start of a contraction, and time until the start of the next contraction. Usually contraction patterns don’t follow exact rules, and contractions at this point can be anywhere from 3-6 minutes apart. It’s the average you’re going for. So timing contractions for 30 minutes and averaging out how far apart they are will give you a clearer picture.
The first 1 stands for 1 minute. This is talking about the length of each contraction. In early labor, contractions often start out at about 30 seconds in length, and this builds as labor progresses. Once they are about one minute in length from the very start to the very end of each contraction, that’s definitely a sign that it might be time to head in.
The second 1 stands for 1 hour. When contractions have been following this 5 minutes apart, 1 minute long pattern for an hour, it’s probably time to think about going in to your place of birth. Your labor is progressing well, and it is less likely that you will stall when you get there.
In addition to timing contractions, there are other signs that you may be in active labor. During early labor, you will usually be able to walk and talk through contractions, maybe pause at the peak, but you’re able to complete tasks and hold a conversation. When it gets increasingly hard to converse, or continue with your activity, and you’re having to stop, focus on your breathing during the contractions every time, maybe do some rocking or movement to get through it, that can be a sign that you are making progress.
Second-time birthing parents almost always want to head in sooner than first timers, as your labor will likely (not always!) happen faster. Ultimately, it is up to you for when to head in to your place of birth.
Another great tip is to have a doula present with you! They can help you assess where you are at in labor, and give you great information so you can make a decision you feel comfortable with. I offer a free consultation conversation, get signed up here! I’d love to work with you.