If your pregnancy is high risk, you have had a prior cesarean, have a breech baby, or carry the streptococcus B bacterium, call the maternity ward to discuss when to go to the hospital. Once you’re in active labor, a final reason to go to the hospital is to make sure your baby is born there. An unplanned home (or car) birth is not best for you or your baby. This is unusual in a first pregnancy, but with subsequent births women are more likely to arrive at the hospital quite dilated or to have an unintended home birth. Once you’ve been admitted, you and your baby will be assessed by a doctor or nurse. Sometimes an intravenous (IV) line will be placed and blood tests may be done. You can make your room comfortable with items from home.
