So… when do we go to hospital for our birth?

Most people think heading to hospital early in labour is the “safe” thing to do…
But in reality, getting there too soon can sometimes slow things down or even lead to more interventions, even when you're hoping for a low-intervention birth.

Here’s the gentle truth, from your doula:

✨ When you arrive too early, it’s common to hear:
“You’re 2cm, go home.”
Or you get admitted… but it’s still early days, and your body hasn’t found its rhythm yet.

Hospitals are busy places — bright lights, strangers, checks, questions.
It can be a lot when you’re still finding your flow.

💡 What you might not know:

- Labour often slows when we don’t feel safe, private or relaxed.
- Early admission can increase the chance of interventions you might not have needed later.
- Arriving during staff shift changes (usually around 8am or 8pm) can affect how supported you feel in those first vulnerable minutes.

So when is the right time to go?
It’s not about pushing through pain - it’s about knowing how to tune into your body, understand the system, and protect your space and confidence.

💛 Whether you're planning a home birth, hospital birth, epidural, or VBAC - this is about you feeling supported and in control.

This is something we talk about in detail during my birth prep sessions. Because knowledge is powerful - but knowing how to use it in real time? That’s everything.

If you’d love support navigating this part of birth planning, send me a message. I’d love to chat.

📍Based in Sutton — supporting families across South West London & North Surrey.

#YourDoulaSophie #InformedBirth #DoulaSupportUK #SouthWestLondonDoula #BirthPrepWithConfidence #KnowYourOptions #TimingYourTransfer #PositiveBirthPlanning