Laverne

For first time mothers, labor can be a little scary. I was on bed rest and I watched A Baby Story on the TLC channel every day. Well despite what they show you on half hour TV shows, labor takes awhile. For first time mothers the average laboring process takes up to nine hours. Some can take longer, some faster. So the question is how do you know if you are really in labor? So here are some things that you can ask yourself to see if you are actually in labor or if you still have time to get a Starbucks on the way to the hospital.

My sister and I joke about how we are procrastinators. She is pregnant and we joke that when her water breaks she will have to take a shower, shave her legs and get ready, including curling her hair and putting her makeup on and then pack her bags. Then on the way to the hospital get a Starbucks and some McDonald's on the way. Even though this is a little far fetched it is true. You will have time to get to the hospital and get settled before your real labor starts. Most first time mothers I have talked to say that they wish they would have stayed home longer. So here are some things that you can ask yourself to make sure you know you are in labor.

First of all if you have any questions weather or not you are in labor then you should call your doctor and he/she will let you know if and when you need to go to the hospital to have your baby. Also don't wait to long , I would rather have my baby in the hospital and be there for awhile then have my baby while ordering Starbucks. Also if you have any pregnancy issues you shouldn't wait to get to the hospital.

Pre labor contractions feel like menstrual cramps and they can start up to a week or so before you actual labor begins. You usually will feel these contractions in your uterus and not in your back. Back labor usually signifies real labor. So ask yourself are you having mild cramping or is my contractions so bad that I can't walk or talk while having one. If your contractions are this intense you need to go to the hospital.

Time your contractions and keep a log of them this will help your doctor figure out where you are in labor. If your contractions last a full minute and are 3 to 5 minutes apart then you should go to the hospital or at least call your doctor to see if it is time. Most likely it will be time.

If your water breaks in a gush before you are having these contractions then you should go to the hospital, your contractions after your water breaks usually gets stronger and faster and longer, signifying the start of real labor.

Use common sense when it comes to having your baby, don't wait until the last minute or you will have a scene like the one from the movie nine months. Where Hugh Grant hits a guy on his bike, gives a lady a heart attack all while driving on the way to the hospital, trying to get his wife to the hospital in time to have her baby. It was a funny scene, if you have scene this movie you know what I am talking about. Funny in the movies but not so funny in real life. Trust your instincts and go to the hospital when you feel it is time, and remember if you have any questions then call your doctor.

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A personal insurance review is simply reviewing your insurance policies with your agent. This can be done by phone or in person. I feel it is always nice to do these in person. Meeting in person makes the review more personal and builds rapport with your agent. I recommend completing a personal insurance review every one to two years. There are several benefits to having a regular insurance review.

One benefit is that you may uncover discounts that you are eligible to receive. Insurance companies offer a variety of discounts to their policyholders, so you want to see that you are receiving all discounts available to you. One example of a discount that may be overlooked is the Good Student Discount. Most companies offer this discount, but the agent may not be aware that a child qualifies for the discount until an insurance review is done. Updating the electrical, heating, or plumbing on your home may provide you a discount on your home insurance; but your agent may not know that these updates have been done to your home until you have an insurance review. Personal insurance reviews are a great opportunity for you to discuss all discounts available with your agent.

A second benefit is to review the coverage on existing policies. Your situation may have changed since the policy was written and you may not need the same coverage as you did previously. One common situation is people that have vehicles on their policies for several years. Sometimes these vehicles still have full coverage, but the customer does not realize it. The age or condition of the vehicle may not warrant the additional premium for full coverage. Another common situation is people that still have very low deductibles on their home insurance. It was not uncommon to have $50, $100, or $250 deductible 15 to 20 years ago, but many times there is a significant savings in premium to raise the deductible. A personal insurance review is a great time to remove any coverage that may no longer be needed.

A third benefit is to locate any gaps in coverage. There are many areas where gaps can occur in your insurance program without you realizing it. Your life changes frequently and many of the changes may seem minor, but can have an effect on your insurance coverage. Some common changes that affect your insurance are updating a home can increase its value; having children may increase the need for life insurance; purchasing an expensive television or jewelry may require additional endorsements be added to your home insurance. Having an annual or bi-annual review helps to uncover areas where gaps in coverage may exist.

People are often hesitant to have an insurance review because they feel the sole purpose is for the agent to sell more insurance. However, the purpose of the insurance review is to make sure that the individual has the proper coverage in place for their situation. This is a benefit to the agent and the customer. The customer benefits by gaining a knowledge of their coverage and receiving the peace of mind that they are properly insured. The agent benefits by knowing their customers will have no gaps in coverage if a loss occurs.

It is important to have regular insurance reviews with your agent. The reviews make sure proper coverage is in place before a loss occurs and that you are paying the proper premium by taking full advantage of all discounts available.

Jason Busch is a multi-line insurance professional. Everyone's situation is different so he reviews each person's situation and develops a plan that fits the needs of the individual. To learn more about Jason, please visit his website at http://www.jasonNbusch.com