With my first baby, I probably waited until my contractions were around 2-3 mins apart before I went to the hospital. I was in active labor and by the time I got there I was 5cm dilated. The nurse said I was a trooper for holding out the whole time before going in cuz usually women go in to the hospital at 1-2 cm dilated and contractions further apart. My reason for waiting that long was, I didn't want to he sent home on a falsa alarm....lol. Needless to say, I delivered my son a few hrs later with an epidural of course.
I was told to head to the hospital once they were 5 min apart.