How far away is your hospital?

[Traveller]

The hospital where I had my twins was an hour away...the main problem this presented was I left for hospital too early resulting in a stalled labour. I got there in the end without drugs but if I had been cared for by doctors rather than midwives I feel certain synto would have been recommended. That is always a danger when the hospital is far away, you either leave too early and labour stops, or you leave too late and risk giving birth by the roadside.

I would be concerned about a 41% VBAC rate though, that seems very low. I am sure the hospitals here aim for 60% - 70% successful VBAC's.

[Daydream Believer]

Ours is 45mins-an hour depending on traffic

[Vixstar]

5 mins!!! Although it could have been a 12 hr drive as both boys were born 17 and 15 hrs from the time my waters broke! We could have driven interstate!!!

[monday]

Traveller, 41% is the best VBAC rate in the hospitals nearby, my VBAC attempt was at a hospital with a 13% VBAC rate, something I wish I had've known before

And as I said it's not the length of the labour that concerns me, just that I will be uncomfortable in the car for that long.

[phynna]

st arnaud, about 25 mins away wont take a first timer

Maryborough, almost 40 mins also wont take a first timer

Bendigo about 103 km, 1 hour away, say i'm outside of their catchment area and have to go to melbourne 3 hours away instead (?)

Ballarat about 1 hour 15 mins, well i'm too far away for bendigo so ballarat is out of the question too

Melbourne 3 hours in labour? Forget it. I'm having our baby at home now :-)

[Traveller]

Traveller, 41% is the best VBAC rate in the hospitals nearby, my VBAC attempt was at a hospital with a 13% VBAC rate, something I wish I had've known before

And as I said it's not the length of the labour that concerns me, just that I will be uncomfortable in the car for that long.

Gosh 13% is appalling! 41% is fantastic by comparison, and one hour travel to get such a difference sounds reasonable. Have you done a calmbirthing or HypnoBirthing course? Playing their CD's in the car on the way to hospital (on a personal CD player, you don't want the driver falling asleep) will make the journey more comfortable.

Also if you do decide to have a VBA2C then consider getting a doula who is experienced in VBAC's, and be prepared to negotiate the hospital's standard care. Some hospitals are happy not to attach a CTG machine until you reach a certain stage of dilation, others want it on as soon as you step through the hospital doors. Some allow intermittent CTG (or I have even heard rumours of waterproof CTG) allowing you to get into a bath, some want you to labour on the bed to ensure a good CTG reading, others will encourage you to use a birthing ball. You will need to research what you are comfortable agreeing to and give yourself the best chance of the birth you want.

T
xx

[Queen]

With DD1 it was 40 mins, with DD2 it took 11 mins..not that I was counting

[monday]

I haven't done any of the courses but borrowed the CD's from a friend for my last labour & had them on my ipod, I used them whenever I had a nap or of a night when I went to bed but completely forgot once I was in labour Really need to remind my husband to get the ipod out if I go for a VBA2C, I forgot my music the first time too. I will also plan to do the course with Peter Jackson before my labour.

Even though they have a low VBAC rate I did pretty well at the hospital for my last birth. I had intermittent monitoring (though they did a scalp thingo on bub) and I was able to be in the shower as long as I wanted. I will definitely be researching a lot more if I choose a VBA2C next time. Of course I first need to fall pregnant

[entreat]

i'm.. *cough* 6+ hours away from my chosen hospital... but I'll be going to Perth a few weeks before (dunno where I'll stay yet...). I'm 10mins from the hospital in town, but seriously... I think I'd rather birth at home!