Not making it to hospital in time.

[zap]

Ok so I am 36 weeks pg and hope for a fast labour (HOPE!) just wondering if anyone on BB missed their window to get to hospital and birthed at home? What should I do if this happens?

[misty]

Haven't done it yet, but am certainly trying to prepare myself for the possiblility this time. Hospital 40min drive away (if no traffic). DH works 40min drive from our house (if no traffic). My last labour was between 1.5hrs and 2hours.

If labour is progressing too quickly, My plan of attack will be first to first try and get someone to watch the kids - So I will be ringing around like mad to see who is in the neighbourhood who can come and watch them until one of my parents or sisters arrive (luckily I have 4 other BB friends who all live in the same suburb as me) - failing that I would sit them down in front of the TV with food and go back into the bedroom. The next step would be to ring DH to ring the ambulance (I don't like talking on the phone, especially when I am in labour). I would then just be making myself as comfortable as I can.

I am pretty confident that I would be fine birthing at home alone if need be. Obviously I would prefer not to do it, and I would try and make my way to a closer hospital as preference to free birthing, but I think it definitely a good idea to be prepared (at least mentally) for the possibility of things going awry.

[raffy]

My labour with DS was just shy of 2 hours and the hospital is 1 hour away with no traffic what so ever, we were very very lucky that it was midnight so no one was on the road and we made it to the hospital 15ish minutes before ds was born. but I understand the chances of us being that lucky again are slim. Therefore I have prepared myself and got ambulance cover, so if things start progressing that quickly again I will call df if he is at work and tell him to get home (he works 35km away so about a 30 minute drive with good traffic) i will then call my mum and ask her to come and get DS and depending on weather df is with me or at work, either he or I will call the Ambo, then I will try and stay calm and breath. We have a huge spa shaped bath so if the ambos are taking to long I may even jump in there or even just the shower, DS took me by surprise as he was 12 days late and so many people had told me because he was my first that I would be laboring for hours so I am determined to stay in control and be organized this time if ds2 is going to arrive just as quickly

[Smoke Jaguar]

Call the ambulance and refuse to get in until bubs is born If you're lucky and have a female paramedic she'll support you - it's the male paramedics who freak and force the getting to hospy issue, only for the baby to arrive en route or at the door of the ED...neither are ideal, you're better off being at home in your own space and then moving if you wish to do so.

[Lisa]

I live a 3min drive from the hospital and DD3 was born quickly at home. Between contractions & pushing I told my dh to slip the cord off bubs neck should it be around it and to call an ambulance when I thought the time was right - we called after DD was born and I birthed the placenta whilst he was on the phone.
My best advice would be to keep calm and trust your own instincts. Good luck hun

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

Will post later, you can read my birth story if you like but main things.

Call ambulance, have towels and something warm to put over you & bub.
Make sure your support person can stay calm and talk through things with 000 if need be.

Will post more from comp a little later.


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- Sent from my iPhone, more than likely while I should be doing something else!

[zap]

And what about the placenta? What do you do once it's delivered?

[Lisa]

And what about the placenta? What do you do once it's delivered?

DH put mine into an old salad bowl that we had. The paramedics put it into another bowl that they had and gave it to the midwives when DD & I got checked over.

[TeniBear]

From reading a few birth stories with unexpected home births (or planned lotus births!) the general consensus seems to be to pop it in a large bowl or Tupperware container


Sent from my iPhone so forgive the speelung misstacks

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

I delivered mine once the ambo's arrived, they bagged it and cut the cord.


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- Sent from my iPhone, more than likely while I should be doing something else!

[Liz]

Having just recently had a 40 minute labour, I agree with Mayaness, because there is NO way I would have been able to sit in a car or ambulance with that kind of labour (I couldn't even sit on the fitball! LOL) and would the ambo's make you lie down in the ambulance?? There is also no way we would have been able to organise the kids in that time. You'll know if it's happening fast, and I would think it much better for everyone for you to feel safe and unstressed. A side of the road delivery would be horrible IMO.

Ideally, if you think it's going to be that fast, get in touch with an independent midwife That way it's her rushing to you instead of you being in a flap trying to get to hospital

And yep.. just pop the placenta in a bowl so it can be checked over.

All the best.. and remember to enjoy it

[zap]

Anyone else?