Second Labour - long distance to birth venue

[Matryoshka]

Just curious here, for a second labour (which to my understanding is often quicker than the first) what do you think about the birthing venue being over an hour away? would you think that is too far to travel? especially since labouring at home as long as possible is ideal. The distance would be about 1 hour 15 and involve driving down a fwy for most of it.

[~Saram~]

I was worried about a similar thing as I was worried I would leave it too late to go into the hossy. My first labour was 5hrs induced with a drip my secon labour was 3 hrs with ARM. Maybe just talk to the midwives about going in in earlier labour and doing laps around the hossy instead of staying home?

[Lucy]

I wouldn't risk it. But that's just me. I had very quick 2nd and 3rd labours....if I'd have had an hour drive, they would've been delivered in the car by DH, LOL!

But that said, you can never tell what timings your labours will take, I guess?

[Matryoshka]

Yes i remember that Lucy!

Who knows really.... with my first labour my waters broke so i had to go in immediately, then he was born 12 hours later.

I don't know this time, i'd love a homebirth but its off the cards for a couple of reasons. There are hospitals much closer to where we've moved to, but i'd like to return to the birthing centre so that i can have a similar experience to last time, less risk of intervention etc. Unfortunately its now much further than it was before.

[Lucy]

I can totally relate to that.

Thinking about it, what I would most likely do is book into your preferred venue, as you know you like their model of care, and want ot have your next baby there. That peace of mind is gold.

But compromise on the labouring at home thing. Like Saram suggested, get the support of your midwives, so that they can help you, when you call them in early labour, to get you there on time?

ie have a plan for a comfy but active labour within the birthing unit?

(I make that sound so simple, LOL!)

[visitor1]

I have to drive 25 mins on a good day to my hospital....up to and over 1 hr if its peak hour traffic....

Thats bad enuf for me! My first labour was 10 hours 25 mins...but i was a least at the hospital early (1am) so missed all traffic and made it with hours to spare!

[BellyBelly]

Can you hire a private midwife who can accompany you to hospital?

[Matryoshka]

Yeah i could Kelly, do you mean in case i didn't make it in time? and had a car birth LOL. Whats the difference between a private midwife and a doula?

[BellyBelly]

Before and after A private midwife is a midwife, who works independently - usually homebirths but also in hospitals to help advocate for the woman like a doula does. Just with medical training thats all So they cost more but have the medical training. Check out the Maternity Coalition website

[Matryoshka]

I see, OT but does a Doula not have medical training??

[BellyBelly]

A doula operates on the basis of birth not automatically being a medical event She is a professional support person, she understands basic physiology/biology/psychology related to birth, but the best thing of all is that someone without medical training has such significant effects on birth outcomes, as you know with the 50% less c/s, less forceps/epidural/vacuum/pnd... the works. Higher birth satisfaction for mum and dad.

[Matryoshka]

Yeah i know what you mean, when i mentally compare doula and midwife i immediately think of doulas as "down-to-earth" whereas i visualise a midwife as being more medical, more sterile in a way LOL.