Any suggestions or things I should know? 1.5 hours to birthing location...

[clynnr]

I have always traveled (35 mins, 45 mins) for birth, but this time it will be about an hour and twenty minutes--if it's light out. Part not so bad, part windy mountain roads. The kind that have signs saying, "crooked & steep next 4.5 miles." This is baby #3, so who knows how quickly he/she will arrive.

Any suggestions for windy-road car-travel in labor? What supplies should we have along just in case? I'm thinking a couple towels, baby blankets, something to tie the cord...

Just FYI, my first labor was eight hours start (waking at 2:30am) to finish, with about an hour and forty-five minutes of pushing. Labor #2 was nine hours start (waking at 2:30am) to finish, with 18 minutes of pushing.

Thanks!

[happyCOmama]

I'm 20 minutes away from the birthing center where I want to deliver but my second came in 45 minutes and this is the third baby, so.....

the midwives at the bc gave me chux pads, a cord clamp, a hat, a bulb suction, and advised me to stock some old towels in the car. If the baby comes when I'm by myself or with my husband, they recommended drying off the baby and bringing her up against my skin then piling on towels to keep us both warm. If I can't or don't want to move before the placenta arrives, they recommended clamping the cord, then wrapping the placenta in more towels (just for tidiness sake). I assume that if I go into a quick labor, I'll still have time to call the midwives or my husband so someone will know what's going on. They've also said that -generally- a fast and easy delivery happens because everything is okay not because there's an emergent health concern. If all else fails, I figure I can call 911 and have help here quickly.

Good luck on your drive in... hope you have a lovely birth wherever it occurs!

[Thefrawg]

I am an 1.5 hours from my hospital too for my #3!

We plan on driving in to a local hotel at the first sign of labor, so I don't have to do the drive in late labor! But I do have a few things in the van for the just in case part: chux pads and a larger blanket to lay on the floor, and clean blankets/towels for baby. I was told to just put baby on my bare skin (chest) and wrap both of us in blankets/towels, and then keep driving. If the placenta delivers, to keep it intact in a towel or whatever, near the same level as baby and don't worry about it. You can clamp it if you prefer.

I am more concerned with my water breaking on the leather seats than anything else!!

Have you considered going early? Do you have that option? My doula will meet us at the hotel to create a labor environment, which was my concern, I wanted to labor at home. I think this will be better though.

I don't really want to have the baby in the car, and my doula and I discussed my last labor, and there weren't any good signs of transition so she couldn't tell how far along I was until I was pushing. So this is the best option for me.

Good luck planning your adventure too!

[hapersmion]

We took all the supplies we could think of, but we had a five-hour drive.

For comfort's sake, I recommend a body pillow and a bunch of blankets, food and drink and anything else you might want. I was perfectly snug and cozy in my cocoon. Also, trash bags on the seats under towels or blankets, in case your water breaks. And a barf bag. :P

[sewaneecook]

I'm 90 minutes away too (I was with #1 as well).

Definitely sit on a trash bag and some towels in case your water breaks in the car (mine did) and I 2nd the body pillow ... I was very comfy the whole trip slightly reclined in the seat cuddled up to my body pillow.

If you are really worried, leave while you are in early labor.