How Close To Due Date Is Too Close to Prepare For HB?

[MamieCole]

Ok, so I know this is sort of a weird question, but there is some limbo in our lives right now and I need to get some reassurance that my thinking isn't totally unrealistic.

Right now I am 18 weeks pregnant and am seeing a wonderful midwife and planning a waterbirth (vbac) at a birthing center.

However, my DH has been out of work for a looooong time and has been applying for jobs both here in Oregon and out of state back in CA. (where we lived prior to moving here)

Well, he has a second interview for a great job in the bay area this week. If he gets a job offer, we have to take it and move back to CA. We have been without income for way too long and are about to get way over our heads with bills piling up, etc. I don't mind living in the bay area again, I really love it there, family and friends are there, etc...but the birthing options are nowhere near what we have access to here. If we move, there is absolutely no birthing center option within reasonable driving distance. Which leaves the options of hospital birth or home birth. I have already told DH that I will NOT be seeing an OB, nor planning a hospital birth and that if we move back homebirth is going to be our new plan.

But I am now nervous about having enough time to get prepared (finding a new midwife who will attend a HBAC, preparing mentally, getting a tub and all the stuff we need etc). Best case scenario is that we will be moved and settled by the beginning of August...around 26-28 weeks pregnant.

Ugh...obviously this will all be a moot point if Dh does NOT get the job, but I just feel like I need to know whether HB is even a realistic option under these circumstances. So give it to me straight...is 12 weeks enough time to get ready for a HB? :

[littlebb]

I would say absolutely! Do you have a general idea of where you'll be living if you move back? Maybe you could do some leg work and see if you can find some midwives in that area to start talking to and making plans. My midwife has a cutoff of 36 weeks being the earliest she'll consent to a homebirth anyway. I would think you'd just need enough time to get your HB supplies together. I am 33 weeks this coming Wed. and we just ordered our kit and pool. If you're willing to pull it all together, I'd say you have plenty of time as long as you're mentally prepared. My MW has taken on several cases of women who decided to HB at the very last minute - just last week she met a woman who went into labor at their first official pre-natal visit and delivered a few days later. If you've been getting pre-natal care and know you're in good shape, I can't see why it would be a problem. Good luck - I know it's tough when you're juggling so much.

[Full Heart]

I would say its plenty of time. I have known women who made the decision just days before they gave birth. Not ideal but sometimes it can't be helped.

[Belle]

Perhaps you could begin contacting midwives down in the bay area now. Let them know your situation and that you're seeing birth center midwives now. See if one of them could pencil you in. Then if your dh gets the job you can transfer your records to them. I'm sure the birth center would be willing to work with you on this.

[threadbey]

Sounds like plenty of time to me. We'll be moving just as I near 30 weeks and I've been in touch with midwives there, but won't meet them or start "preparing" supplies until then (or later, since most of our stuff will take a while longer to get there). There isn't that much stuff to get, really. And nothing to stop you getting it earlier and taking it with you. Your midwife would have a list or maybe even a birth kit you can buy somewhere. There's another thread on this forum right now about tubs and I and some others don't feel they're necessary. I'd just email some midwives and let them know you might be coming. Or wait until you're sure if you know you'll know soon.

Good luck!

[melamama]

I agree that it's plenty of time.
This pg I had to find a new mw (we had moved) and I didn't start seeing her until 26w.

I also have known moms who switched from OB's to MW very close to their dd----one was 7hrs before labor.

Also in this age of the internet you could get online and order everything you needed and have it within the week.

[MamieCole]

Sweet! Thanks for the reassurance. It's good to know that others have made the switch with much less time and that it is totally doable.

[GoldmanBaby09]

I definitely think you would have enough time and would also encourage you doing some foot work now. Where in the bay would you be moving to? I actually came from the bay area and think there are waaaay more resources there than what I have here in Reno (there are literally, like, 2 midwives in Nor Nevada!). Good luck and hope everything works out for your family.

[Gena 22]

12 weeks is plenty of time. I switched at 30 weeks -- because I was a newbie and in the midst of changing circumstances I took a long time to come to the decision to HB. Then I give birth at 39 weeks and felt very prepared. One of the best choices I've made!

Best wishes on DH's job and on your birth!

[~Kristina~]

I didn't decide to have my home with ds until I was 20w pregnant. That was still plenty of time to prepare and still sit around bored for many weeks. lol

[tellmemore]

Saw this and giggled

Okay, so I giggled out of not knowing what else to do. I am 29 weeks, have a 2 yo ds, live with 2 sets of parents (MIL and my parents, switching to keep sane.) My MW lives in Chehalis, I'm in Vancouver, WA (not far from PDX, so I'd love to share tips, stories, etc!) The bank-owned house we have our offer accepted on has had some major wrenches thrown in the whole deal. We might have a place, we might not. My MW's in-home birth center is 1:15 to 1:30 from here, and the drive time is what I dread most. My trip to the hospital with ds was 15 min. and the worst part of labor by far. The rest was complete euphoria honestly. Am I anxious? Oh yeah. Does that help? Not one bit. I'm trying not to blame circumstances on any one thing or person, but I feel it's gotten a bit rediculous. I cannot nest.

So, with all this, to answer your question about enough time to plan: Hell yeah. My own plan is to keep fighting tooth and nail for it until I must get in that car to deliver in Chehalis. I can do it. I just don't want to at all. I feel that if I wanna have a litter in my own dresser drawer, I'm gonna. LOL, but my dresser is in storage! Along with my carseat, birth ball, newborn and new mama luxuries... I keep telling myself what my doula from my last birth told me: You baby needs little, such as breasts, blanket, something to poop in. I know that. I'm just trying not to stress over what mama needs.

Go for what you desire!

[pjs]

Totally enough time to plan. I'd start looking into mws now though.

[dogmom327]

I was going to school in Utah when I got pregnant, saw an HB MW there but moved back to Portland when I was 31 weeks. I just started looking for a MW as soon as I knew I was going to move and found a fantastic one. We just had lots of appointments to get to know each other given the short period of time. It worked out fine.

[hapersmion]

I got ready in three days. 12 weeks is plenty. (I had to transfer when my son turned out to be breech - I met the midwife for the first time three days before labor started - fun and excitement for everyone!)

[super mamabug]

No problem! I have never had prenatal care before 20 weeks anyway. It is totally normal to switch providers at 6-7 months. If you want to plan ahead, start calling around and figuring out which midwives support HBAC so that you have a list ready to interview if the time comes. You'll be fine, that's plenty of time.

[Mamatoabunch]

I changed from hospital midwives to HB midwife at 28 weeks. Then we moced at 32 weeks and I found a midwife. Anything is doable for what you desire.