Has anyone been *alone* to birth?

[mion]

This is my one concern. I go quickly . . . Less than 3 hours for a hospital birth last time and wished I had never gone in. I am concerned I will be truly flying solo here, which if it happens, it happens, but I was just curious as to whether anyone has birthed so quickly that no one, not even dh, made it on time! Thanks!

[beckyand3littlemonsters]

Not so far however i'm ttc using a donor so will be without a partner, plus this i am also planning uc birth this time because all my other births have been homebirths with the last 2 being very hands off so pretty much like uc but with a mw watching lol. i'm doing lot's of research into the subject just incase, maybe you should "just incase" but you'll probs be ok not all labours are the same this could be quick but then it might not be you should try and get some sought of plan in place for any situation, as your planning a hb anyway you'll be getting a birthing space ready for that just make sure you have everything you need handy so then if things do go very quick you'll be(sought of) ready for it. i'm sure you'll do fine just phone your dh and your mw as soon as you start noticing regular contractions, your mw won't mind even if it turns out to be a false alarm.

[jennica]

I'm concerned about this too. My last labor was 6 hours, start to finish, but only 3 in the hospital where they did their best to slow down my labor - I honestly think it would have been more like 4 hours total had I stayed home. At one point in the hospital I dilated from 3 to 8 in one hour (at which point they started interfering again slowing it down), so I know what my body is capable of. No one seems as concerned about the potential for a precipitous birth as I do, but I intend to be prepared the possibility. I am going to put short cut icons on my iphone so that I can show Ds (who will be 5) how to call Dh, the midwife, and 911 (but will tell him not to call this one unless I tell him to, or unless I pass out). I will also have the birth kit in a place Ds can reach and tell him what he needs to bring me if I go into labor and no one else is home. I am confident that I will not have an issue if the baby comes before anyone else gets there, but I do hope someone shows up right after the birth because this is the most critical time I think with a fast labor. PP bleeding should be monitored, and the baby and mom can oftentimes be really shocked and it can take baby awhile to transition (from what I have read anyway). I also am wondering about the tub. I'm wondering if I can fill it and keep it heated with a fish tank heater, and how long I should let the water sit like that before changing it out? I was also thinking I wont get in the tub unless Dh or the midwife is there, because if I lost consciousness in the tub with only Ds there it would not be good. So I am really hoping it will happen like last time and I wont have contractions until the middle of the night so Dh is home. My labor could very well be 3 to 4 hours (or longer) and I wont have to worry about this stuff, but I feel with my history I have reason to be prepared.

[MyBoysBlue]

My first was a 2.5 hour hospital birth. I knew my second would be quicker so I planned a UC as it might be one even if I didn't choose to. He was born after just 25 minutes. Since most births begin at night he was born at 11:25 at night with my DH home. My Mom even made it but she was just a block away.

[sleepingbeauty]

Originally Posted by MyBoysBlue

My first was a 2.5 hour hospital birth. I knew my second would be quicker so I planned a UC as it might be one even if I didn't choose to. He was born after just 25 minutes. Since most births begin at night he was born at 11:25 at night with my DH home. My Mom even made it but she was just a block away.

WHOA! Good for you! 25 minutes...wow...

[mntnmom]

2 hrs of labor with #5. But midwife was running errands, and DH was in the other room, both to give me "labor space". DH did make it, for which I'm grateful, but only because he happened to walk in. I was totally in the "zone" and it didn't even occur to me to call for him. I didn't even realize she was so close to coming until she was actually crowning.

[ColwynsMommy]

I'm a little worried about this, too. With my third child (first homebirth), I had lots of prodromal labor, but real labor started at 9am and she was born shortly before 10am. It was just me and my husband. I'm not that worried about the actual birth, because if the baby's coming that fast, everything's most likely okay. But I do worry about postpartum hemorrhage or the baby needing help getting started. Plus, just the idea of birthing without any adult help, with my three younger children there (6, 4, and almost 2) just.. does not sound very fun.

I'll be putting a kid-friendly list of phone numbers right next to the phone and drilling my oldest on how to call for help. I read up on what to do in different emergency situations when pregnant with Fiona, and will refresh my memory this time as well. I'm also hoping that 'not feeling safe' will slow labor down if nobody's around, and give my midwife time to get here.

[mion]

Thanks, everyone. Rachel, you've echoed my thoughts. My labor with #2 was the same -- once the intense contractions began, she was born very quickly. This one is riding way low and head down already (though I know that isn't a guarantee he'll stay that way) at 24 weeks. I've had bh off and on since about 16 weeks. Both of my girls came at night-time (as many like to do), so I'm hoping for that too. I did not even think about not getting in the pool if I'm on my own! Thanks for that thought -- it makes perfect sense!

[ColwynsMommy]

Yeah, this is the first time I've come remotely close to wishing to give birth at night. I've always preferred daytime, and had that confirmed when I labored all night with my second and gave birth at 4am. But it would be nice not to worry about whether or not my husband will be home. Plus, then there's the off chance we wouldn't need to call my mom for the birth, which I'm dreading.. she's our childcare.

I'm sure it will all work out fine for all of us.