How far is too far to the nearest hospital?

[LillianB]

I am very interested in planning a home birth for our first baby (due late December) but have some anxiety about getting to the hospital if I have to. The nearest hospital (which I really, really don't care for) is 20 minutes away. Is that too far if I have to make an emergency transfer?

Another option would be to give birth at a birth center that is 60 minutes away, but 5 minutes away from the hospital that I do like. Just not sure how realistic a 60 minute care ride is, even in very early labor.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

[mama2toomany]

This totally varies per person. I deliver very fast, so the baby would most certainly be born in the car.

[VillageMom6]

Oh my goodness, I was just coming here to ask that very same question!

We live 45 minutes away from a major hospital. Is that too far away to plan for a homebirth?

I thought I had heard somewhere that most homebirth advocates recommend that you live within 20 minutes to the nearest hospital?

[fruitfulmomma]

30 minutes is what is recommended. That is how long hospitals have to get an on-call anesthesiologist there.

We live about 25 miles from ours. I have done a non-emergency transport there with no problems except extreme discomfort.

I was also taken by ambulance to the hospital during my last pregnancy because I passed out from low-potassium due to having the flu. We do live in town and have a fire house here, so that may make a difference, if you are not in town, but I could hear the sirens coming before my mil had been on the phone 2 minutes. Ambulance took a little while longer but I know they sit out around different areas in the county. I think we went without the lights and still got there pretty quickly. They also have Flight for Life which if it is a major life or death is what you are going to get.

VillageMom6 - you said major hospital, is there a smaller hospital closer that does births? If so, I would think they should be equipped to handle birth emergencies.

[MommyMatsumoto]

My view is that it would take a hospital around 15-30 minutes (depending on if there is OR staff on site around the clock) to get an OR prepped and have everyone ready for surgery. So if you call when you're heading to the hospital, the 20 minutes it takes you to drive there may be the time they would need to get ready anyway. Personally, I will be planning a home birth for my next child and the nearest hospital is 20 minutes away.

[Lineymom]

I have 3 kids. My first 2 were born at a hospital over an hour away. I went there because there was a CNM. No problem getting there in time (too early the first time ) Anyway, the nearest hospital is 30 min. away and we had a HB last time I kinda think that the distance from hospital that each midwife feels comfortable with is different. Mine had no problem with 50 mins, which is actually our states max and how long her birthcenter is from the nearest hospital.

[[e-mail]]

I live about an hour from our nearest hospital. When I gave birth I used a midwife with a birthing cabin in town. That way I could have the homebirth I wanted and be right there should I need an emergency transfer. It was the perfect combination with back up plan for my new mamma mind, not sure what to expect, but wanting to cover all the basis. I personally liked that plan cuz then I would have the homebirth while eliminating any potential stressful thoughts while in labor (about being an hour away and all of the what ifs...) What ended up happening though was that it was our first and I had no idea what an easy labor I was having (I was sure I had plenty of time). I will never forget piddling around, feeding our wood heater, talking with family, the urge to throw up and realizing I was moving very quickly from labor to transition. We jumped in the car and about 5 minutes down the bumpy road I HAD TO PUSH!!!! My dh has always wanted to be a racecar driver so he kicked it into action and we raced to the midwife. DS was born 5 minutes after walking in the door at the cabin. No need for the hospital but I was glad to know that if I had needed it it would have been close.
My recommendation....have the baby at the birthcenter with the hospital close by as back up...and go to the birth center when you first start labor. Trying NOT to push while you're in the car is not only nearly impossible but adds stress you just don't need!
One other thought...I had a winter baby too (jan 08) and notice you're due in late December. I'm not sure where you're at but the weather here is always questionable that time of year so that was the other good thing about the birth cabin, or birthing center in your case. If there's bad weather moving in you might be able to arrive earlier.

[mediumcrunch]

Every mom (and midwife) has a different comfort level. I'm relatively rural. It is 25 minutes to the nearest hospital which is NOT equipped to do an emergncy C-section or anything beyond attempt to stabilize me/the baby and send me via ambulance or helicopter to a larger hospital. There isn't even a full-time OB office in that town let alone one on staff at the hospital. It is 40 minutes to a hospital with OB. About 45 to a hospital with OB and a NICU. Best case if I call 911 is 10-15 minutes for deputies (possibly less if they are on our road by chance) and who knows how long for the squad-at least 15-20 minutes and they would just take me to the little hospital that can't do anything.
Some women do homebirth out here with this scenario. Most don't even if they would like to.

[aloneinid]

You'll probably be fine with a 60 minute care ride for your first labor. I had a very quick first labor (4.5hrs) and a 45 minute drive to my midwife's birthing "home". I waited until the pain was intolerable (I was thinking about getting in my own tub- good thing I didn't) and arrived and hour and a half before the baby was born. The car ride wasn't the best, but I survived it.

Your other option sounds fine, too. The chances of needing that hospital are slim (check your midwife's transfer statistics) anyway, and if it IS an emergency you probably won't care where you are as long as they are equipped to help you.

[laughymama]

I will be about 25-30 minutes away from my preferred hospital. There's another that is 10-15 minutes away but they would not be my first choice in a true emergency.

I made the choice on my own comfort level and my midwife's. I feel very much at ease being 30 minutes away.

[LillianB]

Thanks so much, you all. This is helpful. I'd really rather birth at home and am trying to weigh the best case scenario against the small chance that something terrible might happen. I don't like the idea of making a choice based on a very slim likelihood, but it's a worry just the same. So many unknowns!

[stellercrys]

We live about 50 mins from the nearest hospital that will deliver babies. (there is one 10 mins away, but they don't deliver ).
My midwife is also located 50mins away since there are no midwives in our town...

I've been debating about homebirth for awhile because of the time/distance, but have decided that I want my homebirth.
I'm not high risk or anything, so I'm fairly confident that things will go smoothly.
With my DS (hospital birth) he was a quick and easy labor and there were no problems, and although I know that every birth is different, I feel better knowing that I don't have a history of hard labors/problems.

So it's the homebirth route for me.

Good luck in deciding which route you want to take. It will ultimately come down to what you and your partner are comfortable with.