Am I crazy to want a home birth?

[Ryensmomma]

I really am in need of some feedback of like minded woman. Am I crazy to want a home birth? I live in a rural community of 800 people. We live 72 miles from the nearest hospital that is in a rural area as well. This is my second baby. I am 34 weeks. My pregnancy is going well. Everything is measuring great, baby is in a good position, Blood Pressure good. I am active. I am confident in my body to be able to birth this baby well. I have an amazing supportive husband. My mid-wife is one of the best in the state but she will also have a long drive to get here. Our local EMT's are volunteer, but have won awards for outstanding services. So my question is - am I taking too much risk being out so far from a hospital if there happened to be a problem?
Thanks

[lovebeingamomma]

There is risk in every situation, hospital or home. So no you're not crazy, home birth is a viable option for you. But YOU have to be comfortable with it, no matter what anyone else thinks.

And I would talk to you midwife, go over any fears you have, she will be able to tell you the specific risks and how she handles emergencies, and you could decide from there.

[VillageMom6]

You're certainly not crazy for wanting a home birth. I wouldn't even say that you are crazy for having a home birth, even though your circumstances are beyond my comfort level.

I live out in the country, 45 minutes away from the hospital and that's too far for me. I was just reading a book by Suzanne Arms... she who stridently supports home birth... and she feels that 30 minutes is the maximum safe distance.

I have a friend who planned a "home birth" at a Residence Inn near the hospital.

What does your midwife think? Have you talked to your local EMTs about their knowledge and experience with birth complications?

I wish you all the best!!

[Defenestrator]

I wonder if there is medevac or other helicopter-based emergency services where you are. I know that some of the midwives I'm friends with who work in very remote areas have contact with helicopter services in case they are needed. Might be an option in a life or death situation.

That suggestion aside, I don't think you are crazy. Good luck!

[Ryensmomma]

My midwife is willing to attend my birth out here, but she continues to say that everything must continue to "look perfect". If something changes last minute we will not do a home birth. I haven't talked to our EMTs kind of out of fear of what they are going to think or tell everyone else in town. Word travels fast out here. I do know they have delivered dozens of babies in route to the hospital!

[VillageMom6]

Originally Posted by Ryensmomma

I haven't talked to our EMTs kind of out of fear of what they are going to think or tell everyone else in town. Word travels fast out here.

Oh, I understand that! Our local fire chief belongs to our church. Everyone is related to everyone out here.

I do know they have delivered dozens of babies in route to the hospital!

The difference, I would think, is that those were probably "normal" births that were expected to happen at the hospital but progressed much quicker than anticipated. In your case, you'd be in the ambulance because of a complication. I'd want to know how skilled and experienced the EMTs are in handling complications in an ambulance for over an hour.

One thing I considered was that telling the EMTs ahead of time that I was planning a homebirth would give them time to brush up on their knowledge and skills.

Even if you plan a hospital birth, you might want to have some supplies on hand for at home. You may be one of those who go quicker than expected!

[somegirl99]

See if you can get insurance for your local air transport. Usually the insurance is cheap but an uninsured helicopter ride is an insane amount of money.

We are in somewhat similar circumstances, live in a town of 200 people, nearest hospital is about an hour away (under the best of circumstances, could be much longer), closest paramedics (10 minutes away) do not have an ambulance, that has to come from farther away. An emergency at home could well mean being air-lifted out. We are choosing to do a hospital birth, but will try to have some supplies in the car just in case.

[Ryensmomma]

somegirl, that is an excellent suggestion. My husband and I were just talking about that if there were an emergency at the hospital it would require life-flight because they don't have emergency services for infant care there. I may be better off with a midwife that has more tricks up her sleeve to deal with emergencies in a less invasive manor. If there where an emergency at home I would need a helicopter to the big hospital anyway.

[SublimeBirthGirl]

I would have a homebirth no matter how far I lived from the hospital.

[beckyand3littlemonsters]

no i don't think your crazy to want a home birth, would you really want to travel 72 miles in labour anyway to go for a hospital birth?

[L J]

I am with Becky - who wants to travel 72 miles in a car while in labor?

In all seriousness, yes, I would homebirth, no doubt, if I were in your situation. I live in a small town of about 200 people, with the closest hospital being about 45 minutes away. The small police/fire/EMT squad has their building about a mile from me, but I have no idea if they would be prepared to help us deal with complications should the need arise.

Assuming my body doesn't let me know that something different needs to happen, this baby will be born at home (unassisted) at the end of this summer, 45 miles from a hospital.

I think the main thing you need to consider is your own comfort level. If its going to be in the back of your mind throughout the labor that you are 72 miles from a hospital, is that going to hinder your birthing experience?

[HappyMommy2]

Originally Posted by SublimeBirthGirl

I would have a homebirth no matter how far I lived from the hospital.

Yep! Me too!! Women have been doing it since the dawn of time.

[annethcz]

I would absolutely have a homebirth if I was in your situation. Your pregnancy is going well, your midwife is happy with your health, and you had a non-eventful first birth. I understand living in a small town. I'm a little closer to a hospital than you are, but even if I lived further out I'd still choose homebirth if I was pregnant again.

[kittywitty]

I think that sounds completely reasonable. Kudos for having good EMTs and an amazing midwife! Those are hard to find here!

[cathicog]

I would hb in a heartbeat also, and I would, as a matter of preparation, have supplies for a UC on hand. Second babies often come faster than the first ones did, and if it's that fast, then everything is usually fine...It's better to have the supplies and not need them, than need them and not have them yet. I am thinking the usual homebirth supplies, with a Lady's Mantle herb bottle handy for post-partum hemmhorage, and stuff like that. You can see the sticky on the UC forum page....

[goldenwillow]

Whoops! Made a mistake

[goldenwillow]

Originally Posted by SublimeBirthGirl

I would have a homebirth no matter how far I lived from the hospital.

On the same page here!

[dziwozony]

I had 2 homebirths 1 hour from the nearest hospital. Everything went well & I have no regrets! I felt that the wellbeing of myself & my babies was at much higher risk of being disrespected & damaged at the hospital than at home.

[MsBlack]

As others have said, you may want to consider birthing at a hotel closer to the hospital IF that makes you feel safer...because feeling safe enough helps birth go better, no matter what other conditions are in place. Or, maybe at a friend's house; I did that once, when I was planning to UC and lived too far from the hospital to feel safe at home. It was great--but I chose the friend and her home pretty carefully (was planning to have her there anyway, as a doula/support person).

And if I were your mw--I'd insist that you prepare for UC, and help you to prepare. Yes, 2nd births statistically can go pretty fast--and you never know where your mw will be when you call, or if she'll be at another birth then....but that's just me, and I've already said I'm a UC mom Still--2nd births often are pretty fast (not always--but often), and in the majority of cases, a fast birth is also a normal birth. Being prepared to catch the baby, keep an eye out for problems, know when to call EMS if needed--it couldn't hurt.

have fun! And oh yeah, I would homebirth no matter where I lived--hospitals are for sick people or for laboring women/babies known to be having problems.

[Ryensmomma]

Thanks ladies!
We have decided to go ahead and have the home birth! I have all my supplies ready and we feel really confident this is the right decision for us. I have all along until a little shadow of doubt crept in but I have worked through that. Wish us luck.