Distance of Midwife

[alicia9178]

I am going to meet a possible midwife tomorrow. I really felt comfortable with her on the phone and I am crossing my fingers. However she is 2 hours away. I am not worried about the possiblilty of her missing the birth to be honest. I just do not know if that is to much to ask of someone to come 2 hours. I would be traveling to her for all of my prenatals so she would only be driving for the birth. Any thoughts?
Alicia

[Caryliz]

I don't think it's a question of whether it's fair to ask the MW if she will travel 2 hours for the birth - it's more a question of whether you can cope with 5-hour round-trip prenatal visits!!!! But seriously - just ask her. If it's out of her comfort zone, she'll tell you.

If she does say 2 hours is too far to go - do you have other options?

[dannic]

Mine lives 2 hrs 15 min away and my prenatals are at her home. Dh and I go together and it's like a date, lol. She comes for a couple at the end. She made the last birth and hpefully this one too!

I guess I'm used to travelling, tho. I travelled to a fsbc that was 3 hrs away for the first two births.

[TabithaB]

My midwife lives about 2 hours away and her partner lives about 1 1/2 hours away. I have to travel to prenatal appointments also. (1 1/2 hours) She hasn't missed a birth yet here so I am not too worried about it. It hasn't been too bad traveling so far. My son comes sometimes and we make a day of it.

[Ryensmomma]

Mine lives over 2 hours away and we do all our prenatals at her home. Its has been kind of fun going there monthly. Now that I am bigger and have to go every other week is a little tougher. But I love her! I wouldn't want to go to anyone else. I am not too worried about her missing out on the birth, but we will be educated and have our birth kit here just in case.

[laughymama]

My midwife lives an hour away but it typically takes us about an hour and a half.

DH and I go together and turn it into a road trip each time. It's kind of nice, actually.

My midwife said she was perfectly comfortable driving out here for the home visit and the birth so I believed her. I doubt a midwife would agree to it if she weren't okay with it.

[Defenestrator]

One thing that can be nice to do, when your midwife lives so far away, is to arrange local postpartum support. I often see my clients 3 times a week or so in the first week and will pop over more if there are breastfeeding problems or other issues. It is hard, though, when a midwife is looking at a 5 hour round trip to just pop over.

[dannic]

My mw comes back 48 hrs after birth and then we go see her 2 weeks after birth.

[BirthTender]

Distance of Midwife

The midwife would not have taken you on if she was unsure of the distance. I've traveled up to 5 hours when someone was in labor (had no one else due at the time) because they wanted my services. They had decided that if someone else who was due at the same time chose my services that they would travel to my quiet 5 Br 2 bath private country home to give birth. Plus, my collaborative/backup physicians are only 1/2 hours away from my home.
Karen of BirthTender