TTC #1 with a crazy mobile life - Help me see how I can do this!

[WTHamI?]

I'll try to keep it short but I'm not usually very good at that, lol. We are full time RVers and travel with my husband's job. He is NOT self-employed, his company tells us where to go and we go, often with little notice (most notice was a week and a half, least was three hours!) When we first started "officially" TTC in March we had been staying pretty much in the same region, within about two hours of his company's headquarters, and moving to a different jobsite every few months. My plan was to have a midwife in the city where his company is based (huge city, lots of amazing midwives) and travel to appointments from where we were (which to that point hadn't been more than a couple hours away), and plan either a birth center or home-away-from-home birth (hotel or something). If we were in a different town when I got close to the birth, I would probably go stay in the city when my due date approached and call for DH when labor started.

However, as of last month a lot of that has changed. His company has been contracting more storm work since the economy is crap and there are no new construction jobs going on. We are now in a different state, moving every couple WEEKS, and may be going as far as three states away for the next job. If I do get pregnant, I have no idea which state we will be living in when I'm due and have no way of knowing ahead of time. I'd like to think his company would be somewhat accommodating to that situation and put DH on work near the city, but I'm not counting on it, and there may not be local work available then anyway.

So I'd just like some logistical advice and some encouragement. I would prefer not to wait to TTC because DH is already in his 40s and we are trying to have our first baby of hopefully 2 or 3. Changing jobs is not an option, at all. Ugh, I'm just feeling so all over the place (literally, ha) and have no idea how to do this, but don't want to wait too long and end up never having kids. Thanks for listening.

[brooklynbabymama]

Reading about your unique situation, I'm reminded of Ina May's stories about birthing babies in the caravan which settled and became The Farm. I suggest you grab a copy of Spiritual Midwifery for some moral support. Things have a way of working out. Good luck making that baby!

[scarletjane]

It's funny... I think the old me, the more practical, responsible, plan-everything-out me would have said that you should try to be in a stable situation before conceiving and that you should know what that will look like before getting yourself pregnant.

But I see the whole world differently now. And that new me says that things really do have a way of working themselves out and that the most important thing in this whole crazy life we lead is family and love and making your dreams happen. So just do it. And then fly by the seat of your pants, my friend.

xo

[Stevi]

I'm with ScarletJane... Don't worry about the birth, you can deal with it when the time comes. I say keep concentrating on your DH and TTC!!!

[Virginia884]

I say go for it! Details will work themselves out. What about a midwife in your hometown who will "meet" with you via webcam? Then when you get close to your DD you can do the "home away from home-birth". That's the first thing that popped into my head. Good luck!

[jenger]

Agreed!

Cross the birthing bridge when you come to it! It WILL work out!

Go forth, woman, and get get pregnant!

[Banana731]

Do you have medical insurance?

1. Do prenatals with regular docs. Explain your situation to the clinics. You can probably find one that will fit you in for a next day appt. Or maybe you can go to a hospital for them. You don't need that many prenatals anyway. Maybe some hb midwives might do prenatals for you and only charge you for that part of the service. Midwives are pretty flexible people. Either way, get copies of those records and keep that folder with you.

2. Does your dh have vacation time? How much? Maybe you could take a couple of weeks off when you hit 40wks? Stay in one spot and chances are good that you'll give birth sometime in that 2 weeks, most women do. Then for pp care, the same thing as prenatal.

I know MW's don't love taking on last minute clients, but you have a very unique situation. I think you'd definitely find some accommodating ones, especially if you got good prenatal care.

Have you ever thought about UC?

And yes, what everyone else said. You can wait forever, they'll never be a "perfect" time. Your life sounds like a wonderful adventure! Things will work out!

[ZoeJane'sMommy]

I agree with everyone. Even if you DH had a stable job in the same city there is always a chance that he could loose his job while you are prego. Nothing will go as planned even if you plan everything to the T. You should go for it if you know you and DH are ready for the ride. There are alot of women who plan everything to the last minute and then you know what they don't even make it to the hospital before giving birth or their midwife for some reason doesn't make it to the house. One thing I have learned is you cannot plan the birth of a baby. So you just have to know that you will love your child and give them the best you can everything else will work out.

I really like the idea of keeping all your prenatal doc records with you so when you have to see a new doc for an appointment they can see what has been going on all along!!