Is this a crazy question?

[MyFullHouse]

Has anyone used homebirthing as a back-up plan?

Dh does not like the idea of hb. Personally, I'm less than thrilled with our emergency transport/hospital options, which is why I traveled over an hour (and over the state line) for my last birth. But that also makes me nervous about having a hb.

I live on a mountain, and I'm due in the winter. At holiday time, no less. And this is a vacation area, so traffic could potentially be crazy, with or without snow. I'm genuinely terrified of giving birth in the car, especially considering the back seats would likely be filled with kids!

It snowed the weekend of my 4th baby's due date (in the middle of April!), and I completely freaked out. I made dh take me to a hotel near the hospital when the snow started, until it cleared up. (The little beast waited 2 more weeks to show himself.) I can't spend several weeks in a hotel around the holidays, lol!

I'm trying to work on dh. In the meantime, I've sent an awkward email to a local hb DEM. I feel like it isn't "right" to ask her to serve as a back up plan, but homebirths usually have hospital back up plans, right? So is it *really* that much different, philosophically speaking? (Obviously, it could be a "staffing" issue if she were to have to turn down other clients, which I would not expect her to do.)

FWIW, I've been completely satisfied with my last two hospital births in my current chosen hospital, with the same midwives. This is all about the travel for me. My current mws do provide homebirth services in their area, so I have no fear of my primary hcps dissuading me.

It just feels so backwards, being in this position!

[dianakaye]

I think it's best if you're prepared for all likely scenarios. I doubt a midwife would be offended, but she might not feel comfortable. Just call around- doesn't hurt to introduce yourself and explain your situation to a midwife!

[BtotheG]

One thing to think about is if you are planning to have a hb as a back-up because external factors might prevent you from getting to the hospital, how likely will it be that your midwife can get to you? If you're snowed in, won't she be too?

[MyFullHouse]

Originally Posted by BtotheG

One thing to think about is if you are planning to have a hb as a back-up because external factors might prevent you from getting to the hospital, how likely will it be that your midwife can get to you? If you're snowed in, won't she be too?

It's definitely a possibility!
However, she's about 8 miles "down the road", while my regular mws and hospital are about 70 miles away - 20 miles of back roads and 50 miles of interstate. (And no ambulance will transport me there!)

In a pinch, we *could detour to the hospital that is 20 miles of back roads and 15 miles of interstate, but they are definitely not normal-birth-friendly.

Dh does plan to be at home as much as possible after my due date (I haven't gone early yet!), but there is the potential that I could be home alone with the kids, and he could be even farther away than either hospital.

I'm a very relaxed *birther, but I am the paranoid type when it comes to planning the logistics!

[MyFullHouse]

I got a lovely email back from the hb midwife. She doesn't seem to mind being in that position at all, which is wonderful! Of course, then I realized that, if I do go to the hospital, there's no way my insurance company is going to cover a back-up fee, lol.

Maybe that will help to be a push in the right direction for dh!
I still genuinely fear having to transport from hb to a local hospital, but not quite as much as I fear being all alone or on the highway!