If you don't make it to the hospital. . .

[homemademom]

After reading the precipitous birth thread, I'm curious. If you're planning a hospital birth and have had prenatal care all along with an OB/CNM but don't make it to the hospital before the baby is born, do you still go to the hospital after the birth? Do you go right away? Do you call your doctor/CNM and let them know? Do they insist you come in? Just wonderin'!

[VillageMom6]

I am planning a hospital birth but I live 45 minutes away and I've had a precipitous birth in the past.

Just last night I made a list of supplies to keep on hand in case baby comes unexpectedly at home or in the car.

If that happens, I personally would go to the hospital immediately afterwards. I have a tendency to bleed heavily and that worries me. Plus, I just plain like recovering for several days in the hospital. I'm looking forward to it!

On the other hand, I've heard some talk around here that some hospitals freak out if the baby was born in an "unsterile" environment and want to treat the babies in the NICU/Special Care nursery. No way. I'm going to ask my midwife how it's handled if a mom and baby arrive after the birth. If I don't like the answer, I may rethink things.

[kitkat5505]

If that happened to me (not likely with how long my labors are, always have plenty of time lol) I would call my old midwife. She's not allowed to attend a vba2c birth, but I bet she would be happy to check me and baby out afterward if I had an accidental UC. I would only go to the hospital if I could tell right away something was wrong with me or baby.

[BetsyS]

We talked about this last time (didn't happen; I had a scheduled c-section without labor for a transverse baby, but I could hope!).

I use a hospital an hour away. BUT, if I delivered at home, I would have taken the baby to our pediatrician 5 minutes away either then or the next AM. For myself, I would have taken myself to the local hospital ER where they have OBs on call 24/7 if I thought I needed suturing. I would not have checked the baby in as a patient there, though. And, otherwise, we'd have stayed home.

[Kelly1101]

Originally Posted by homemademom

After reading the precipitous birth thread, I'm curious. If you're planning a hospital birth and have had prenatal care all along with an OB/CNM but don't make it to the hospital before the baby is born, do you still go to the hospital after the birth? Do you go right away? Do you call your doctor/CNM and let them know? Do they insist you come in? Just wonderin'!

I birth in the hospital, and I would definitely still go to the hospital after the birth. I'd want the baby checked out, I'd want myself checked out and make sure I wasn't bleeding too much and to fix any tears and make sure no retained placenta, etc. I'd go right away, but then if I didn't make it to the hospital I'd probably be on the way in the car while giving birth anyway.

Because I'm not planning a home birth, I'm not set up for or prepared for a home birth, so I wouldn't feel comfortable just staying at home.