Water HBA3C - Many questions.

[GranolaBoho]

I'm not pregnant yet, but we're trying.

I've been searching for months for a Midwife in my area, but couldn't find any in 100 miles. Then I started looking 200+ miles away, but within state. I contacted over 50 midwives in the state and finally found one willing to see me for a VBA3C.

We live in a tiny town, with one bad hospital. The Midwife is a 4-5 hour drive away from us, in a large city with good hospitals. We have 3 children, one who's starting school this fall. My mother lives half-way between us and the midwife.

My plan is this:
I go into labor - and know for sure "this is it".
Call or go pick up child from school and let them know he wont be in for a few days (if this applies).
Call husband, pack kids in the car.
Drive 2 hours to my moms, drop kids off.
Drive 2 more hours to the hotel where midwife will meet me.
Labor and birth, recover for 2 days and have postpartum visit.
Come back home.

• How far is too far away to drive to her? I'm worried about being stuck in the middle of no-where, in labor and having the baby. It's literally the middle of no-where for 100+ miles.....
  
• The Hilton there has suites with large jacuzzi tubs - I'm planing for a water birth. Do you think a hotel jacuzzi is a good option or should I look into buying/renting a birth tub?

She's the only one out of 50+ midwifes who said yes to me. I know that I'll continue to look until I get pregnant, so I do have time on my side. My original hope was to find someone willing to travel to me, even if I had to offer extra incentive to get her to travel, but this one really seems like she can't/doesn't want to travel. Which, that's fine...I'm just worried about all the details...who's going to watch the kids, what about our eldest school, will we make it to her on time..etc etc.

[thorn]

Is there any way that you could stay with your mom for the last month or so of the pregnancy? I know school might be a consideration, but you could try to plan the pregnancy around summer vacation.

As far as the tub situation, I would want a birthing tub. I would be concerned with the cleanliness of a hotel jacuzzi tub as well as the comfort, birth pools have softer sides and tons of room. Although I guess you could pack bleach as part of your luggage and have your hubby/doula/midwife clean out the tub before you got in it.

[coraljean]

There are actually some midwives who will travel anywhere in the country to attend births. I think there are at least two of them on the ICAN yahoo group. One is named Sherri Holley and I am pretty sure she will attend a VBAMC, but I know there are others out there too. You should be able to find out more if you google "traveling midwife".

It's hard to say whether 4 hours is too far to drive. It really just depends on your labor. I drove 1.5 hours last time but that ended up being a bummer since there was a big snowstorm and we had to basically move to that town for a week before the birth which was expensive and stressful (I went to 42 weeks).

You could also consider staying a town with a nice birth center for a few weeks, like the Farm in TN. At least then you could maybe stay in a cottage or something rather than a hotel.

Good luck! I hope you find a solution that works for you. I know that others have done what you are considering, and have been successful.

Coral Jean
Mama to Dylan c/s 12/20/08
Expecting again in December, planning HBAC

[phathui5]

It sounds like you're planning a lot of driving while you're in labor. Is there someone else who can pick the kids up and keep them for you rather than you having to drop them off at your mom's?

[babycatcher12]

I think a traveling midwife might be your best bet or staying with your mom the last bit of your pregnancy. Check with ICAN. I got a couple of names from there for traveling midwives.

Something else to consider is what about your prenatals? Are you going to drive that far for each visit?

You could also consider staying a town with a nice birth center for a few weeks, like the Farm in TN.

FYI The Farm will not take VBAMC. And the last I heard weren't taking any VBACs unless they had double layer sutures. I'm not sure if that's still the case.

I would definitely either rent a birth tub or have DH clean out the hotel one with bleach and run at least one if not two tubs full (with jets on) through with bleach water. Those things are scuzzy.

Another option might be to labor at your moms. Will the midwife drive there to assist with your birth?

Good luck and I hope you get the birth you want (and deserve)! I'm planning a HBA3C myself (anytime now, so understand how stressful planning the logistics can be).

[GranolaBoho]

I am pleased to say that I found a midwife closer to me. Still a 2 1/2 hour drive, but I knew I couldn't find one closer. She's awesome, I love her so much. She is so supportive and we're on the exact same page as far as what I want, what to expect, what we're willing to do/boundaries we'll push. I pray we have a sticky bean, and that I get to finally have my VBAC! The plan is a Water HBA3C in a hotel near the hospital (our small town's hospital couldn't handle an emergency issue, so we're going to make the drive to a larger city.). I'm so excited for October/November to get here!

Now I just need to find a good Doula!