unusual issue at 1st hb, would you do another?

[Lirazel]

I loved everything about my 1st homebirth.  The unusual issue was that it took 4 hours to deliver my placenta.  It turned out that instead of being a smooth round placenta it was bumpy along the edges so we think it couldn't shear off as easily after DS was born. 

I know 4 hours is crazy long but I thought my midwife handled it all very well and was getting things packed up to bring me to the hospital when I finally pushed it out.

Now I'm pregnant again and definitely want to do a homebirth again.

So my double question is: What do you think are the chances of my having a weird placenta like that a second time? and Would you do a homebirth again knowing that it could happen again?

[just__angel]

As far as likelyhood of a repeat- no idea but Id definately do it again.

 I had various placenta issues with 6 of my births- 2 'requiring' a D&C. This last baby was my first homebirth and oddly enough, I had no problems at all with delivering the placenta. Unless there is a real medical reason for a funky placenta, Id take it as each birth is different.

[OTMomma]

Hands down no doubt, I would do another home both, especially if I thought there was a chance it would happen again. I was told today that at my local hospital a mother only has 10 minutes to deliver the placenta before the doctor will intervene which I am certain is not something I would want if it could be avoided.

You should talk to your midwife about the issue and the chance it could happen again and how she would handle that.

[pieceofjess]

I think you should talk to the midwife about it and tell her (if you are going to use her again) that you request to transfer to the hospital if it takes longer than maybe an hour to expel next time. Four hours is way too long and she should have transferred you hours sooner.

[poetgoddess813]

I photographed the homebirth of a friend a few years back and she had similar troubles -- I would say it was probably bordering on an hour or so before she delivered the placenta. This was her third birth -- she had never had that issue before and didn't have it at her next birth a couple of years later. It's worth mentioning your concerns to any potential midwives, but I wouldn't think it would have to be something to hold you back from a second hb if that's what you desire.

[Just1More]

Hmmm.  My understanding is that some women do just take longer to deliver the placenta.  Four hours may not actually be "crazy long".  I don't think this would hold me back at all.  I could be totally off-target, but I think it is not uncommon amoung home-birthers to allow 12 or more hours for the placenta, longer if all is well. 

[poetgoddess813]

Originally Posted by pieceofjess 

I think you should talk to the midwife about it and tell her (if you are going to use her again) that you request to transfer to the hospital if it takes longer than maybe an hour to expel next time. Four hours is way too long and she should have transferred you hours sooner.

Is there any particular reason you feel four hours is too long? If a midwife is practicing expectant management, and all indications are that the mother is doing absolutely fine, I'm not sure why she would need to transfer an hour into the third stage.