Has anyone had to travel in order to have a homebirth somewhere other than their home

[OakEmber]

I posted this on the Birth and beyond board too but this might be a better place for it, sorry if some of you end up reading it twice!

I am using a midwife, something I have always wanted to experience and well worth it of course but in order to see one I have to drive about and hour and 15 mins. I'd have to travel 30 mins to the nearest hospital anyway if I was going with a OBGYN but I pass through that city and on to the next for the midwife.

I have been planning on having a homebirth which means finding place to have one where the midwife is (apperently there are people who rent out their suites for this purpose, people who've had homebirths and want others to experience it as well). There is also the option of having my midwife deliver at the hospital but I want my DD to be involved as much as she wants to be and I also want my family to be able to all spend the first night together, DH, DD, baby and I.

Anyway, I have been really starting to question all the work and planning involved....having to bring towel, and sheets and everything that we'll need with us, I mean of course it would be entirely differnt if it was my own home and we could just have everything ready ahead of time! But I had a pretty quick first birth, 12 hrs but 4 hrs of that pushing so really it was only 8 hrs to get me to 10 cms....what I am thinking is if my labor ends up being short maybe it would be more convinient to just have it in the hospital! I just don't know....I'm only 13 weeks, LOL, so I have a long time to figure it out. At my next appt. later this month I will find out as much as I can about hospital policies and when I'd be able to leave.

I was just wondering if there is anyone out there who has any similar BTDT experiences or just advice for me.

[love2all]

Are there no mws who will travel to you?? I know around here they will trvel pretty far out into the woods/mountains- yes even over an hour. They do charge more but such is the price for rural living!!!
It sounds like you have plenty of time to look into this. Also giving a mw the heads up the minute you think it maybe labor, should still be ample time to get them there.

Good luck, do not start stressing now, something always works out.
maria

[christymama]

I just wanted to add I to will be having to travel a hour and half to have my baby who is due any day now! In my case I couldnt get a midwife.. So a home birth was out of the question for us: I am scared of not makeing it to the hospital in time and having this baby on the side of the interstate in the desert.. I dont want that!: I have fast labors and i worry what if i dont know I am in labor until the last min!!! I know how you feel is what I am tryign to say!!:LOL

[stafl]

I drove four hours for my homebirth-away-from-home.
While there is a midwife run birthing center just over an hour away, I had to make the best decision for my unique situation (vbac, among other things).
I was planning to go up there and stay until baby was born. Ended up going there a few days early because I lost my plug and just felt that things were getting close.
Even though I only had three total hours of labor, I was there in plenty of time.
As far as planning goes, I had everything packed in the trunk of my car a month ahead of time and didn't have to think about it at all.

[Elyssia]

my midwife traveled over an hour
to attend my last two births
(the first one, i lived in the same town w/ her)
she had several other clients in my city
and also travels to rural locations to attend births

i'm thinking you could find a midwife who
could come to you
at least for the last few prenatals and the birth
maybe you can travel to your earlier appts.

that's a hard call
b/c i can't imagine how uncomfortable it would be
to travel a distance while in labor
unless you're having real nice slow early labor

best of luck

[stafl]

The trick is to not travel in labor, but to go early.

at least in my situation, the one and only semi-local homebirth midwife (an hour away) was not the best choice for me. My concern was what if I had to be transferred to a hospital. I needed midwives who commanded respect from the back-up obs, and went way out of my way to have the best care-providers for me and my circumstances.

[OakEmber]

Thanks for all the feedback ladies.

I definately won't be able to find a midwife to come to my house, there are only two in the area, both in the same city serving a large geographic area...and they only have hospital privalages at the hosptal there so I'd rather be close to it incase I had to end up transfering. They don't feel they can come to my house as it would put them 3 hrs away from thier other clients who may need them as well. As nice as it would be to be at home, I don't consider that an option.

I don't really mind traveling for the appt. it's a nice excuse to go shopping in the city, he he. And we schedule them so for about 5 weeks apart at this point (she wants to see me every 4-6 weeks depending on how I am feeling). Of course later she'll see me more often but there is a good chance I can come every 3 instead of two weeks, etc. And if I was seeing an OB/GYN I'd have to go out of town as well, though only half an hour....I figure it is more worth my while to see the midwife for an hour than drive half an hour to see someone for 15 mins!

Christymama, I will be waiting to hear how it goes for you, let me know! And good luck!

I do hope to leave early, as soon as I feel any contractions at all or my water breaks. My water was the first sign of impending labour last time, and then contractions started 3 hrs later, that would be nice if the same type of pattern happens again (of course I can't really count on it, LOL).