Is this birth center too far away?

[JoyNChrist]

Since I've jumped on the unmedicated-birth bandwagon, I've become increasingly concerned about delivering in a hospital. While the hospital I had planned to deliver in is a great facility and my obstetrician is very supportive, I just can't help feeling like everything would go better at a birth center. I guess I'm still kind of afraid that I'll cave in to the epidural if it's so readily available at the hospital, and I worry about them actually taking my birth plan seriously.

But the only birth center around is a 1.5 hour drive from my home. It looks like a great place, and the midwives I've talked to there are SO supportive. I'm just wondering if planning to deliver there is a feasible option. I know that most first-time moms have longer labors, so I don't necessarily think I'd have a problem getting there in time. But still...I have this horrible vision of delivering in the back seat of my Yukon while DH freaks out and tries not to wreck. Not a particularly comforting image...

So, what do y'all think? Is this a feasible option, or should I just suck it up and go to the hospital?

(Note - home birth is not an option for us. First, there aren't any midwives available in my area to attend, and I don't feel comfortable with an unassisted birth. Also, DH has adamantly refused to allow a home birth - he's been relatively flexible with all my other "hippy ideas," as he calls them - lol - but this is the one thing he just won't budge on. And I figure that if he's comfortable with the situation, he'll be able to support me better, which will make me more comfortable. So no home birth for us - at least not this time. )

[Emilie]

I would talk to the mw's there. You would have to be comfortable with leaving early in your labor and spending time there I would think.

I do not think it is too far.

[greenwest]

I don't think thats too far at all.

[stacyann21]

You could drive to the area in early labor and walk around a mall or park. There's an outside mall right next to my birthing center and that is what I plan on doing. The center is about 45 minutes away from my house.

[JoyNChrist]

Thanks, y'all make me feel better! We're going for a tour of the birth center next Thursday, so I'll be able to discuss my concerns with the midwives then.

And by the way stacyann21, I love your name!

[stacyann21]

BTW, I was going to name this baby Avery if it was a girl!

[tiffany21074]

our birth with dd was at a birth center 1.5 hours away . i did have a very fast labor, and was pushing for the last hour in the back of my hubby's suv! but everything is fine, and if it worries you, then educate yourself! read all about emergency childbirth, so if you are like me and pushing in the back of the car, it will be fine! i didn't read about emergency childbirth, but instinctivly knew what to do, like you will! now we definately know we will have a homebirth next time!

[danav]

I live 1.5 hrs from our birth center - we lived 10 minutes away when my first two were born, but by the time I was pg with #3 we had moved. I did NOT want a hospital birth and loved my birth center, so I decided to go back despite the distance, even though I have really fast births.

When the time came, we left as soon as I knew it was really labor. When we arrived I was 9 cm. I had an absolutely beautiful, fast water birth about 45 minutes later! I prayed a lot over this birth, and God's hands were ALL over it - it could not have gone more perfectly.

Throughout the pregnancy I was concerned about making it in time, but I had an overall peace about it. After you tour the birth center and meet the midwives, hopefully you'll have a better idea of whether this will work for you or not...if it feels right to you, 1.5 hrs is not too much to deal with to have the kind of birth experience you want!