question for all who have homebirthed...

[wolfmom]

I am just beginning to look into the option of homebirth and was wondering if you all could tell me how far from the hospital you lived. I am concerned that we might not be close enough in case something should go wrong. How long would it take for you to get to your nearest hospital if needed and did any of you have to go there? If so, how did it work out? I would appreciate any input you ladies have. thanks a bundle!
-wolfmom

[Mothernature]

I was about 30 min. from the nearest hospital at the time. The real issue here though is not how close you are in case something goes wrong, but visualizing a complication free labor and delivery so that you can make that your reality. Your fears will likely contribute to any problems you might have.

[LuvMy2Kidz]

We lived across the street from the paramedics :LOL And the hospital was about 5 min. away. But we had a fast 2 hour labor with no complications.

[khrisday]

We lived about 20 minutes away from 2 different hospitals and we DID have to rush the baby there. I will spare you the long, dramatic story, but I will say that I would choose homebirth again in a heartbeat.
And I will add that even if you fully trust your body and your midwife, baby may have it's own ideas.

[MelKnee]

We're about 10 minutes from the hospital.

Wasn't an issue.

[georgia]

We live about 20 minutes from closest hosp---but an hour from where I would want to go. After figuring all that out in the beginning---worry work of pregnancy!---it was never an issue. The great thing is there are very few true birth +emergencies+---most trouble is spotted much earlier so rushing off, willy nilly, to a hospital is only something you'd see on TV, in *most* cases!

[Adamarie]

homebirth rules!

I had both my daughters at home, the youngest was born 1/24/03!
I live way out in the country, almost an hour to the nearest hospital. I discussed the emergency situation with my midwife.
Part of my confidence stemmed from her confidence. She had been to over 600 births in her career, and that didn't count all the ones she was not the main attendant for. She had been doing this for over twenty years. She told me that if there was a need to go to the hospital, it would be an obvious thing. In other words, she would know in plenty of time, before it got to the point of being "an emergency".
Confidence is everything when it comes to homebirth. You must not only believe in it intellectually, you must know it with your heart.
I knew in my heart that each child would be safe, because I would be safe, surrounded by only my own things, my DH, and my midwife, and one other attendant.
Both times were bueatiful and wonderful, something every mother should be able to cherish the memory of.

[elfinbaby]

We are within a few miles. I don't worry about transport too much because I have confidence that if there is a complication, my mw will catch any irregularities early on and transport before there is a problem. That's the way mws describe it to me.

I agree with everything Adamarie said. It's definitely about confidence in the natural process and your mws skills.

[indigolilybear]

We lived about 5 minutes from one w/our first birth and about 20 minutes to one hospital w/o and OB dept. (that would've taken us obviously if there was an emergency) or about 40 minutes to one that had an OB dept.

with the first one, it made me feel safer. W/the second one, it didn't really bother me. as someone else said, most emergencies are not dire and we would've had time to get there most likely. But I wasn't planning on going there anyway!!

[JesseMomme]

I was about 30 mins from a hosp I would want to go to, 15 mins away from a hosp I would never dream of setting foot in. But it was a non issue for me really. I fully trusted my baby was well and that we would birth just fine. I fully trusted my instincts to tell me if something didn't feel right.

[Peppamint]

Like Jesse- I was 10 minutes away from TWO hospitals that I wouldn't ever go to for anything (unless I'd bleed to death before I could get to the hospital 30 minutes away).

I'm 30 minutes away from a hospital I would go to for a true emergency.

[cottonwood]

For my last birth I was about an hour from the hospital I would prefer to go to, but obviously that would only work in a non-ermegency situation and I can't envision an non-emergency reason for going to the hospital to give birth, so that was pretty much out. The close hospital is about 15 minutes away. One thing that made me feel better about the distance is that even in a true emergency in which a cesarean must be done, it still takes time for the hospital to prepare for the cesarean, usually a minimum of about 30 minutes. So as long as you're in that time frame distance-wise, you're no worse off transporting than you would be just sitting around the hospital waiting for them to get ready for you.

[birthinglau]

I live 1 min. from the closest hosp (can see it outside the window right now), and within 10 mins of about 4 others. that said, had I transported it would have been to one about 30 mins. away.

but my homebirth did not have any complications, or situations that required emergency treatment.

I agree with everyone who says that most homebirth "emergencies" are ones that the mw can catch in plenty of time. even something as serious as a prolapsed cord, that requires transport can be dealt with until the mother makes it to the hospital.

also, any skilled midwife will carry oxygen, many carry drugs and herbs to stop hemorrage (though in some states drugs are illegal for the midwife to carry), and almost all are trained in neonatal resuscitation and infant cpr. she will listen to the baby's heart tones periodically to be sure the baby is doing well.

also, choosing a homebirth means choosing to be responsible for your self and the baby. making sure you eat well, get exercise, avoid stress as much as possible, rest when you are tired. keeping a healthy body and growing a healthy baby are the best way to avoid any complications that would require transport.

-Lau

[bec]

Haven't had my homebirth yet, but this was a concern of ours as well, and played into our decision to go ahead with it. The paramedics are about 90 seconds away (this is from when the phone is picked up!), and the hospital is about 5 minutes away.

The way I see it, with the paramedics and hospital so close, I would probably see a doctor sooner staying at home and calling them in the case of an emergency, than if I was in a maternity ward! When the nurses were getting frantic when I was in labor with my dd because they couldn't find the heartbeat (no big deal, she had just moved and changed position) it took over 10 minutes for a doctor to come it!

Now that I know emergency help is so close, I'm not even thinking about it. It isn't a consideration anymore, except to possibly reassure anxious relatives.


Bec

[blessedmomof3]

We are about 5-10minutes (depending on how fast you drive and how much traffic there is..lol).

We did have to transport 5 hrs after the birth b/c I had a cervical prolapse. I didn't feel comfortable (or able) enough to go by car so we called 911.

[wolfmom]

Thank you all so much for responding to my question! If anyone has any other input please continue to post. I am gathing much information before I spring this idea on my dh! Wish me luck!
-wolfmom

[applejuice]

Not an issue...

...five to ten minutes each time, four times....

You should know that private hospitals can and will turn you away if they choose to... and they do...

[applejuice]

You should also know that hospitals make you wait for any care including emergency care....if you are going in because you want pain meds, they will really make you wait because they want to moniter your baby and you without meds and see what the whole situation is before you get relief.

Make sure that you are completely committed to the idea.

[Sustainer]

I live right around the corner from a hospital, but I would only have gone there in an emergency. I was pre-registered at a hospital about an hour away for non-emergency transfer. I didn't end up going to either hospital.

Please visit my Birth Page:

http://devrock.5u.com/whats_new.html

[bloodrayne]

We live five minutes from the hospital, but it wasn't an issue.