Is a hospital an hour away too far? - Page 2

[mightymoo]

Here is an alternative to consider - Generally labor doesn't hit like a mac truck - it works its way up to it. Usually you want to stay home during early labor anyway, which would mean you would be driving the hour in active labor. However, you might consider finding a nice hotel near the hospital in question and planning to go there as soon as you are in early labor, thus preventing you from needing to drive an hour during active labor. I've heard of women doing this before.

While I didn't go into labor, so I can't give you any firsthand experience, I did choose a hospital that was 30-60 min away (depending on traffic) because it would be the best option for us.

[taradt]

My closest hospital is 45 minutes away, by the time we left I was in active labor (and arrived ready to push). It was the worst car ride of my life, I couldn't stay buckled and every bump in the road hurt....
That said I much preferred that to laboring in a hospital

Our plan was to get there early and then hang around outside but it didn't work that way

[tammyswanson]

The closest NOT friendly hospital that does births around her is over an hour away. That's why I'm doing a UC HB. I had the opportunity for a 'trial run' when I had preterm labor over a month ago..I was not comfortable there at all, literally and figuratively speaking.

That doesn't sound too far away to me, if I was planning on doing it at some place that is 'friendly'.

[hubris]

I traveled an hour to the hospital where I gve birth to my second son. It's doable. Not ideal, but then, car travel in labor sucks in general. I traveled about 25 minutes before the birth of my second son, and both distances felt about the same to me while in laborland.

To me, it was worth the trip because at that time I was most comfortable with the caregivers and policies at that particular hospital.

This time around I'm planning a homebirth, though.

Originally Posted by courtenay_e

I'd suggest that you and your husband take a Bradley class...

I would suggest, though, that you ask your husband to do two hours of research and find hard statistics about the safety of birth center birth vs. hospital birth, and see what he finds.

I agree. Bradley classes were KEY in educating my husband and getting him to a place where he was making decisions based on facts and not fear. I'm glad you have a tour of the birth center scheduled, and hope that talking to people there is reassuring to your husband. While I strongly feel that I would not make a decision about where to give birth based only on my husband's comfort level and his fears, I know how important it is to feel that your spouse is 100% on board with your preferences.

Originally Posted by SublimeBirthGirl

If I had a birth center that close, I'd be working on the husband, not driving an hour to a hospital.

[kittywitty]

I drove an hour away with my youngest. It was my doctor of 6 years who delivered my two oldest. I wanted to continue my care. Of course, I was induced with her, and all of our family lived right by, so it made sense with her. I honestly drove around for 2 hours on purpose on bumpy back rodes to start labor with my oldest, so maybe I'm biased.

[mwherbs]

nope not too far- most likely very low risk of problems and most women get to the hospital too soon multips are considered to be in active labor when they are at a greater dilation than primips so keep that in mind-- what is their c-section rate, compared to other closer places? c-secions =higher infant and maternal death rate so a hospital with a lower rate is a safer place for both mom and baby. And to be honest it sounds like they are trying to be good to moms, meet their needs more which is always a good sign.

[naturegirl7]

With my son, I chose a hospital based on where my MW practiced - both an hour away. My local hospitals and MWs/OBs were simply not options. I found a MW I loved, a hospital I was okay with (they let her have "MW rooms" basically birth center styled rooms in a hospital and let her have basically full say in what happened in that room).

When I was in labor, I ate lunch, cleaned the house, went for a walk, took a shower. LOL I made sure it was "real" - then I called my MW who said come on down to the office, so I called Dh and told him to come home from work. We went to the office, only 2cm. We were sent to eat and walk. LOL I labored in the local perkins and the mall for a few hours. Went back for another check. 4 cm. sent back out to eat and walk. labored around the local farmers market for a few more hours. Finally DH couldn't handle it anymore and I relented and we went to the hospital at 8pm. I was 6-7 cm.
I had back labor, and that 5 minute drive from the market to the hospital felt like forever (I was on hands and knees draped over the front seat regretting that I had made DH install the carseat a month prior LOL)

First labors generally are not fast, so you should have plenty of time to get to the hospital you like. I just recommend scoping out where you can eat and walk while in labor. And making sure your OB or MW will see you in the office rather than going to the hospital straight away as they will try to restrict your movements and your intake of food and liquids

Why is your DH so against a birth center?

You didn't ask but I will offer some additional advice - take the Bradley classes. They are amazing. Full of good info, and great for DH too!

[HeatherB]

My first choice is also homebirth, but I have had friends who drove that far or a little farther in order to have a VBAC (the most VBAC supportive hospital in the area). It was absolutely worth it to them to get the support there, and while one of my friends would have gone with a homebirth, her DH was unsupportive and her insurance wouldn't cover it AT ALL, so they finally found the middle ground with the long-distance hospital.

Because you have a birth center nearby, I would definitely consider that a better option. They'll be very familiar with possible complications and what to do if anything were to happen. It will be a much better environment in pretty much every aspect. I've heard of a couple of birth centers in FL, and would still choose to birth at home, but I certainly like the idea of the BC more than the hospital!

But, like I said, I don't think an hour away is TOO far if it's your only choice. Luckily for you, it's not! Since you're at the point of just starting to look, I'll wager you've got lots of time to explore these options AND educate your DH. Talk to him candidly about concerns, and then dig up the reality of how those things would be handled at the BC or even at home. Most of the time, our fears come from a lack of knowledge and understanding - or from misunderstanding. It's amazing how many daddies-to-be come full circle once they learn the REAL ins and outs of birth, hospitals, and mother-centered care!

[Autumn Breeze]

My husband wasn't comfortable with my birth wishes either at first. I hospital birthed our first child, and it wasn't pretty. During that pregnancy however I decided I wanted to homebirth. I was 7 months pregnant, and he said "honestly I'm too scared" and we talked, and agreed to just try to get what we wanted out of our hospital birth. I told him that left a lot of responsiblity on him to remember (even though we had it written down) what was acceptable and what wasn't.

Then after his birth (medical indcution, IV's, stuck in bed, vaccum, I was cut...) I started in with the statistics, and proved to him through research that homebirth was the safest option for a healthy mom and baby. I agreed to keep an OB back up for that "just incase" which was honestly fine with me, because if I was transfered to the hospital, I wanted to know who every the doc on call was.

We both interviewd with the midwife, and he liked her right away. I had my questions (and asked them first) and he had his own, and he really liked how she answered them. We continued to discuss any birth related fears he may have, and he really listened to me when I talked about my body changes.

Both the midwife and myself went through the "emergency birth" (ie, fast birth) instructions time and time again, because that was at the forefront of my mind (just like pre-eclampsia was in my first pregnancy, and that is what happend). He was ready, I was ready, we had everything we needed.

My labor was 28 minutes. He caught the baby while the midwife was about an hour away at her home. : It went just fine. Yes, he was scared, but when it was over, and she fussed, then nursed, he realized, it couldn't have been more perfect. Infact it's one of his last "truly happy memories".

Education is key. And to be completely honest, if not harsh to your husband, it's YOUR body, YOUR birth. Not his. He may voice his opinion, but where you give birth is ultimatly your choice.

Best wishes to you!

[Ambrose]

Originally Posted by race_kelly

I drove an hour in labor with my second child, so that I could get to a more naturally minded hospital that my midwife from my first birth worked at. And courtenay hit the nail on the head. Bradley really helped. I was calm and collected the whole way, and delivered 30 minutes after arriving. I laugh now, because one of the nurses came in before my midwife got there and said to the other nurse, "Is she even dilated yet?" because I was so relaxed. The other nurse laughed and said, "Yes, 8 cents. YOu haven't seen a Bradly patient before, have you."

YES! I'm not the only woman to have labored while driving!! I too was a Bradley couple with DH. I'm so glad to know I'm really not that crazy for doing it when people give me the 'what are you a penguin with 7 heads?' look.


As for the op- totally fesible, my drive time was about 2+ hours because I drove home to grab the baby book and that was in the wrong direction to the hospital.