How do you slow down labor once it's started?

[mamameeyah]

Here's is the scenario that I'm trying to avoid: I'm due next month with my second child and worried that if I'm in labor at, say 11:00 p.m or midnight, I will have to leave for the hospital by taxi, leaving my husband at home with our son until he wakes up in the morning (we don't want to wake him up at that time of night and have no one who can take care of him at night time). I've heard that second births progress more quickly, so there's the possibility that my husband would end up missing the birth. If I find myself in this situation, is there anything I could do to slow down the labor until the morning: i.e. is it best to lie down, or to move around, or maybe drink some kind of herbal tea? I'm looking for things I can do that will buy me a few hours until we can all leave together in the morning.

[Om Girl]

IME, a change in location always stalls labor as it is natures way of self-preservation. ie...adrenalin kicks in and stalls labor until you are in a comfortable (evolution=safe) place to birth.
With that being said, when a baby plans to make their appearance they cannot be "stopped" but they can be stalled. I imagine if you did go into labor in the early am hours and took a taxi alone to the hospital your labor would stall for quite some time. (Just a speculative guess)

Have you looked into a nanny service or hiring a doula to be with you during your labor?

I also HIGHLY encourage you to start talking with your baby about the optimal time for them to arrive!

Hope you have the birth you want mama!

[mamameeyah]

Thanks for your response! We hope ds can be at daycare most of the time we are at the hospital, and if it happens on a weekend my sister in law will come to the hospital to entertain ds (not take him home, we want him to be there, but have someone to take care of him while we are occupied). I don't think I'm the right personality type to have a doula since I prefer to focus inward in times of stress, even dh can be too much of a distraction and make me irritable. But for a variety of reasons I can't be a UC'er either.

So, if I just lie still in the dark and wait for morning you think that might make me too comfortable and actually speed labor along? Would getting up and drinking a cup of coffee help, since it increases adrenalin?

[Om Girl]

Originally Posted by mamameeyah

Thanks for your response! We hope ds can be at daycare most of the time we are at the hospital, and if it happens on a weekend my sister in law will come to the hospital to entertain ds (not take him home, we want him to be there, but have someone to take care of him while we are occupied). I don't think I'm the right personality type to have a doula since I prefer to focus inward in times of stress, even dh can be too much of a distraction and make me irritable. But for a variety of reasons I can't be a UC'er either.

So, if I just lie still in the dark and wait for morning you think that might make me too comfortable and actually speed labor along? Would getting up and drinking a cup of coffee help, since it increases adrenalin?

First off, I think it's great you want your son at your birth. Have your checked with the hospital policy on having children present at births? I encourage you to "prepare" him by reading books about babies being born, talking to him about things he might see, sounds he might hear, etc. I would also consider what his presence might do to your labor...You said you like to focus inward, with him present it might distract you from focusing inward to make sure your son is ok (IME). I'd definately make sure that you have a labor support person for him there besides your DH.
I would definately encourage you to find a doula that meshes well with your personality. There are many doulas out there with many different types of personality. I guarantee you'd find one to mesh well with you in labor. Besides, it might be nice for your DS and DH to give them some guidance to help you in labor. (JMHO)
I don't know about the coffee since it has a lot of caffeine it might make you really jumpy. I know if the hospital we don't let laboring moms have caffeine, but because it also elevates babies HR.
HTH mama.