Nearest Waterbirth Hospital 2 hours...worth the drive?

[MsFaith21]

I've been interested in a water birth for a LONG time. I wish I had known more about it when I was pregnant with our first, but oh well....now I am in my 38th week and I wanted to do an at home water birth, but couldn't due to lack in finances and insurance coverage.

I did find a hospital somewhat in the area and that is covered by my insurance that does waterbirths. Except it's about 1 hr 45 mins away! For those of you who have done it before, do you think it's worth the drive? I mean, I didn't have a good experience with my first birth and I am seriously dreading going back to the same hospital. Because I have state insurance, I don't have to worry about my OBGYN, because the Dr I'm seeing now is not the one that would deliver anyway - whoever the hospital Dr is delivers.

There are several other hospitals closer - the one I delivered at last time is only about 10 mins, but again, because of the experience I had last time, I really don't want to go back.

As I'm sure you can tell, I have more reasons to go to this other hospital, but I am trying to decide what it will be like stuck in a car in labor for almost 2 hours? Considering my first labor was 17 hours, I don't expect this one to go too much faster (not less than half); although the first time around even though I was having contractions, they still induced me and I ended up getting an epidural - all of which I really want to try to avoid this time.

The hospital I am looking at is much more "mothering" friendly (more into alternative measures) and not as big on conventional medicine as the previous hospital I delivered at.

Ok, sorry I rambled.

[SublimeBirthGirl]

I had a waterbirth in the hospital with my 1st, and drove an hour (but it could have been 2-3 times that long had I needed to drive in rush hour). It was worth the drive compared to using another hospital, but not worth it compared to finding a way to stay home, which I really wish I would've done. We chose hospital birth for insurance/financial reasons as well and I still regret it.

[danotoyou2]

Well, I'd see two options, and both have drawbacks.

You can get a tub to put in your house, and labor at home for as long as possible in the water. Then go to the hospital when you're nearing transition, or ready to push. You don't get the water BIRTH that way, but you do get the benefits for labor.

Otherwise, go in early labor to the hospital with water birth available. The drawback there is that you'll be in a hospital for much of the birth though. So any time constraints they put you under are going to be in effect.

I traveled 3 hours away for a birth in my midwive's office. Totally worth it to get the birth I wanted. The trick is going early, because car rides during transition are brutal.