Would you have your second baby at a birth center that is a 1 hour and 18 min drive away? - Page 2

[BetsyS]

I'm having my second at a *gasp* hospital that is an hour from home. I had my first at a hospital (different one) that was also an hour from home, without traffic. The second hospital rarely has traffic between here and there, so it's truely an hour.

My first labor was 36 hours long; I anticipate this one will be long as well. And, honestly, if I had a car birth, I would be over the moon ecstatic, because it would mean that the baby came easily and quickly.

For me, it's a dynamic that works. YMMV.

[Belle]

There was a birth center where I was considering having my second baby. If I went into labor on a weekend evening with light traffic it would have been a 30 minute drive. Any other time and the traffic is so bad that it would have taken 1.5 hours to get there. I had a homebirth and my midwives arrived an hour before the baby did. If we'd done the bc we wouldn't have made it and probably given birth in a minivan. I'd rather have them drive during my labor than me.

[mikayla's mama]

I wouldn't but only because my second labor was only about 2.5 hours long. As it was, I got to the hospital 30 minutes before I had the baby after I got up took a shower, got dressed, brushed my teeth, got my bags and my 2 year old ready to go for the 5 minute ride to the hospital.

I would have loved to have the option of a birth center, here it's hospital or UC. You will probably have a better idea once you're in labor but obviously that isn't going to help you now. When I had my second I woke up in hard labor and knew it wouldn't be very long. With my first I was in early labor for quite a while and could have easily made an hour drive comfortably. Good luck with your decision.

[ishereal]

I live in STL and I gave birth at the birthing center in Columbia, MO which is at least 2 hours away!!!!!! It is totally possible

check out my pictures in my sig.

[sweetheart1039]

I live in New Haven, CT and im due on December 7th with #2(seven years apart). I dont want to have my baby at the hospital even though I work at both but my family isnt supportive of home birth or anything else.

[dolcedaze]

Homebirth would be my first choice in that situation, and then the birth center would probably still rank above a hospital, but I'd make sure I was very comfortable with UC-ing if things were progressing quickly.

Would it be possible to get a doula who's local to you, so you'd have a support person along in the car while your partner was driving? I think that could potentially make a big difference, depending on the circumstances.

[hookahgirl]

I would if you want! But if you have to do prenatals there, that is prob around 13 trips out there before the actual birth.
I am just saying, make sure you budget it in! Im doing co-care at a hospital 30 minutes away and its getting kinda $$$~

[_betsy_]

What was your first labor like?

I'd never chance an hour+ drive, since my first L&D, from first contraction (albeit Pitocin-induced) to baby in arms was under 2 hours.

[liliaceae]

Originally Posted by _betsy_

What was your first labor like?

I'd never chance an hour+ drive, since my first L&D, from first contraction (albeit Pitocin-induced) to baby in arms was under 2 hours.

With my first labor, I started getting mild, irregular contractions around 6:30pm on Thursday, my water broke at midnight, and I gave birth at 7:44pm on Friday, and that was with pitocin started around 3pm or so on Friday. So a pretty long labor. Do you think your first gives you a pretty good idea of how long your second will be?

Oh and dolcedaze, that's a good idea about the doula, I'll look into that.

[Baby Makes 4]

I wouldn't.

My second labour was only 2 hours from first contraction to baby in arms, Logan was born on our deck. My first labour was nearly 24 hours long, I wouldn't plan a birth more than 30 minutes from home if I could help it.

[Girlprof]

You could shave half an hour off your time by going to the birth center at St. Mary's in Waterbury. It's not a free-standing birth center, but it's wonderful and the MWs that work there are top-notch.

[mikayla's mama]

I don't think it's a good idea to base what your second labor will be like by comparing it to your first labor. My first was over 26 hours and my second was 2.5 hours... I hear the same thing from a lot of women. Once the first paves the way usually subsequent births are much easier/faster.

[PookieMom]

I talked to a mother who delivered her last three children at a birth center two hours away. (she has 6) And I asked her how she was so sure she would make it. She laughed and said something about the mind/body connection and how she just *knew* that the baby would just have to wait till she got there. And all three did...barely! It's a very interesting concept but it is amazing how the mind and body work together. I think it explains quite a bit why many women's labors stall in the hospital. Your bodies screaming, "NOT SAFE! ALLERT!"

Just do what your most comfortable with. If you think you can make it because you believe it is the safest choice then you probably will. Just my opinion.

[hapersmion]

I definitely would go to the birth center if homebirth was out of the question. I drove five hours during labor with my first, because that was the only place I could find that wouldn't give me a c-section for breech. We got there with lots of time to spare.

I would much rather give birth in the car than in the hospital, if it came to that. Just make sure you have everything you might want, and make sure you know what to do so you'll feel prepared, and then don't worry, that's what I'd say.