what about a hotel birth

[pwit]

We may be moving where there are no midwives available and I am considering maybe driving about an hour and a half so that I would be within driving distance of a midwife and giving birth in a hotel.

Anyone ever heard of anyone doing this? How do I keep the hotel from finding out and freaking out, or would they be okay with it? I didn't give birth the quietest last time!

[2much2luv]

I don't think I'd be able to do it. I don't think I'd be able to let go and vocalize and move as needed. I would be super paranoid about the mess the entire time. I think it negates the whole reason for the homebirth . . . to be in the comfortable surroundings of your own home. If I were you I'd look into UC or prepare for a hospital birth. But I'm not you, and a hotel birth might just be something you are capable of doing.

Do you think there is a midwife who would let you deliver at her house? That might be something else to look into. :)

[AmBam]

pwit, I've actually considered this. I am a long way from midwives or birth centers and I've thought of doing this. I know someone who has done this. I hope I don't have to for reasons the pp stated. Worrying about the mess, and I tend to get quite vocal in the end. Plus, its just not the comforts of home. Although in my opinion it sure beats the hospital! And I would make sure I didn't let the hotel know what was going on!:lol Good luck!

[nonconformnmom]

I don't know if I would trust the, uhhhh, hygiene in a hotel. I wonder if you could find an MDC mama who lives near your midwife who would let you birth in her home? It might be worth a try! Post in the tribe for the geographic area where you'd like to birth and see what happens.

[Starr]

Hotel rooms are nasty. Also there may be a little explaining to do about the mess. Forgive me I am assuming there will be some mess, never given birth here, and housekeeping may report it (lots of blood?). And I don't find hotel rooms very relaxing. Would there be room to walk around and not feel like you are confined to a room.

[MamaSpruce]

My midwife has attended births in hotel rooms. I would choose that over a hospital hands down. The "mess" argument is silly, if you ask me. It is the same reason people say home birth won't work for them. You and the midwives and others helping you are prepared to control the mess (chux pads, plastic on bed, etc) and we sure didn't have a huge mess after our birth. I would splurge for a nice hotel, or a furnished cottage type thing for more separation would be nice.

I would also guess some midwives would come to you 1.5 hours away for the birth if you came to them for appointments.

[trmpetplaya]

I have a friend who's had 10 babies at home and her midwife lives 1.5-2 hours away (by the highway). I considered using her midwife, but decided that would be too far for me to go every month/2 weeks/week. But this midwife DOES come to births around here. My other friend who is due Friday (my dd's birthday!) is using this midwife also.

love and peace. :love

[pwit]

I would prefer a hotel over hospital because at the hotel with a midwife they aren't going to insist my baby sit in a warming tray for an hour after being born, they aren't going to tell me my baby should stay in the nursery while I sleep, they aren't going to make me lay on my back to give birth, and they aren't going to tell me I can't eat while I am in labor.

My last birth was a homebirth and I hemmoraged BAD, really really bad, the next day there was no mess in our house, thanks to chux pads, towels, shower curtain liners, old sheets. All those same things would be put down at a hotel so I am not too worried about the mess.

I'm most worried about the hotel finding out or me being paraniod during labor that they were gonna find out.

[ChelseaG]

Maybe you could tell the hotel you are planning on having a party and you expect to be really loud and request that they give you a room far away from other guests - and ask them to not worry about any loud noises :p

[AmBam]

I would prefer a hotel over hospital because at the hotel with a midwife they aren't going to insist my baby sit in a warming tray for an hour after being born, they aren't going to tell me my baby should stay in the nursery while I sleep, they aren't going to make me lay on my back to give birth, and they aren't going to tell me I can't eat while I am in labor.

I totally agree. Maybe you could find a hotel that is the cottage type as mentioned before. Or I know here there are a couple that the rooms are seperate cabins. Look for more locally owned, not chains. Then you wouldn't be so close to people who may hear you or figure out what's going on! Good luck to you!