I am newly pregnant, due in February. I have been searching for months for a midwife who will attend a homebirth or even a hospital birth in my area. I'm in Ontario so midwifery is regulated plus I cannot afford to pay for a private midwife (the province pays for using regulated midwives). I have not been able to find anything. I am now being presented with a possible option. There is a midwifery group in the greater Toronto area (which is 3.5 hours from me) that is supportive of home VBAC's that might be able to attend me in their area. There is a woman in that area who will offer use of her basement apartment with separate entrance for me to labour and birth in. My in-laws only live 1 hr 15 minutes from there so they could come pick the kids up and take them to their house. My husband has tons of family where my in-laws live and I have no doubt the kids would be well cared for. But is it nuts for me to consider travelling 3.5 hours in labour??? Any input?
Does this sound crazy?
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Uhh - nope. Not crazy at all. Early labor is usually pretty manageable. It could just be all part of the adventure. Is it an option to head to your in-laws around your due date? Like are they the type that wouldn't mind you (or you them) being around for a couple of days or a week? That way you would only have an hour and a half drive.
My MIL would like nothing more than for me to move in at 39 weeks with my DD (she's all about my DD
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). She would wait on me hand and foot. I just prefer the comfort of my own home.
My MIL would like nothing more than for me to move in at 39 weeks with my DD (she's all about my DD
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I don't think it's too crazy, especially when you have such a sweet set-up being offered and so few alternatives. I'm travelling almost an hour and a half to all of my prenatal appointments, and that's where I'm going for labor, too....
My only concern, in your situation, would be that you'll have to go in pretty early labor, and it could get super inconvenient for your whole family if you stall or are one of those women who stop and start for a couple of days. As long as you're prepared for those eventualities, I say go for it
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My only concern, in your situation, would be that you'll have to go in pretty early labor, and it could get super inconvenient for your whole family if you stall or are one of those women who stop and start for a couple of days. As long as you're prepared for those eventualities, I say go for it
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I don't think it's crazy at all. Next baby, if I don't go unassisted or find someone in my own state, I'll be considering going to a different state for labor/birth.
One suggestion: line up the rental of an RV! That way your drive doesn't have to be buckled into a horribly uncomfortable seat. And, if things go really fast, you can birth without necessarily pulling over LOL. Or if you do pull over, things aren't as visible as in a car!
I know, possibly scary thought, but hey, if things are going quick and well enough to birth on the way, who needs an attendant anyway?
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(I think of this because by that time my FIL will have retired, and his RV will be available to us, bwa ha ha ha)
One suggestion: line up the rental of an RV! That way your drive doesn't have to be buckled into a horribly uncomfortable seat. And, if things go really fast, you can birth without necessarily pulling over LOL. Or if you do pull over, things aren't as visible as in a car!
I know, possibly scary thought, but hey, if things are going quick and well enough to birth on the way, who needs an attendant anyway?
(I think of this because by that time my FIL will have retired, and his RV will be available to us, bwa ha ha ha)
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I would do it before I had another c/s for sure.
You'd just have to start out for the birthplace sooner...could you stay in the apartment for a few days if need be?
You'd just have to start out for the birthplace sooner...could you stay in the apartment for a few days if need be?
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How do your labors tend to go?
My first was 5 1/2 hours in total length - which I guess would have been doable for that distance - but it was all HARD labor and I would have hated to have been in a car for 3 1/2 hours of it!
My second was only 3 1/2 hours in total length - also all HARD labor - I might have made it there maybe just in time for her to come out!
I'm assuming you don't have a history of fast labors, but even if you don't, bear in mind that it's still a possibility for this one.
That said, I think I personally would try about anything to avoid an unnecessary c-section, so......
My first was 5 1/2 hours in total length - which I guess would have been doable for that distance - but it was all HARD labor and I would have hated to have been in a car for 3 1/2 hours of it!
My second was only 3 1/2 hours in total length - also all HARD labor - I might have made it there maybe just in time for her to come out!
I'm assuming you don't have a history of fast labors, but even if you don't, bear in mind that it's still a possibility for this one.
That said, I think I personally would try about anything to avoid an unnecessary c-section, so......
Go for it!!! Is there any reason you would have to stay home until you are in labor? Can't you go to Toronto a little bit ahead of time, maybe stay with in-laws or in the apartment? That was my plan. I had my vbac homebirth-away-from-home four hours away. I had plans to just go there and stick around until the baby came, but I started having signs of labor, and that gut feeling, just a few days before I had planned to go. We took our time driving out there, and baby was born the next night. Listen to your body, you will know when the time is right to drive out there, and you will make it in plenty of time!
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