Not sure if this is the right place, home birth?

**Majka** · 07-20-2011, 01:16 PM

Update in post 16

Sorry if this is the wrong place, but I had some questions so that I can be prepared for any circumstance that may happen!

My plan is to have a minimally invasive hospital birth and my OB is very on board with this. I don't want a home birth for multiple reasons, but I don't really want to get into that.

What I am worried about is this labor going like my DS's did.
I had no idea I was in labor until my water broke and then it was obvious I was in transition and he was born in under 5 minutes of pushing. I happened to already be at the hospital when this happened though, being checked on for what I was pretty sure was my water leaking(and it was, but at first I just thought I was peeing myself

lol!)

I live out in the middle of nowhere, 20 minutes from 911/support and another 30 minutes from the hospital.

And I live alone...

I want to be prepared if the situation arises that I end up birthing at home while waiting for someone to show up.

I'm not afraid of the situation, whatever happens will happen, but I want to make sure I actually have the supplies needed in case I have to suction the baby or cut the cord or whatever.

I would also love to read up on "what to do when" type stuff.

Like: I was going to do delayed cord clamping in the hospital, but if I have the baby at home... should I just do lotus until help arrives?

What about monitoring my own bleeding or checking the placenta to make sure it is whole? I am not opposed to eating some placenta if I am bleeding too much. I've heard this is something you can do to help?

Mostly I am looking for a good supply list, some how tos, and encouragement.

I still have plenty of time to prepare and read up, but I want to start ASAP to make sure I feel secure if it does happen.

TIA

**Spacers** · 07-20-2011, 02:09 PM

Yes, you've come to the right place! Personally, if that was my situation & I was not planning a home birth, I would probably choose to stay somewhere closer to "help" the last few weeks of my pregnancy. Do you at least have a neighbor nearby who could/would come be with you while waiting for an ambulance?

Check your local library or Ebay for a copy of "Emergency Childbirth," by Dr. Gregory White. It's an older book that is now out-of-print, but there are tons of copies out there still. It was designed for paramedics to carry before they all had good radios & could have someone giving them good information. I've heard there's a printable PDF floating around on the internet but I don't have time to look for it right now.

The best advice about the placenta is to leave it attached, and leave it alone. Unless the placenta itself is losing blood, then it's a good idea to tie off so baby doesn't lose any blood. Don't worry about whether it's intact or not, because there's not much you can do for it yourself, and your body will work to push out any pieces left.

The only things I can think to have on hand for an "emergency" home birth would be a snot sucker, cord clamps or dental floss in case the cord needs to be tied, and a printout on how to perform infant CPR. I would also ask my doctor if he could prescribe a syringe of Pitocin or tablets of Methergine to have on hand in case of severe bleeding. Eating a piece of placenta is also a great idea; it saved my step-sister's uterus when the modern medicines didn't stop her hemorrhage. Just remember that when birth happens that fast, it's usually because things are going well.

**momW** · 07-20-2011, 02:24 PM

Here is a site that offers some information. It's more for planned unassisted homebirths but it does have information about the labor and delivery portion that would be applicable to an accidental unassisted birth.

**Majka** · 07-20-2011, 07:15 PM

I don't have a way to stay any closer, sadly. My mom does work with a guy that is a couple miles down the road from me that his wife might come over in an emergency, but I don't know them personally.

Mostly I just want to be prepared in case this sort of thing happens. I'm not against or afraid of a home birth, it just isn't my ideal birthing scenario. I do have a girlfriend who has had 2 unassisted home births that said I can call her if I need to, she lives across country, but at least she'd be some form of live support.

I went over a few websites on supplies and most of them are things I will already have, but I want to make sure I am informed.

**Majka** · 07-20-2011, 07:30 PM

Does this look like the right PDF? I think it does to me http://www.rixafreeze.com/pdf/gregorywhite.pdf

**tanismom** · 07-21-2011, 02:41 AM

I also tend to have short labors, which is one of my reasons for choosing HB. It also looks like we're due around the exact same time - and uncannily enough, I also live about 30 minutes from the closest hospital! (and my mw lives about 30 minutes away from me too)

It sounds like you're very well informed and well educated - I don't have anything to add as far as information, but I'll add support! It sounds to me like you're going to be just fine and that you're going to have a great birth wherever you are.

Hope you stick around the board so we get to hear about it!

**Majka** · 07-21-2011, 12:37 PM

I will

I have never been opposed to home birthing, but I have specific reasons for wanting a hospital birth. Mostly my friends(that do HB) think I am silly for my reasons, but they are what make me comfortable and happy. My OB is pretty awesome and totally ok with the fact I'm going for an all natural birth at the hospital. He understands why I wouldn't just do it at home and is cool with being hands off and just supervising. With DS I even pulled him out myself, my OB didn't even catch him

That said, whatever happens will happen and I'm totally ok with it happening at home, but I'm still going to take advantage of a hospital stay

I'd not poked around this board much until I posted this thread, it looks like the place I should be aside from my due date board. So I'll be sure to read up and ask around. I switched OBs at around 14 weeks because I got the vibe from my original OB that he wasn't going to be ok with everything I wanted. My new OB is awesome, he has experience with natural birthers and is very supportive of it.

**tori729** · 07-21-2011, 08:59 PM

I'm sure you've already thought of this, but could your mom or someone else stay with you for the last 2-4 weeks before your due date?
It really does sound like you're quite prepared though!

**Majka** · 07-21-2011, 10:37 PM

Yeah, they can't

My mom works a kennel and has to be there from dawn to dusk to care for the animals and the rest of my family live an hour+ away in the big city(lol! that makes me sound so country!)

I have a best friend who has mentioned multiple times of coming to stay with me and helping out a bit after the baby is born, but that friend lives in europe and I don't want to bank on it happening kwim? It does sound like it will, but I'd hate to count on it and then it not happen... because that is so my luck!