Tips for laboring at home as long as possible?

MTAtlanta

In addition to what's in the natural/pain-med-free books, any real-life experience tips for how to labor at home as long as possible before heading to the hospital? I cringe at the thought of driving up there only to be told I'm early in the process.

 

GPeterson24

I would recommend staying home until contractions are 5 minutes apart, lasting for 1 minute and have been like that for 1 hour....the 5-1-1 rule.  This is usually a good indication that you are in active labour.

CaitlinJ22

GPeterson24:

I would recommend staying home until contractions are 5 minutes apart, lasting for 1 minute and have been like that for 1 hour....the 5-1-1 rule.  This is usually a good indication that you are in active labour.

I am lurking mainly bc I want to try to go natural next time, but I will say both times I was 5-1-1 for over an hour and was not in active labor. I was about 1-3 cm both times and it took about 10-12 hours from the time I got to the hospital. 

Everyone is different, so go with your gut. 

KateLouise

GPeterson24:

I would recommend staying home until contractions are 5 minutes apart, lasting for 1 minute and have been like that for 1 hour....the 5-1-1 rule.  This is usually a good indication that you are in active labour.

this is what my midwife told me too, except for them to be 3 minutes apart with a first baby.

Then when I spoke to her on the phone she said, "stay home until you can't handle it anymore."

Part of our decision making of when to go to the hospital though was a) we're a 30minute drive away and b) our shower ran out of hot water.

I could have stayed home longer in terms of "handling" it.

I got there at 9pm and LO was born at 130am. I was 5 cm dilated when I arrived. 

tokenhoser

I arrived at the hospital at 10 cm, which was great (except for the car ride, which sucked).

I had a doula that helped us to be relaxed enough about what was going on at home to stay there. There was quite a bit of blood, and I think that would have scared me into going in a couple hours sooner if she didn't reassure me it was totally a normal amount. 

Really, I didn't use any magic tricks. I tried taking a bath, but that didn't really help me. I hugged my yoga ball. I spent the last hour or so at home on my hands and knees with DH and the doula doing hip squeezes.

I stayed home until the idea of doing a bunch of contractions in the car scared the crap out of me, then we went. I probably did transition during the 10 minute drive, which was not fun but I survived. It was great to labour in my own comfortable house, where I could do what I wanted and eat and drink as I pleased. 

So I guess my biggest tip is get a doula that can recognize how far along you are by your emotional signposts. Mine knew I was close.

Nechie122

I was also told 3-1-1 by my OB (who knew I wanted to go natural.) Another indication my doula mentioned is an inability to talk through contractions.

BFab11

I hired a doula who is also a fully certified home birth MW and I'll be relying on her a lot as far as deciding when to leave. She can monitor baby with a doppler, check my dilation, etc. I have the same fear of laboring at home then going into the hospital, thinking its almost go time, and find out I'm at like 3 cm or something. 

karinothing

I arrived at the birth center at 8 cm. I had a glass of wine and kept forcing myself to go to sleep. I was able to talk to my midwives throughout the process, but honestly my contractions never got very close or long (even when I at 10 cm) and I could always talk through my contractions.  I don't think there is any magical formula.

There was a moment at home when I thought I didn't really want to do this anymore. That was when I kind of decided it was time to go to the birth center. But to be honest, when we left I thought I was 4cm. I feel like you just force yourself to stay at home as long as possible and when you can't handle it anymore you go in.

 

rparks8467

I never timed my contractions on my second pregnancy and just went along with what my body told me. I was at home trying to be a mommy to my 14 month daughter at the same time and held off calling my husband home from work till I was ready to go in. I took a few baths throughout the day but it was my yoga ball that helped the most. I sat on it all day rocking or rolling my hips in circles or stood behind the couch rocking my hips at well. I was shocked when I decided to go in that I was at 8 cm. It helps so much to be in your our enviornment. Planning to do the same this time around

Virginny

We stayed home for 8 hours after my water broke at 39 weeks, eating, drinking, resting, watching TV. We called our doula about 4 hours after it broke. I was pretty comfortable, checking in with my midwife as she wished. Took a shower and was moaning through contractions about 3 minutes apart and hubby and I felt it was time to go. The car ride was a little uncomfortable and as a FTM, I really thought I had made progress and was excited to get checked. 

Unfortunately, I was only 3cm dilated (after being 2cm earlier in the week). I was super disappointed and the hospital staff really let me walk around, no IV, and they backed off thinking I had a long way to go. 2.5 hours later I was having a hard time getting through each contraction and hit the "I can't do this anymore" phase. I was checked and realized I was 9cm. They called the MW immediately and she arrived just in time to catch DS. I pushed for 28 mins. 

This time I'll try to stay at home until I'm really uncomfortable, but I am nervous since my first labor went pretty quickly.  

BrideNamedMeg

If you can smile between contractions and are excited to go to the hospital, don't go!  I went into the hospital super early with my first, I got there at 4:00am and was about 2cm - they sent me home, thankfully.  I got some sleep, took a long shower, watched a movie with MH, ate some tomato soup and 12 hours later when I was having real trouble getting focused after each contraction we went back to the hospital and I was 6cm.  Six hours later, I had my baby girl - I could have tried to stay home a bit longer, but hind sight is 20/20.

With my second we had a homebirth so I didn't have to worry about it.  My midwife came around 1:00 and I had the baby 12 hours later.  Probably should have waited to call, but I thought my second labor would be fast for some reason...wrong!

julyjennifer

I agree that having a doula helps take the pressure off you in deciding when to go.  it's still your call, but she's likely seen a lot and can advise you on when is a good time.

i was in la-la laborland with my first and didn't even think about going yet, but when i had a bulging bag of waters (bulging out about 1 inch outside me) that was dark green from meconium, my doula suggested now might be a good time to think about heading to the hospital.  i was fully dilated upon arrival, but evidently because i was talking coherently when i got there, the nurse doubted her measurement so she wanted a second opinion internal by the on-duty OB.  she confirmed it.

GoldenPeaches

Ignore early labor as best as you can. There is no sense timing early contractions or paying them much notice. Take that time to sleep, take a bath, or lay on the couch.

Listen to your body, not the clock. My contractions were about 3-5 minutes apart, 60-75 seconds each starting with very early labor. I had DH call the MW when I could no longer talk, stand, or walk through contractions. I arrived at 7cm and progressed to 9 and 3/4 cm within an hour. 

rosiemomma

KateLouise:

I got there at 9pm and LO was born at 130am. I was 5 cm dilated when I arrived. 

haha this is very similar to me, I was 5 cm dilated got to the hospital at 10pm and had her at 2am.

I called it 'happy' labor, you are still happy, smiling or joking in between contractions stay at home, when you get to the tough part that ends! I lived a few blocks way from the hospital and walked there when the 'happy' labor was over, I was glad I went; I got to lay in the jet tub which was AMAZING during transition!