Just thinking

hermione76

I have been having BH contractions on and off for about a week now. I know it's totally normal, but it scared me at first. I never had any with my son. This got me thinking about when I will know it's time to go to the hospital. I don't want to go early and I don't want to wait too long. I think my fear is waiting too long and something happening to the baby. I want to stay at home as long as I can, and not be hooked up to a million monitors. Then I think that I need to be hooked up to make sure the baby is alright. Did everyone else have this same fear?

Twizzle

I totally have this fear, especially since last time I think I went in too early.  I have talked to my midwives about it and they treat a VBAC like any other labor, and recommend that you stay at home until you have a 4-1-1 pattern of contractions.  They told me that a rupture is most likely to occur in 2nd stage of labor, when you would already be at the hospital on the monitor.

I was also told by a doula who has attended many VBACs that in the absence of medication, moms in labor are the best way of detecting a possible rupture--meaning that you would probably know before anyone else did.  The baby's heart rate is also a great indicator, but you can monitor this yourself at home with a doppler or stethoscope.

One of the things I am doing to help with my fears is to hire a doula experienced with VBAC to be with me in labor at home.  Doulas are great at knowing when it's best to get to the hospital, even without monitoring you medically.  You can also hire a monitrice who will monitor the baby's heart rate and do cervix/blood pressure checks.  I haven't decided yet if I'm going to go with a monitrice or just a doula but I am definitely doing one or the other. 

goldene

Honestly this is part of what pushed me into homebirth (not saying it's right for everyone).  I plan on laboring as long as possible at home anyway - and wondered why would I not stay there if things are going well?  I was stressing about interrupting labor to go to the hospital, only to then readjust to a different environment, etc.  I figure if we have an emergency or even a need to go to the hospital, we will, otherwise I will stay at home with the midwife's careful monitoring.

But a big fear/issue you have to accept when deciding to do homebirth (I think) is that something may go wrong and you won't be in the hospital when it does.  We are comfortable with our 5 minute distance to the hospital, but I have to accept that it's definitely not the same as being there.  It's a balance.

 Sorry - don't mean this to be about homebirth.  Or maybe I do.  I really want to say that I totally understand your fears and the tough decision of "if I go too early this, if I go too late that..." 

hermione76

Twizzle:

I totally have this fear, especially since last time I think I went in too early.  I have talked to my midwives about it and they treat a VBAC like any other labor, and recommend that you stay at home until you have a 4-1-1 pattern of contractions.  They told me that a rupture is most likely to occur in 2nd stage of labor, when you would already be at the hospital on the monitor.

I was also told by a doula who has attended many VBACs that in the absence of medication, moms in labor are the best way of detecting a possible rupture--meaning that you would probably know before anyone else did.  The baby's heart rate is also a great indicator, but you can monitor this yourself at home with a doppler or stethoscope.

One of the things I am doing to help with my fears is to hire a doula experienced with VBAC to be with me in labor at home.  Doulas are great at knowing when it's best to get to the hospital, even without monitoring you medically.  You can also hire a monitrice who will monitor the baby's heart rate and do cervix/blood pressure checks.  I haven't decided yet if I'm going to go with a monitrice or just a doula but I am definitely doing one or the other. 

I have thought about a Doula and can't make up my mind about it. I just want to be able to at least try. I don't want to go in and feel pressured into something. My OB is on board after our few bumps in the road. I am terrified he isn't going to be on call that night. 

hermione76

goldene:

Honestly this is part of what pushed me into homebirth (not saying it's right for everyone).  I plan on laboring as long as possible at home anyway - and wondered why would I not stay there if things are going well?  I was stressing about interrupting labor to go to the hospital, only to then readjust to a different environment, etc.  I figure if we have an emergency or even a need to go to the hospital, we will, otherwise I will stay at home with the midwife's careful monitoring.

But a big fear/issue you have to accept when deciding to do homebirth (I think) is that something may go wrong and you won't be in the hospital when it does.  We are comfortable with our 5 minute distance to the hospital, but I have to accept that it's definitely not the same as being there.  It's a balance.

 Sorry - don't mean this to be about homebirth.  Or maybe I do.  I really want to say that I totally understand your fears and the tough decision of "if I go too early this, if I go too late that..." 

I don't think I could do a homebirth. I think my anxiety would get the best of me and I would not be able to concentrate.  We are about 30 mins from the hospital and it would scare me. I think I need that hospital setting to make me feel calm. I feel like that sounds a little crazy. I admire people who can and do homebirths. It's just not for me.

goldene

I don't think I'd be comfortable if I was any further away from a hospital.  And I was totally not comfortable with the idea until now (27 weeks).  Something just clicked for me.  I think EVERYONE should do what they feel comfortable doing.  I asked my homebirth midwife if she would be ok if I freaked out during labor and decided I had to birth in a hospital.  She said she believes women need to birth where they are comfortable.  I totally understand about hospital settings making you feel calm.  I don't hate hospitals or have a lot of trauma associated with them.  I just don't have one I love.  The homebirth thing for me is for about getting really excellent one-on-one care during pregnancy.  

Anyway, it's good we have nine months to process all of this, right?! 

nosoup4u

This may help - it's the emotional stages of labor. https://www.angelfire.com/nb/doulaamanda/Labor.html