Re-Intro and some questions for moms of 2+

alliejoe

I used to lurk and occasionally post on here way back when, probably almost 2 years ago now, before my first LO was born.  Then the more active he got, the less I was on thebump.

So anyway, I have one DS who will be 2 in May and we're starting to think about #2.  My biggest fear/concern/quandary at this point is whether to go with a home birth MW, birthing center, or hospital MW.  We had a super fast natural birth (5.5 hours) in the hospital with a MW last time.  I'd love to do a HB, but I worry that if the need to transfer should arise the HBMWs are affiliated with a different hospital than I birthed at last time and I have some hospital related fears and that's off-putting. I also worry that I won't make it the 20 minute drive to the hospital or birthing center if we go that route.

Anyone with any insight, please offer it up   I've got so many thoughts swimming through my mind.  Moms of 2+, did your second labor go a lot faster?

 thanks if you made it through all of this!

 

A37licia

That is a fast labor for your first baby!  Often (but not always), it's faster or as fast the second time. My c/s labor was 17 hours with some pushing, and my HBAC labor was 2 hours. It was a darned good thing we had planned a hb because I wouldn't have made it to the hospital.

If a desire is there to homebirth, I'd recommend searching out your worry more about transfer - ask some questions, ask about the hospital, think about the reasons you'd transfer and if the hospital would meet those needs.   See if it ends up still being a big enough concern to warrant a BC birth, or perhaps you might figure out that it would work ok after all. When I planned my homebirth, I didn't care all that much what the hospital was like, because if I transferred, I was going to be looking for medication or surgery anyway, both of which they would adequately provide.

There are good reasons for both hb and birth center.  The only two downsides I personally feel about a birth center are the ride in the car in the peak of labor, and having to go home so soon after the birth. Other than that, I'd love a birth center birth if I couldn't homebirth - less preparation and work beforehand haha. VBACs are not allowed in WA birth centers, otherwise we would have seriously considered it.

Ummito5

Hi there.  I'm on baby number five and now and have had 3 of my four naturally and in a hospital.  My first was 16 hrs.  My second was 2 hrs.  The third was an hour! And my fourth was 12 hours (had cord issues and couldn't descend for a LONG time) although easy peasy contractions throughout to the end.  This one I'm expecting to be fast (as is my OB) as I've already started dilating since 33 weeks and have TONS of contractions (literally sometimes a couple of mins apart) but they're not real labor ones.  I hear this is typical of moms to several kids as the body knows what to do and gets geared up well in advance and the labors typically are much much shorter.  I'm planning a homebirth largely in part to my history of short labors and of course to avoid interventions that otherwise would be standard in a hospital setting (which I had and regretted with my first baby).  I have been seeing an OB occasionally to get standard testing done (and it can be a bit costly) but it helped me to have a relationship with a doc that I can use if the need arises (I pray not) which I'd consider to be an emergency situation.  I'd definitely go for a HB if I were you and get a doula for the HB and for if you have to transfer to help you ward off the unpleasantries of the hospital.  Good luck!