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To those planning on staying home as long as possible once labor begins

Jb&JbJb&Jb member
in VBAC

Upon the advice of my doctor, I will be trying to stay home as long as possible before going to the hospital once labor begins.  This isn't to "fight the system" per se as I've seen in many of my books (aka laboring in the parking lot) but in effort to ensure things are moving along as they should be before getting in a hospital situation. 

My question for you all (obviously we're all second time moms) is that how do you know how long is ok to stay home?  With my DD all information I received in my classes, from my doctor, as well as from the hospital said to go to the hospital when contractions were 5 minutes apart.  I did just that and when I got to the hospital I was only dilated to a 2 and would describe my pain as a 10.  I plan on asking my doctor about this next week - last visit was a very information packed VBAC discussion and the questions I forgot to ask at the appointment are trickling back to me - but in the meantime, I'd like your input.

 ETA:  My water had broken just before the contractions got really bad, and IIRC all of the information I had said to go to the hospital when my water broke as well.

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Re: To those planning on staying home as long as possible once labor begins

  • ReeseMReeseM member

    What a great question. And I still have no idea! I went in with DD1 after I had been having contrax every 5/7 minutes for 8 hours. My pain level was a 2 though. I went in, and was at 2 cm, same as my appt the week before.

    So all I know, is that I am waiting until my pain is a 9/10, and things are obviously "going." That sounds dumb though, cause I really will have no idea at all when things are getting close. 

    I also live 45 minutes (well, 25 the way DH drives...) so I have to factor that in. 

    I think I won't so much be going by time, but just "feelings". 

    Ugh. I don't know. I don't want to put a number on it or anything like that, and I just pray that I will know when the time is right. 

    Good luck! I don't know that there is a right answer here, but I am interested to see what others say!

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  • babyikebabyike member
    I hired a monitrice trained doula to labor with us at home so I can stay out of the hospital until I need to be admitted to L&D.  My doula said she would start suggesting we go in when my contractions are 2-3 mins apart and I'm dilated to at least 4-5cm (preferably 6+ so I can arrive and get straight into the birthing tub).  Obviously we'll go sooner if something comes up, but that's what we've talked about.  We're also borrowing a birthing tub so I can labor at home in the water if needed/desired.

    ~Sweet Girl *8/18/08* c-section ~ Sweet Boy *12/2/10* VBAC ~ Sweet Boy *8/14/12* VBAC~ 

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    VBAC Birth Story    2VBAC Birth Story  


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  • JoelsGirl07JoelsGirl07

    well, I'm staying home entirely, but here are a few things to consider:

    1. Check your own dilation using one of these methods HERE

    2. Go in and ask to be checked when you THINK you should go in (the 5-1-1 rule, etc) and then leave if it's not past 5 or 6

    You can always walk around in the lobby.

    3. Hire a doula....they know these things.

    The Knot won't share my Bump Siggy, so here's the low-down: 4/27/07 - Got engaged! 8/31/08 - Got married (to my best friend)! 12/30/08 - Got Pregnant! 9/3/09 - Welcome to the world, Elias Solomon! 8/16/10 - Got Pregnant, again! 5/14/11 - Welcome to the world, Talia Hadassah! 1/14/12 - Ready or not, here comes #3 (EDD 9/27/12)
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  • ryemoryemo member
    With DD, my mother (who is an RN and trained as a midwife), did internal exams. I was 7 cm when I got to the hospital, but would have stayed home longer (in retrospect, probably should have given the CS). She said I would have an instinct for when we should go. We left when I had the worst contraction I'd had and started swearing at my MIL who was getting underfoot. :) Honestly, next time I think close to pushing as possible. The chances I am going to push the baby out on the 20 minute trip to the hospital are small (and hey, if I did, wouldn't that be nice and easy).
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  • Brytany09Brytany09
    imageJoelsGirl07:

    well, I'm staying home entirely, but here are a few things to consider:

    1. Check your own dilation using one of these methods HERE

    2. Go in and ask to be checked when you THINK you should go in (the 5-1-1 rule, etc) and then leave if it's not past 5 or 6

    You can always walk around in the lobby.

    3. Hire a doula....they know these things.

    These were great tips! Definitely bookmarking that page!

    Lilypie Second Birthday tickers
    M/C Dec 2010 - 5w5d Missing my sweet angel baby.
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  • erbearerbear member
    I asked my doctor this on Monday because I know that he will put me on monitors once I arrive at the hospital.  He told me to stay at home until contractions were 6-7 minutes apart.  But I'm 40 minutes from the hospital.
    "Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. At the outside, babies, you've got about a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies. God damn it, you've got to be kind." - Kurt Vonnegut
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  • ShansBrideShansBride
    imageJoelsGirl07:

    well, I'm staying home entirely, but here are a few things to consider:

    1. Check your own dilation using one of these methods HERE

    2. Go in and ask to be checked when you THINK you should go in (the 5-1-1 rule, etc) and then leave if it's not past 5 or 6

    You can always walk around in the lobby.

    3. Hire a doula....they know these things.

    All of these are good but especially #3.  I labored at home with DD and one of my doulas walked in, looked at me, and said "we need to go".  I said I didn't want to until I was really in labor and I asked if she was sure I was really in labor.  She said "get in the car or we're calling an ambulance".  I started pushing in the car about 5 minutes later Smile

    Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers
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  • nosoup4unosoup4u member

    I agree about hiring/finding a doula to help you figure out when to go...my doula was on the phone with me when I went from being able to talk through contractions to having to be on my hands and knees and only being able to focus on getting through them. She told DH to take me to the hospital (though my water broke around the same time, and DH was telling me the same thing), and I got there pushing. We live about 10 minutes away or so.

    There's also this link for the emotional signposts of labor, that might help your DH figure out when to hustle you out the door...https://www.angelfire.com/nb/doulaamanda/Labor.html

    DS1 - Feb 2008

    DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)

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  • rena5498rena5498

    I stayed at home and labored a long time! It was my first and i had no clue. I called the doctor he told me not to come in until I was 5 minutes apart. I even lied and said I was 6 minutes apart even though I was really 7 minutes LOL just because I was in pain. Well when I got to the point where I was screaming and I knew my mucous plug was coming out so I figured I was pretty much dilated and I was leaking water. I called again he still told me wait till I was 5 minutes apart.

     I left right after went to the hospital because i wasnt listening to him they checked me and I was 8cm dilated! for some reason my contractions never hit 5 minutes apart. so i dont trust that and i know how to time it. But I ended up with a emergency c section b/c my labor slowed down once I was in bed I was stuck at 9 so they gave me pitocin and right after he went into distress..But I do plan on doing the same thing but let things take its course and if offered any meds to speed things up my answer is NO. Which I dont think its best anyway for a VBAC. I am pretty far from the new hospital I am going to so I dont know how I will time it this time since timing didnt work. I guess I will jsut have to have that gut feeling when its time to go,.

    EDIT: EVEN though I was in pain I was still able to function through my contractions talk and think clearly..it was just that one last contraction I had that made me scream and thats when I left but otherwise who would have knew I was so far dilated..

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