Hi guys. I live in an approximate 500 sq foot apartment (but that's a guess. I think it's less than that even). I don't feel comfortable having a home birth in our cramped (90% carpeted) space. I would, however, like to labour at home as long as possible.
Have any of you laboured in a similarly tiny space? In many ways I'd feel much more comfortable labouring here than at my local hospital (5-10 min drive away), but at the same time I don't want to feel cramped. Any advice?
Re: Tiny apartment--labouring at home
While labouring at home, I tried the bath tub, and mostly watched TV while leaning over my yoga ball. I didn't need much space.
You can also do what is comfortable when you get there. You don't have to decide now - go to the hospital when you want to be there.
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No advice since I'm a FTM, but I will be in the same situation. My BF and I live in a 1br apartment, about 600ish sqft. We're moving before my due date, but most of the apartments we've been looking at are roughly the same size. If we can't find a place before mid-August, then we're just going to stay put until after the baby comes.
It's weird not knowing where exactly I'll be when laboring, but either way I know it's going to be a small apartment!
Do you have a yoga ball and other equipment/aids you'll be using for laboring? Maybe it would be a good idea to have all of your "laboring stuff" together ready to go in one spot as your due date approaches, that way even though you're in a small space, you'll be organized and prepared.
I'm due in late september, and my birth classes are in early August. I don't really know what labouring aids I'll need, or what I have already. Other than my DHs massaging hands and comforting words, the only aids I think I have right now are my yoga ball (or whatever you call it). I bounce on it all the time when baby gets in an awkward position and I feel uncomfortable.
Iff you do move before you labour, I hope you feel comfortable right away in your new place. I hope it feels homey and secure.
Thanks! Yeah, and my midwife and DH will be here with me too. My midwife says usually they wait until 6cm to go to the hospital, but typically the mums tell her sooner than that that they're ready. So we'll see.
So I guess my advice is that maybe you just won't need much space. I didn't want to be moving around much.
Yeah, that's another reason I want to labour at home. There are wonderful places to walk for when I'm in early labour.
i actually think i would have preferred a smaller space to labor in. my house is certainly not huge- we live in a very modestly sized townhouse- but i labored in 3 places: my bathtub, my toilet, and on a yoga ball in front of the tv in my living room. i was one of those people that did not want to walk during labor, so going from one labor spot to another, especially getting up and down the stairs, was a pain. i think labor is just one of those situations where you work with the space/place that you have available. and like others said, you can always go outside to walk or head to the hospital early if you feel the need!
Engaged 10/2/1202
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