I'm going for my first home birth (2nd baby) and I know risk of transfer is about 10%. My midwife says most common reason is failure to progress and not an emergency. I'm just curious to read any personal stories from moms who did transfer and what their reason was.
Re: Any previous home births transferred to hospital stories?
I was wondering about tears. For my first, I did have a few 2nd degree internal tears that were stitched right away. I did lose quite a bit of blood. So, when you tore, how long was it before you got to the hospital and were stitched? Were you not bleeding that bad on the way there? Did you guys leave the house asap? I just wonder because I obviously don't want to bleed to death on the way to the hospital if it were to happen again. My midwife doesn't seem concerned, so I figure my worry is not necessary.
I was wondering about tears. For my first, I did have a few 2nd degree internal tears that were stitched right away. I did lose quite a bit of blood. So, when you tore, how long was it before you got to the hospital and were stitched? Were you not bleeding that bad on the way there? Did you guys leave the house asap? I just wonder because I obviously don't want to bleed to death on the way to the hospital if it were to happen again. My midwife doesn't seem concerned, so I figure my worry is not necessary.
It was totally chill. We waited about two hours. She did everything as she normally does (placenta delivered, skin to skin with dad while I got out of the tub, nursed the baby, cut the cord, newborn procedures, some family got to visit) and then I took a shower and we drove to the hospital. My mom drove me and the midwife followed. She called on the way and the nurse met us in the ER.
They took me right up and offered me some IV meds (which I gladly took because I remembered my first stitching experience was not pleasant!) and stitched me up. It really was no big deal. Just annoying because I obviously would rather have been home in my bed. We also didn't bring the baby because we didn't want to expose him to the germs so I was super anxious to get home.
My first tear was also second degree but was much more extensive. This one wasn't that bad. Bleeding wasn't an issue at all.
This is a super long story, but ultimately, my midwife (HB mw) was absent. She was not invested in my experience or birth and was constantly letting me know there was somewhere else she would rather be. She was not there with me my entire labor (maybe 6 hours total out of 48) and didn't come to the hospital with me because she was tired. (Rage)
I think I just felt like I was an inconvenience to her and her team and she even told me I was headed to the hospital for a csection. So I was freaking out (obviously). I got to the hospital and had progressed from a 3 to 6 and then by the time the epi person was ready, I was at 7-8 so I said f it. I went this far, I'll be furious with myself if I don't finish this.
I think the difference was that I knew the hospital staff had no where else to be. I ended up with a staff midwife who was the biggest blessing. She was so apologetic that my HB didn't work out and did absolutely everything to give me that experience at the hospital.
He was 7lbs 6.9oz & 20.3" long.
I'm sure he would have come out at some point at home, but I was exhausted physically and emotionally. And my MW apparently had a wedding to go to. (More rage) I'm glad I transferred, just angry at myself for not switching midwives with each red flag along the way. (Never remembered I was team green from appt to appt, never remembered that I was still nursing, didn't remember my sons name, didn't remember my specific diet, etc.) basically there were a lot of signs that she wasn't invested and I could have been lucky and had a successful home birth despite her.
I'm planning a home birth for number 3 now. I strategically interviewed midwives without sharing this one's name to find out if they were in alliance with her and quickly found out she was well known for this type of care and that her peers were not interested in working with her.
I asked each mw I interviewed how they would handle the situation differently and each said that they would NOT let me stay in labor that long with baby number two. I needed to literally go for a jog. Which is basically what I did as I ran around the house frantically packing a bag and then after the ride to the hospital I ran inside and ran to l&d and whadddya know? Lol
The short of it: I was stuck in transition (7-9 cm) for 12 hours (I was in active labor for 12 hours BEFORE) because my daughter flipped to posterior. I wasn't progressing. I was becoming exhausted and delirious. I was walking the streets, rebozo, tinctures, in the tub, doing lunges, squats, doing stairs, etc while at 9 cm trying desperately to get her to move. It was time, I wanted to go. I got a spinal, and then ANOTHER 12 hours later she was born.
I sat down with another midwife a year after her birth, told her my story and how I so desperately wanted to stay home with my next birth. She asked me what my activity was like the last month of pregnancy and the activity of my daughter in my belly. She said that desk jobs or being reclined or inactive can cause more posterior positioned babies. And certain fetal movement can help predict their posterior position too.
Sooo the next go around, Ill make sure I find a midwife who is more experienced with mapping babies, and using spinning babies. And even if I'm a swollen piggie, Ill be more active!
@vcabbyw I hear you! My first actually also turned posterior. I got to 10 cm after 12 hours and then was 'stuck' there for 6 hours with no desire to push yet. After 6 hours, the nurse just told me I had to start pushing even though I didn't feel like I needed to. After 2 hours and 15 minutes of pushing, he finally came out. His arm was also across his chest. They said he had shoulder dystocia, but luckily no injuries...even though his right arm was completely limp when he first came out.
I read the spinning babies website like crazy a few weeks ago and am making a big effort to do the daily exercises now until the end (I'm now 25 weeks). My baby is already head down, so I'm hoping he/she will stay that way. I bought a kneeling chair several weeks ago so that I could make sure I sit correctly with correct posture while at my desk. I agree with your midwife, that posture and activity makes a huge difference. I wish more OBs would make that clear to mothers. With my first, my OB never mentioned that stuff once. I have a midwife now, so she is the complete opposite.
My SIL's baby turned breech around 30 weeks and she never got her to turn--ended in a forced C-section. I swear her baby was breech because she worked from home everyday, literally on her couch with a laptop. Obviously, the worst kind of posture possible for a pregnant woman....