Emergency giving birth alone

[Strawclutching]

I'm pregnant (14 weeks) with my second baby. The first was a quick 4 hour labour (2hours pushing) with the midwife arriving as I began to push. I live in a very remote area difficult to get to and from hospital.

I've been told this labour is expected to be 1-2 hours. I'm hoping to book a holiday cottage near the hospital for a couple of weeks before I'm due. But what if it comes early? It's unlikely the midwife would get to me in time.

Has this happened to anyone and have you got any practical advice for delivering your own baby in an emergency?

[Chasingsquirrels]

My first labour was 2 hrs, no complications.
I went for a planned home birth for no 2.
Both were 37 week arrivals.
With no 2 I was contracting regularly from 20 weeks, getting more frequent as the pg progressed. At 31 weeks I was admitted overnight and had steroids to strengthen the baby's lungs in case it was born early.

In the event i went in to labour at 37 weeks - waters broke, contractions started 10 mins later, Ds2 born less than 15 mins after that.
I called the hospital as soon as my waters went, the midwife returned the call during my 1st contraction and arrived at the house about an hour after he was born. H called 999 immediately after the birth (I couldn't understand why, we were both fine) and paramedics turned up within about 20 mins, briefly looked at us and then hung around until the midwife turned up and then my placenta was delivered.

I'd read up on what to do in the event of going into labour when no one was about (in the event it was v late Fri evening and H was there) and quick births but it was so straight forward and quick that my body just got on with it - I'd been sitting on the bed, got off so H could put plastic lining on, thought "I'd better just check nothing is happening", reached down to feel and delivered his head into my hand (quickly 2 hands!). The rest of him slid out and we wrapped us both up warm and just sat there and waited for the midwife to come to sort everything out.

If it is so quick that there is no time for anyone to get there to assist, the likelihood is that it will be so straightforward that no assistance is needed.

Just read up a bit, prepare yourself for the possibility, maybe get a home birth kit (I have no idea what this actually consists of as MW was mentioned to deliver mine the next week).

And all the best!

[PeppasNanna]

With my 5th dc the midwife was convinced he was going yo arrive very quickly. So slthough I was planning on giving birth in a birth centre she gave me a home birth kit & basic pointers.

Good luck.

[Ahhhcantthinkofagoodname]

Hi OP I had a v similar first labour to you, husband delivered baby in bathroom 3 hours after hosp sent us home. Was v worried 2nd time round but actually for that birth I had a pre labour with contractions stopping and starting, so plenty of time for midwife to get round for planned home birth. Once things got going properly it was only around 2 hours but I had plenty of time to get things in place before I got to that stage. Good practical advice above! Good luck

[Ahhhcantthinkofagoodname]

Also get it written all over your notes you have quick labours and phone midwife as soon as anything happens, highlighting your previous labour was v fast. My midwife came out as soon as waters broke! Ironic as baby didn't actually arrive for another 8 hours!

[BikeRunSki]

Ask the midwife what ladies usually do in your part of the world? It sounds like having a home birth kit at the ready might be sensible.

[addictedtosugar]

We had an unexpected home birth. The paramedics were amazing. In the end they delivered DS2, but only got there 30 sec before baby!! Ambulance control were talking DH through it. Have a read of home birth kits, and have e.g towels easily available. And puppy training mats are great also.
Do you have any neighbours, or might DH get to you quickly? Or are you likely to be completely alone?

[Wellthisisarubbishstart]

You won't necessarily have a 1 to 2 hour labour. My first labour was 4 hours from first twinge and so was my second.

Having said that, we prepared for a quick labour. We planned a home birth. We were advised to ring the midwife at first twinge. I got the midwife to talk my dh and me through what we would do if we had to deliver the baby by ourselves.

I had a lovely calm home birth for dc2, attended by 2 fab midwives.

Dc3 however was a bit different. Dc arrived in under 30 mins from first twinge and was delivered by my dh in the kitchen. Ambulance and midwife arrived soon after. So it is always good to be prepared.......

Good luck!

[Diggum]

Good advice already here and I don't want to be scary or anything but it might be worthwhile asking the midwife to run through neonatal resuscitation with you. It's very straightforward and really helpful in case the baby needs a bit of help to get going.

Chances are if it's that quick a delivery baby will be fine but these skills are worth knowing for everyone really.

[winchester1]

I was expected to be fast nd live remote and was due mid winter (where I live that doubles travel times) my advice was call a farmer. It sounds weird but does kind if make sense, as it goes I live next door to a cattle farmer whos daughters are adults and work on the farm so also live close so I had them on standby.
As it turned out I got to hospital fine although was still just me and oh when I started pushing as they didn't think it would be so fast

[Strawclutching]

Thanks everyone! Unfortunately no farmers nearby. My neighbours are my parents so they should be a help. The home birth kits sound great and I definitely want the resus training. Hopefully I'll be near a hospital anyway and I'm worrying unnecessarily.