So if there was a strong possibility that you could end up labouring very quickly, alone, with no medical people about, or anyone else for that matter, what would you do to prepare?

[NatalieJaneIsPregnantAgain]

Other than shit it obviously, that goes without saying!

I am talking practically, what things/equipment would you want to hand, and what medical info would you want to know about that you perhaps have missed despite giving birth before? I'm talking exactly what they do to a baby in those split seconds after he's been born.

I need to know everything please else I think I might just go slightly insane.

I don't know much, but I would get yourself as comfortable as possible, have clean towels to hand and as soon as baby is out, plonk on your chest, cover yourselves with the clean towels and snuggle up until medical help arrives. Don't cut the cord.

I think that when the head crowns, if you can reach, yoiu should run your finger under baby's chin to check the cord isn't there, if it is, you would have to ease it over its head.

But DO check the above is correct

Are you panicking love? How long have you to go and why do you think this could happen?

I'd want to know a bit about resussitation (sp?) too, just in case.
Som sorry to be negative there, but think it's definately worth thinking about if there is a good chance medic will not be present

keep a phone handy 999 will talk you through things. have you asked your midwife about thsi?

Me? Panick? yes just a lot Nooooooo no no no not panicked not at all.....

I will be 35 weeks on Saturday.

Had two hour birth with DS2, waters went bang straight into full blown labour, would not have had my wits about me enough to ring DH/ambulance/anyone had I been at home on my own, or worse, with the kids, who by the way I have no emergency childcare for at all so it is definate that at least DS2 would be with me (DS1 might be at school), and DH could be anywhere up to 4 or 5 hours away at work....

I have a cons. appt. booked to discuss them inducing me because of all of this, but I've just spoken to a MW who has said I'll be lucky to get them to induce me at 41 weeks let alone term, and deffo not before, which in all honesty doesn't help me one little bit.

I think you should be very clear about just how scared you are and the very real possibility of you being alone with a small child. Cry, beg, claw his face.

("cry, beg, claw his face" refers to the consultant appt, not what you should do to your newborn baby if you birth alone. Carry on)

I can claw? No one told me that!

I am obviously going to do my very very best to get this all across to him, but if like the MW says he won't agree, I am as far up that proverbial creek as I could possibly get.

Agree with MamaG.
This isn't you just being silly, this is quite a serious problem. I kicked up a huge stink and they've agreed to induce me early if it looks like my baby will be 10lbs. Surely your issue is a little more serious.
Don't rest until they agree to help you

But what if you can't physically get to the phone to ring anyone? If it starts the same way as last time, I'm not sure I could do anything, including getting DS2 somewhere safely out of harms way, getting the phone, or even getting to the front door to unlock it so anyone who I did manage to ring for help could get in!

They can't leave me in a situation like this can they? Please someone pipe up with something to say they can't!

Get alchhol gel in, for your hands. Don't cut the cord! That's all I know.

Keep your mobile on you at all times. Also, if it happens while you are out and about people will help you - maybe dont stay home alone too much in the last few weeks. Could your partner take a week or so off before the birth - maybe take his paternity leave early?

Of course they can't. Have you called the director of mw at your hospital to discuss? The first thing I'd do is complain about the mw who told you they won't do anything, that is no way to keep a paniced pregnant lady calm, then I would tell the consultant at the meeting that you will come to the hospital in a week or so and not leave the waiting room if nes. until the baby is born.

i am sorry if this seems harsh but i htink you are panicking a tiny bit, firstly carry your mobile with you everywhere from now on so if waters break you can dial 999 as the fluid is gushing out, how old is dds2 ? coudl you teach him to dial 999 , and what to say ? have you not got a single neighbour or friend nearby who you could agree a code word with ? so even if you where labouring you could dial and yell down the phone ?

can your DH's work agree not to send him so far away in the lead up to baby's arrival, whenever that may be?

Could you get a friendly mum at your DS1's school to be on standby to have DS2 should it all kick off suddenly?

I "laboured" (had unexplained pains) for a day in hosp before i had a show then 40 mins later my DT's were born at 28 weeks. I am now 27+3 with DC3 and bricking it as I approach 28 weeks 'just in case'. To this eventuality, DH is not allowed to be more than 10 mins away and I have one of my friends on standby to be round at the drop of the hat to sit with DT's while I break my neck trying to get to hosp....I am hoping that with this being one i will go longer and I will have a 'normal' birth, but when you have a history of it you can't help worry. My consultant also knows that I could be ringing at any time and they will take me very seriously rather than brushing me off as a neurotic first timer with belly ache.

i would say also - set up some sort of daily routine of ringing DH at a set time EVERY day - if you don't ring, he rings you, if you don't answer HE rings your consultant/MW/999 and someone comes to you.....

Thats means you don't have to think about calling once your waters have gone.

Good idea there Neeerly3

and leave a key with a neighbour, should u be unable to answer the door....

NJ- are you OK?

Get a bag together and put in: blanket and hat for baby, bulb syringe for suction, plastic bag for the placenta and large pads for yourself.

Try not to worry, you will be fine.

I was in this situation nearly 3 years ago.
ds1 was 2 hr birth, 1st contraction 30 mins after waters went.
Ex (then dh) was working in london mon-fri, and while he could have got home in a couple of hours (min) at times, at night it would have taken longer.

I had read various stuff on BBA, but earlier on in pg.

As it happens ex was home when my waters went, 1st contraction 10 mins later, ds2 born within 15 mins after that - at which point ex called 999 (I had called hospital after waters went, and mw called back when I was having 1st contraction).

Afterwards my community mw said that she should have given me a list of what to do in the event of a BBA. But also said that if there were complications then it wouldn't be a BBA - the complications would slow things down. In reality the vast majority of BBA's are very straightford and assuming the baby is breathing then you just wrap it up, sit tight and wait for someone to turn up.
She also said re cord that if it was looped round baby's neck (as my ds1's had been) then in a fast BBA it would just all be birthed and would unravel once out. I think the key here is being fast it has little time to do any damage before the pressure is released - but this is just my thoughts.

I didn't do anything with the baby except cuddle him, 999 asked if he was breathing - he obviously was.
Ambulance turned up about 20/30 mins later, looked at us both from the other side of the room, and said things were obviously ok - they would wait until MW turned up. They didn't touch him iirc.
MW arrived about an hour after the birth, placenta hadn't come out at that stage. She cut the cord and I eventually pushed the placenta out.

Things I read beforehand included ensuring that the house was accessible - ie unlock the front door, I appreciate this may be difficult, so maybe spare key in accessible place or with neighbour?

Carry phone with you at all times, and keep one by the bed at night.

My ds2 was born just before midnight and ds1 slept through it.

Am trying to answer everything, DH can't take the time off early because we don't know when the labour could start, it might tomorrow, or 38 weeks, or 42 weeks! He also can't stay within a set travelling distance just because of how his job is.

DS2 is just coming up to 2yo, so too young for the 999 call, he wouldn't know when to do it, and certainly wouldn't be able to tell anyone who picked up what's going on.

My neighbours, they would be here in a shot, but it is again letting them know (if I can't call 999, I can't call anyone) and they are mostly out and about, working etc.

I think what I need is something absolutely soild to say to the cons so he can't just let me walk out of his office with an induction date at 41 weeks. No matter how much of a stink I kick up, if he won't agree to it, then it makes no odds.

Failing something solid, I need the practical help/advise as to what I need, and what I need to know, to get through a labour/delivery on my own.

I was in this situ when expecting DD2. Had really fast labour with dc2 (dd1) and as dh is a trucker he could be miles away. We had just relocated so had nobody nearby who could help.

Discussed with mw who said that I should just call an ambulance right away. Not to worry about dc's as if need be the ambulance would bring them along and they would arrange someone to look after them at the hosp until dh arrived.

It does sound like you are panicking about this - if consultant won't induce can't dh take a few days off work around your due date to make sure he is there.

Sorry, have x posted, I need to go and get DS1 from school, will catch up when I get back

They would not induce me despite very clearly showing them how terrified I was and it was cuasing me anxiety (had quite good reason). So do the practical options. Try to get induced, but don't count on it. You can do this, you've done it before. and as you have done it before, you will be more 'with it' so able to ring 999 straight away

agree with pot pourri - it is extreamly unlikely htey will agree to induce you - it reall yis not good for babies to be induced pre due date, so mobile phone, leave key under flower pot or other outside front door if the door is usually locked, plastic sheet, suction bulb thing, clean towels . I honestly feel you will have time to call 999 if you do it the moment your waters break , then you get comfortable on your plastic sheet with a towel under your bottom if possible . have you thought of asking your midwife if you cna have ahome birth kit at home for this eventuallity and ask her to tak you htru what to do if baby crowns and you are still on your own .