Thanks for all info. I wonder how I could subtly find out likely time to wait for ambulance? Plus then think unless I was within minutes of pushing they'd prob try to load me in & drive off for hosp - never been in back of one, how would you manage in one whilst in throes of heavy labour - would you be on stretcher bed (back to probs with spd - can't stand any seated/lying pressure on pelvis during contractions), in heap on floor or hanging from roof straps like some surreal tube journey?
Oh Loopsymumsy, I really don't want ARM. Obviously if life-or-death situation with baby, but otherwise nooooo. With last baby waters broke naturally 10mins before he was born, but when he arrived he was all tangled up in the cord - neck, shoulder, & 1 arm (yes, they said it was unfeasibly long thin cord!) - I was later told by Ob Dr friend that it was better for my baby that waters not been broken early, as apparently waters going can cause pressure on the cord,& obv babies with cords round necks are most vunerable to it.
I know ARM is now routine, & indeed my waters broke early on in labours 1 & 2, but then I didn't know of any poss risk & so didn't worry, & yes, babies were fine. But it's one of those cases that the more you know, the more you worry, & after whole cord thing & blue baby last time I'd be nervous of agreeing to ARM now.
Tangle - am very encouraged by your early successful induction with gel only - I think that's the only thing I'd be happy to accept. My last two babies came bang on the EDD, so I'm worried that a week early will mean cervix isn't ripe (think that's the phrase) & therefore gel won't work, forcing me into downward spiral of ARM then drips & epidurals...but obviously not case with you. I read on another thread somewhere that if gel doesn't work & you refuse further efforts the gel can still have irritated the cervix, causing crampy contractions (yet not effective) for days - not something anyone fancies!
Hospital consultant didn't exactly fill me with confidence - he barely looked in my direction - so will be trying to get a lot more answers next time when I'll doubtless see a different one...
I like your point about when concern re labour at home greater than concern re induction... but it's the whole hindsight thing isn't it. I've been lucky nothing has ever gone badly wrong, so odds on this baby will be born ok too, but can I live with myself afterwards if I refuse induction, stay at home, run out of time & something awful happens to the baby? No. On other hand, why should I be treated as high risk & somehow a danger to my baby (IYKWIM) purely because my body has become super-efficient at a totally natural process?
Aaargh. Wonder if time for DH to take some sort of crash course in delivering babies...? It's the cord-round-neck thing that really worries me, or thought of baby getting jammed.
Home birth - absolutely can't be done. Am not living in UK anymore, where I had home birth for my first, but in Southern Ireland where it's not available on the approx-equivalent NHS. Nearest private midwife over an hour away - even if we had the dosh to pay, which we don't.
Would definately stay at home with ambulance on way if time goes against me... will be excellent contraception message for teenage son when he hears me screaming away in the living room.
I've gone on again... sorry