Has anyones partner not made it in time for the birth?

[NorkyButNice]

DH's commute is up to an hour and a half so not all that far away, but how do you decide when to put the call in without leaving it too late for them to get back?

DS was a 6 hour labour - at that time DH was a 10 minute walk away at work but it happened at the weekend anyway so he was around.

Anyones partner only just make it?

I was fully expecting ex-H (dh at time) not to make it to ds2 as he was on secondment in london and down there early monday am to late friday evening. And ds1 had been a very quick 1st birth.

I planned a home birth for ds2, and was fully prepared to be birthing alone.

As it happened I went into labour v late Fri evening, so H was home. Not that he did alot, no time to.

But I had contingency plans about leaving door unlocked for MW etc.

My first (and only so far) was fairly quick at 5 and a half hours, after 3 hours my mother took me to the hospital, but I didn't really think I would be that far on so I sent DH to his dental appointment... needless to say we got to the hospital, found out I was alot further on than I thought and my mother promptly phoned DH telling him to come quick (its a half hour drive).
I think for any future births I may go through, its more important in my mind just to get to the hospital myself (I would hate to make a mess in someones car) and worry about DH missing out afterwards.

I know all births are not the same, but when did you feel as if you were in labour, how did you know it was labour rather than BH? Perhaps whenever you work that out... is when you should call.

I'm worried about this too. My first was a c-section, my scond was a vbac and when I got into hospital it took 4.5 hours. We don't really have anyone who can look after the children during a weekday and at the weekend my Dad is an hour away (if they happen to be free !) I have visions of going into labour and my husband and the kids driving me to the hospital 30 minutes away and me giving birth while he is trying to find childcare ! I think I may as well get used to that thought although I really really want him there (even though he was pretty useless - it's just nice to have him there anyway).

Yep, my worry as well. DH's commute up to a couple of hours and DC1 came rather quickly. I have organised for grandparents' to come and stay with us for a couple of weeks leading up to my due date so that I at least know that DC is looked after if/when I need to go to hospital. Have pretty well decided that DH won't make it home to drive me there and the best we can do, if he's at work, is to meet at the hospital.

The other issue I have is living in a small village where taxis and neighbours are few and far between. Midwife has suggested I get set up for a homebirth as a contingency - it wouldn't be my first choice but better to be prepared and possibly better than having to call an ambulance at the last minute.

Glad I'm not the only one worrying about this!

Last time my waters broke and there was meconium so we went straight in. DS arrived 6 hours later!

First labour very protracted - sent dh home to feed the cat. By the time he came back the epidural had worn off, the anaesthetist was stuck in theatre and I wasn't very happy. Told midwives to send him off somewhere as I knew he wouldn't like it - they told him to go for something to eat. They meant the chocolate machine but he went to McDonalds! He wouldn't normally touch the bloomin' things!

So ds1 arrived... cue 6 midwives dashing round the hospital trying to find him! When he eventually returned from stuffing his Big Mac he sat down next to me and I said 'Err.. have you noticed there's a baby over there??!'

My dh nearly missed dc2's birth. My first labour was days long. My second was 1hr 20 from start to finish. Dh literally came running through the door in time to catch her.