Bleg: Preparations for the possibility of unplanned unassisted home birth.

In the post about weekends, we kind of went off topic in the comments!

Commenter Jenny mentioned that she had a history of precipitous labor, and I suggested that (even though she and her husband prefer to plan a hospital birth) it would be a good idea to make a few preparations at home in the event of a precipitous labor necessitating an unplanned unassisted birth.

(If baby's about to come out, you're likely to be much safer staying home than trying to race to the hospital.)

Jenny sez:

I would love some recommendations. When I first went to the OB with this latest pregnancy, she actually suggested my husband come in to get some birthing pointers, just in case.

My husband keeps plants in the tub in our bathroom (don't ask). During my last pregnancy in the last month, I insisted he get them out of there and clean up the tub. I was not going to be a happy camper giving birth unexpectedly amongst his plants!

Getting the plants out of the tub is definitely a good start.

I have some ideas, but as I'm about to rush off to the vigil Mass I'm going to put this up here and invite ideas, recommendations, and brief precipitous-labor stories in the comments.  Be back later!

UPDATE:  More here.

Comments

[Jenny]

My general precipitous labor story is thus: my body dilates and effaces without me knowing it, i.e, no painful or regular contractions. My doctor watches the progression over the last few weeks of pregnancy. When I am a dilated to a 6, she schedules an induction for that night or the next day. I arrive at the hospital, have my water broken artificially, and deliver the baby in about an hour. It's a little crazy!

[Amy F]

Wow. As someone whose shortest labor was 8 hours (the others being 24 and 18), that's hard to wrap my head around. I'm glad you've found a system that works for you!