So I learned something today.
I learned that when you talk about length of labour, specifically with the midwives, and you say "my first labour was X hours long" that when they do that math, they don't count the first part. Hanging out at home, having contractions all day long? Doesn't count. They count the "active labour" time.
So, here I was thinking that we had a nice long labour last time around, and had nothing to worry about. Except those 10 hours that I spent labouring at home? Nope, we're not counting those. What we count is the time when things really picked up, till pop goes the baby.
The whole event is a little blurry for me, but the part that the midwife pointed out to me is the part where I went from 6cm to fully dilated to pushing to pop goes the baby in about, oh, 90 minutes. The part where we sent my mom home to get some rest, and she ended up missing the whole thing. The part where the second midwife arrived JUST in the nick of time to catch the baby.
So, if my first labour was any indication, we may be looking at a rather SPEEDY labour this time around. (Hopefully not as speedy as some people, granted, but still speedy!) A speedy labour at home, where the midwives are all travelling from at least a 1/2 hour away, in the dead of winter, and knowing our luck, likely in the middle of the night.
Good times.
So we get to have the "emergency chat." (I think they do it for all home births, but the midwife I saw today stressed it's importance this time around.) This is the chat where they sit down with the husband and say, "so if you're wife goes into labour, and we don't think we're going to make it on time, this is how to deliver a baby."
You should have seen Steve's face when I told him he had to have "the chat."
That being said, they also advise that if things aren't looking good for their arrival, you get your butt on the phone with 911, and hope that at least the paramedics arrive in time to catch the baby. And luckily, there is an ambulance depot here in town. And you may be thinking (as Steve was,) is it terribly wise to be planning a home birth under such conditions? The midwife assured me today that indeed it was, as having a baby at home with paramedics in your living room is much preferable to having a baby in the back seat of your car on the side of the highway, on the way to the hospital.
So. Speedy labour. Right. I think I can get on board with that.
Then again, I don't think I'll have much choice!
4 comments:
Do you know the story about the lady who delivered in the elevator on the way up to the delivery floor? She was very embarrassed and apologizing profusely. The nurse said, "Don't worry, ma'am, it's fine. A few years ago someone delivered in the grass right outside." The lady did another big sob and said, "I know. That was me."
When I was thinking of a baby I thought a midwife would be the way to go... the doctors and hospitals always pissed me off with their nonchalance and attitudes, the delivery methods, etc etc. So you go, mom. Do what needs doin' - we'll hold the elevator for you (nice one, Windy!)
My sister-in-law's girls came out in under 2 hours . . . boom...she had very fast deliveries. I think my labor was pretty long...I don't care what they say 23 1/2 hours ugh.....
Here's some reassurance. My first labour was average, second super fast and third... long, long, long. Just because your last babe came fast doesn't always mean the next will be even faster. You know what to expect this time. That will be to your advantage.
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