My Emergency Home Birth Story

The day started like any other day. My husband and 2 year old son and I had an early breakfast. My mother arrived to look after our son, while we headed to the Birthing Unit of the hospital for my first induction set. There were a few reasons why my doctor scheduled an induction. I was a week past my due date and I was considered to have a high-risk pregnancy because of high blood pressure and gestational diabetes.

When my husband and I found out we were expecting our second child, we were thrilled. I had the usual symptoms. I knew that I wanted my baby to be born in a hospital. Never in a million years would I have imagined giving birth to him at home. Our oldest son was born in our local hospital with knowledgeable doctors and nurses around so I had no reason to even consider having the baby at home.

On the morning of September 25, 2007, my husband and I headed to the Birthing Unit of the hospital where I was induced. I was induced with Cervidil to help my cervix ripen. After the induction, I was kept in triage for observation. We were told it was to monitor how the baby was coping with the induction.

Induction pain is centralised around the pelvis, it was explained to me and labor pains would be felt in lower abdomen. Equipped with information about induction using Cervidil and knowing when you are in labor, we were sent home to wait out labor there.

A couple hours later, the pain was constant and excruciating. I called the Birthing Unit with the hope that we would be instructed to come in. Instead, the nurse told us that pain was normal in labor and I would have it for the duration. I wasn’t experiencing what the medical profession would consider typical contractions. There wasn’t any break in between the pain.

In hindsight, we should have trusted my instincts and left for the hospital. After my conversation with the hospital, I went in to lie down. A short time later, I began spotting. According to the “how to know you are in Labor” pamphlet, I was to call the hospital. Speaking to same nurse, I was instructed to track of the bleeding and call back in an hour.

I didn’t make the hour, my water broke around and about 15 minutes later, my son was born. With the help of my mother, a registered nurse and 911, my son was born at 3:58pm that afternoon – a mere 2 minutes before I was to call the hospital back.

If I can offer any piece of advice to expectant mothers it would be this. If you think you are in labor and in spite of what you are told by the nursing staff of the hospital — always contact your doctor or head to the hospital. By trusting your instincts you can prevent the possibility of having an emergency home birth.

Related posts:

1. Home Birth or Natural Birth Books Recommendations
2. My Home Birth Team
3. What To Expect When You Are Very Overdue
4. Creating a Birth Plan
5. Giving Birth for the First Time and Preparing for the Unexpected