Pregnancy Forum - Hospital Distance Advice Required


Hospital Distance Advice Required

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musikmaker

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Hospital Distance Advice Required Posted: 04-25-07 21:10pm


Hey guys, I haven't been posting that much lately because I have been busy trying to make some big decisions. I have one decision that I really need some help with and I was hoping you all could help me. My husband and I have decided to move to a cheaper area because our rent is just getting too much to handle. The problem is the places we are going to see are over an hour away from my hospital where I am going to be having .Luke. The place where I go to my appointments isn't that far away so that is fine it is just whenever I have to go to the hospital to deliver that could be the problem. I was just wondering if any of you have ever had to go to a hospital that is that far away and what it was like. I could change doctors but I love my doctors and I really don't want to change. My mom has gone to a hospital that far away but it wasn't her first so she knew what to expect. I have no idea how long I am going to be in labor. Argh! This is so annoying! We know that we are going to be moving to this cheaper area (out of the 'burbs) so really the question is whether or not I should change doctors. Do you guys have any pros or cons. I know that I am the one that ultimately needs to make this decision but I need some unbiased opinions please Thank you all so much! ~Courtnie

HcoBrunette06

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Posted: 04-25-07 22:18pm


well... i was going to say that you could move, and then once you feel contractions you could head out to a hotel closer to the hospital since you don't know how long you'll be in labor? but then again that might not be a good idea because you might have to end up traveling it several times if it's false labor. i have no idea lol just a thought? good luck!

mommyto3soontobe4boys

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Posted: 04-27-07 23:09pm


I am not sure what to tell you in this situation, I am now in my forth pregnancy and have not gone in to labor by myself but once. The hospital that I will be delivering at this time is 3 hours away, so I can feel your worrie there. I am just going to sit back and take things as they come and hope for the best. In a worst case sinario a helicopter could have you there in about 10 min so try not to worrie too much. Good luck

jozzie

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Posted: 05-01-07 09:45am


I was in the same situation you are in. The hospital where I wanted to deliver was about an hour away. I asked my Dr. and she told me to come to the hospital when my contractions were coming every 5 minutes for at least an hour since this was my first baby. If it had been my second she would have advised me to come when the contractions were 10 minutes apart. I started off with contractions every 5 mins at 7am and let them continue until 5pm before we got in the car to go. Why I waited so long before going was because the contractions were not very strong and I was not in that much pain at all...just minor discomfort. When we arrived at the hospital and they checked me I was only 1-2cm so they would not admit me because I was not far enough along and the baby was tolorating labor just fine. The triage nurse told me that this could go on for days! Luckily we had friends that lived close buy so I laboured ther till the next morning...thats when the contractions got much much stronger! When I went back to the hospital I was 5-6 so thank goodness they admitted me! My advise is unless you are able to put yourselves up in a hotel or have friends near the hospital and this is your first baby, to stay at home as long as you can to avoid being sent away from the hospital. We figured that if the worst happened and the baby was going to make his grand enterance on the highway then at least we had a cell phone and could call an ambulance to come and assist or get me to the hospital faster!

musikmaker

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Posted: 05-01-07 10:50am


Yeah, i have pretty much decided to stay with my hospital. I love this hospital. My in-laws live pretty close so we can hang out there if I get sent away. I have this weird feeling that I am going to go early. I can't figure out why though.... Also, is anyone else's baby already in the head down position? Mine is and for some reason my dr thinks that he is going to stay that way. He is so low that my pelvic bone hurts all the time and he hits my cervix I don't know if it is his head or his hand. Ouch!

jozzie

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Posted: 05-01-07 11:12am


How far along are you? My little man was in the head down position from week 32. The Dr. told me that its rare for them to change positions once they are in the head down position. I was 5 days overdue?! Once they are head down you sure do start to feel the pressure though dont you.

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Posted: 05-01-07 11:49am

jozzie wrote:

How far along are you?
My little man was in the head down position from week 32. The Dr. told me that its rare for them to change positions once they are in the head down position.
I was 5 days overdue?!
Once they are head down you sure do start to feel the pressure though dont you.

My sil lives about an hour from the hospital where she delivered her second child. She went in for her appointment and the baby had turned breach so they had to schedule a c-section. Well she went to the hospital for the c-section and when they looked at her, they said that the baby had turned back around with her head down - in less than a week!!! She went 5 days over and they had to induce her and ended up delivering c-section because she couldn't dilate. They were not to happy that they had to make two trips to the hospital, but now they could care less because they have their little girl in their arms

amyotucson

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I Had the Same Dilemna Posted: 05-01-07 12:23pm


hi ummm you should be just fine. how many kids have you had before? if this is not your first you need to consider how long the labor and delivery was with your others, but if it is your first it could get tricky i guess. let me tell you. i have given birth to 5 beautiful babies, most of them i lived any where from 15 min to 45 min away from my selected hospital. and my 4th one i was high risk and had many complications at 6 mo. so they hospitalized me for 2 mo. and then she didnt come until due date. my last one i lived 45 min at least away and every time i felt contractions 5-10 min. apart i went to the hospital (better to be safe then sorry at that distance) and i only made 3 trips i think so that wasnt bad. now my labors ranged alot. 1st- 5 1/2 hours, 2nd- 4 hours, 3rd- 1.5 hours, 4th- 2 hours, and 5th 5 hours.....and many others dont have theirs for like 12-18 hours so i would talk to your doctor. i normally didnt go to the hospital until i had contractions for an hour just because all you do at the hospital is walk the halls or get stuck in bed on monitors. i guess the answer you are looking for is....it's totally up to what you and your husband prefer.

musikmaker

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Posted: 05-01-07 14:01pm


Amy- this is my first so that is why I am somewhat worried. I hope that everything goes well! Jozzie- I am only 23 weeks so I think that he could easily turn again. My dr was the one that got excited though, not me lol. She said it is not normal for a ftm to have her baby's head down so early. All I know is that the pelvic pain hurts soooo bad. This just started happening maybe a week ago and it has not gone away since. Btw, I personally think that it is too early to know if the baby is going to stay head down but w/e. I am a ftm so I sorta need to keep my mouth shut. I have no clue what to expect!

Dannzibelle

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Posted: 05-01-07 14:06pm


.Mika's head down at the moment and has been for a week or so. My midwife thinks she could stay hed down but can't be certain because babies do what babies wanna do at the end of the day!

pumpkine0011

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Yep Posted: 05-01-07 19:55pm


my doctor is 2 and half hours away. We do not have anything around here. It is a tough decision. My hubby and I have been debating what we should do.