Early laboring at home?

I labored and birthed my son at home. I had a midwife and doula.

My first I laboured at home for 9 hours then went into hospital to deliver. My second I laboured and gave birth at home

I wanted to labor at home for longer than I did but my spouse wasn't comfortable with that, so we went to the hospital. And I'm glad we did! I was having blood pressure problems and pre eclampsia

I had my labour at home but it was unintentional 😂 didn’t realise I was in actual labour but when I got to hospital and they examined me I was 9cm dilated. I would say if it’s something you’re going to do, to consider how long it will / could take you to get to hospital in case of any emergencies so as not to cause any risk x

My midwife said not to come to the hospital until I couldn’t walk or talk through the contractions. Jokes on her, my water broke before I had any contractions, so I had to come to the hospital.

I just had my second baby this morning and I delivered within half an hour or less of arriving at the hospital, if I wait a little bit more he would have been born on the way there 🫣

Wonderful birth experience - I labored at home right until the pushing urge and went to the hospital. Try to stay at home for a while and call the hospital to tell that you are in Labour or water broke (depending on country) to get their advice. Being at home especially all early Labour is good because you are more relaxed, your hormones work better because of that as they dont compete wjth adrenaline and you can create the set up you like (candles, scenting, music (also being to hospital)…) in many countries that is the recommendation, only come to the hospital when labour ja very established as the car ride and stress slows down the process. early labour can last for days… i have several friends who went to the hospital way too early (for example with irregular contractions) and needed intervention!

I was in and out of hospital for check up, fluids and anti sickness injection 🤣 as my labour was stopping and starting but the final time I got to hospital I was 7cm and she was born maybe 3 hours later but we live 10 mins drive or less to the hospital

I laboured at home for approx 12 hours, I was 5cm dilated when I went into hospital and it was very quick after that! Baby arrived within another 6 hours 😊 It was definitely much more preferable to being in hospital for me and meant hubby could get a last night of sleep in 😂

I'm not sure which country you are in? But in the UK early labouring (to ~4cm) at home is completely normal unless there are complications. Do you go to hospital straight away in some other countries? However, you would always ring up for advice. With my first I laboured nearly all day at home then went to hospital at approx 6/7pm when I thought the pain was getting too much and I was only 2cm 😅 got sent home after a couple of hours, then returned at 4am and I was 4cm. I eventually had her at 2pm

I did that for all 3. Who wants to wait around for hours and days and get prodded and poked in hospital…not me. So I beared as much if I could at home and went in…after 24hrs since my first contraction I couldn’t hold a convo anymore and felt it “was time”…went in they did a quick scan to see where baby is sitting and they checked me I was at 7cm and some gas and 3hrs later I was pushing. I also do that on purpose coz I don’t want the epi in my face- if it’s not available it’s not an option. I always come in too late for epi but if I was in hospital bearing the same pain my mental brain would’ve just asked for it. So I’m glad I held out. Same story for 2nd and 1st except 2nd I was at 42w, my 3rd was born on the night of his EDD labour came a day before.

When I had my third there were no rooms or midwives available at the hospital. So I laboured at a nearby hotel with my husband until I was pretty much ready to push, then went to hospital and gave birth immediately. Honestly the best birth out of the three - we had a huge bed, Uber eats, snacks, tv, privacy, low lights and flameless candles. Honestly the best way to do it.

Also, it’s not like the movies where you are suddenly in labour and it’s intense, I had three days of contractions before labour intensified and about 24 hours between water breaking and birth. While I was in labour we went to the movies, I did school drop offs and pick ups, gardening, went for walks… until contractions are 5 minutes apart, lasting for 1 min each for over an hour, our hospital says not to come in anyway.

I was out Christmas shopping and didn’t realize I was in early labor. When I did start thinking it might be I was determined to finish shopping. contractions got consistent 5 minutes apart and that's when we went to the hospital. We got to the hospital around 6pm. Baby arrived at 1137pm. Personally would not want to labor in the hospital all day. But that's just me.

In the US they won’t let you do early labor at the hospital unless you are being induced or are high risk. If you come to the hospital in early labor they’ll just send you home. I think it’s like that in most countries, so it’s not something you have to ask for. Hospitals literally don’t have the space and staff to accommodate someone not in active labor.

When I went on the hospital tour, I was told by the nurse to labor at home for as long as I possibly could. She said unless I had bleeding, my water broke or the pain was so unbearable, just stay home. She said the earlier you go in, the higher your chance of a c section due to interventions. Her words exactly were “if you’re here, we have to do something to you”. My OB told me the same thing. So I labored at home until my contractions were 3 mins apart, lasting for 1 min each, for an hour. I went into labor at 530 am on June 5, checked in to the hospital at 3am on June 6th. Baby was born at 10:58. So I labored at home almost a full 24hrs.

I stayed at home until I couldn’t take it anymore! I think I was 3 or 4 cm when I was admitted.

@Kate This honestly depends on the woman. My labour was ~36hrs, but right from the start they were 3 in 10 for about 45 seconds and there's no way I could "carry on" with normal life, they definitely stopped me in my tracks and i had to breathe through them. I know my mum slow laboured like what you're describing for days, though. I also know someone who only laboured for 2hrs with her first!

Yup. It was amazing. This is my second baby so I kinda knew what to expect. I birth for 9 hours at home in the morning. I started feeling very light contractions at around 5:00 in the morning. They started getting closer together, I called my doctor and he suggested for me to wait it out a little bit so I didn't start heading out to the doctor till about 2:30. While I was at home I ate I watch TV I soaked in the tub. I relaxed. I did a lot of soaking in the tub. When I got to the hospital my contractions were pretty gnarly, I was approximately 4 cm dilated. I was in severe pain. It took them about an hour and a half or more to give me my light dose of epidural. I was adamant that I wanted a light dose. They gave me a perfect dose that took the pain away but allowed me to still move my legs a bit. At 8:30 I was giving birth. Three hard pushes and this baby came out. It was a wonderful experience