When planning a home birth, the transport plan is important. Even if it's no more than, "If I feel the need to get help my husband will drive me to XYZ hospital."
What are the reasons for transport? There's really only one definite reason, the mother has gotten the distinct feeling from her child that something is wrong and a life is in danger. Anything less than that and you could end up having a hospital birth that "should have been" a home birth. Hospitals have surgeons that can save the life of a birthing pair who have gotten into a difficult situation, that makes them invaluable to anyone who values the lives of women and children. Empowered birthers are not anti-hospital, they are respectful of the hospital's ability to save lives and feel hospital services should be reserved for those women and babies who really need them.
Some women choose hospital births because of the pain relief offered there. Usually, when the pain gets unbearable during birth, the pushing stage and the pain relief it brings are not far off. But, if you need help, you need help.
When transporting to the hospital, use your own vehicle if possible, call ahead to labor and delivery and go directly there unless told otherwise. Calling 911 and using an ambulance brings EMT's into your home. This can be an awkward situation when you know more about normal birth than they do. Obviously you won't be driving yourself to the hospital and situations like a prolapsed cord will often require extra hands, so 911 can be a specific type of back-up plan, it's just not usually a good first choice.
Having a "code word" for transport set up with your support team in advance can empower the birthing mother. Notify your support team that no one is allowed to mention the word "hospital" or mention its possible benefits except the mother herself. Giving the mother control of the word(s) "hospital" (or "epidural" or "cesarean") empowers her and elevates her status in the birthing team. She is no longer being coached, she is coaching the team. Knowing that she has the power of "hospital" and all it entails for her body and her birth is a sobering responsibility. It allows her to labor without fear of being "dragged off for her own good" but it also means that she needs to be honest within herself about what she can and can't handle during labor and act accordingly.
Many midwives may be unfamiliar with or uncomfortable with giving the mother the power of a code word. If you plan to use a midwife for your home birth, be sure she understands your needs before you go into labor.
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