Why do the surprise birth at home or side of the road always have no complications or C-section needs?

[Anonymous]

I think many of these are also cases where the water never broke.

The woman didn’t know she was in labor until it was too late . By then, contractions came about and the anxiety and fear of knowing you’re not in the hospital may actually push the baby out sooner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sections happen sooner to avoid these scenarios

Wrong. Many doctors say you need an emergency section when you really don’t since they don’t feel like wasting their whole day waiting for you. If you had an epidural for your section, it wasn’t an emergency. If you have precipitous labor, you don’t need a section.

[Anonymous]

I had precipitous labor for my first this past summer and almost gave birth in the car after my water broke at home. He was born 13 mins after we got to the hospital that was 7 mins away and I was 9 cm dilated . It was pretty crazy but I’m still glad my husband didn’t pull over when I begged him to. I had maybe 2-3 hours of contractions total but I really didn’t think they were that painful until my water broke and it was extremely painful! My OB didn’t make it in time the on call OB delivered him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sections happen sooner to avoid these scenarios

Wrong. Many doctors say you need an emergency section when you really don’t since they don’t feel like wasting their whole day waiting for you. If you had an epidural for your section, it wasn’t an emergency. If you have precipitous labor, you don’t need a section.

Exactly.

[Anonymous]

If you’re late in active labor by the side of the road and need a C-section, you don’t “have the baby by the side of the road”—the baby is, by definition, stuck in there—and therefore it doesn’t get reported on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve never -that I can recall- heard of a situation where mom delivers in the car or somewhere unexpectedly needing medical care or realizing she would need a cesarean. Are you less likely to spontaneously go into labor if you would need a c-section? I’ve also never seen in these stories of the child or mother experiencing any complications. This is a wonderful thing but what are the chances?

Are these women less likely to have health issues?

I can think of two possible reasons:

1. Problematic pregnancies tend to be harder to deliver and are thus easier to hold in until reaching the hosptial

2. The ergonomic position of car/roadside childbirth (squatting) leads to fewer complications compared to the unnatural position of laying flat on a bed, which leads to a smaller pelvis (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4235063/)

[Anonymous]

I had a precipitous birth at home with nobody but my husband and a 911 operator for help. Speed definitely played a factor. My contractions went from 1 to 1000 in about 2 minutes. I didn’t even push - baby just came.

Baby’s size also mattered in my case. Based on my previous births, I learned that I make big babies and my body is not made to deliver them vaginally. This baby was early and therefore smaller. She shot out of me. EMTs arrived maybe 10 minutes after she did. She was not well and spent a long time in the NICU. (She’s now a thriving, healthy 8-year-old. All is well!)

[Anonymous]

I almost had my second born on the Teddy Roosevelt bridge. By the time o got to the hospital he was almost out. It was 15 min later I gave birth quickly and with not a single iv , etc. a month shy of 38. 7 lbs, healthy baby

My first born was uneventful - but it was a longer time from first contractions to actual birth. 8lbs healthy baby.

I was a healthy avid exerciser with no underlying conditions. Really good shape.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think many of these are also cases where the water never broke.

The woman didn’t know she was in labor until it was too late . By then, contractions came about and the anxiety and fear of knowing you’re not in the hospital may actually push the baby out sooner.

The TR bridge- yeah my water never broke. They punctured bag

[Anonymous]

You just don't hear about those stories as much. There are plenty of stories about these births gone wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I almost had my second born on the Teddy Roosevelt bridge. By the time o got to the hospital he was almost out. It was 15 min later I gave birth quickly and with not a single iv , etc. a month shy of 38. 7 lbs, healthy baby

My first born was uneventful - but it was a longer time from first contractions to actual birth. 8lbs healthy baby.

I was a healthy avid exerciser with no underlying conditions. Really good shape.

Kudos, you win.

[Anonymous]

Because they usually don't share the story if the ending isn't happy.

It's like those of us who weren't able to have a baby after infertility treatments, no one wants to hear about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a precipitous birth at home with nobody but my husband and a 911 operator for help. Speed definitely played a factor. My contractions went from 1 to 1000 in about 2 minutes. I didn’t even push - baby just came.

Baby’s size also mattered in my case. Based on my previous births, I learned that I make big babies and my body is not made to deliver them vaginally. This baby was early and therefore smaller. She shot out of me. EMTs arrived maybe 10 minutes after she did. She was not well and spent a long time in the NICU. (She’s now a thriving, healthy 8-year-old. All is well!)

For some reason I want more details about these crazy births. Like did you take your underwear off or was it such a surprise you were still dressed? Where in your house were you? How was your husband reacting?

[Anonymous]

They don't. My mom had a surprise birth at home following a placental aburption. My sibling ended up okay (some slight weakness in ine arm due to neck stress) but my mom was rushed to the hospital into surgery and needed significant amounts of blood. Without getting rushed to the hospital, mom would have died. The only reason my mom and sister are alive today is out next door neighbor was a doctor.

I was pretty young, but I was so, so scared.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a precipitous birth at home with nobody but my husband and a 911 operator for help. Speed definitely played a factor. My contractions went from 1 to 1000 in about 2 minutes. I didn’t even push - baby just came.

Baby’s size also mattered in my case. Based on my previous births, I learned that I make big babies and my body is not made to deliver them vaginally. This baby was early and therefore smaller. She shot out of me. EMTs arrived maybe 10 minutes after she did. She was not well and spent a long time in the NICU. (She’s now a thriving, healthy 8-year-old. All is well!)

This sounds so traumatic. Glad
She’s ok now. Hope you are too.