Interesting places where women have given birth

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

I heard on the news this morning that the Triboro Bridge was shut down because of a woman giving birth on the bridge. Made me wonder--what are some of the most interesting places you've heard of or dealt with where women have given birth?

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

my cousin elle delivered her first in the bathroom. she had bad cramps, and thought she must be about to have diarrhea from eating her mother's cooking. (my aunt mary is a wonderful woman, but a cook she is not!) she got a nice ambulance ride to the hospital.

the second time, she realized what was happening, woke her husband up and had him drive her to the hospital. they got all the way to the hospital, her second daughter was born on the front lawn of the hospital, delivered by a couple of respiratory therapists and a nurse on a smoke break.

the third time, she made it all the way to the er chairs -- where her third daughter was born before the triage nurse even got around to triaging her. "i'm so embarrassed," my cousin moaned.

"don't be embarassed," the triage nurse told her. "these things happen. why, a couple of years ago we had a woman deliver on the front lawn of the hospital!"

elle had her tubes tied after that, but the family always said she should have gone for a fourth child, just to see if she could have at least made it to a guerney this time!

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I plan on doing a UC. :D

Here are some quotes that I'm sure aren't against the UA

Good quotes :)

A good friend of mine had a UC recently. Her friend taped it and it was such a beautiful birth. My SIL is due next week and also planning a UC. It's not as uncommon as some would think.

But, yes, homebirth in general is becoming more and more popular. I think more women are taking control of their birth experiences and realizing how tough it can be in a hospital.

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Maybe I'm just old fashion but if ( when) I have a baby i want to be in the syrups with LOTS of drugs! More power to those that can go it without assistance, but I am a wimp.

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We had a mom deliver in her car....I know not very interesting....however, I asked the father when did the baby pop out, in the parking lot or on the way to hospital. He said the baby popped out just as they were driving under the bridge down the street a little ways.....That bridge connects two nudist complexes and is completely enclosed so the naked people can go across the street w/out getting dressed. We started calling that baby the "naked bridge baby." Course we didn't tell the parents that.

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Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.

All pregant women should be prepared for the possiblity of emergency unassisted childbirth. They should know what to do if the baby starts coming precipitously. In my very first childbirth class (long before I became a homebirth advocate) we were taught that if you really feel that the baby is coming, it is better to stay home, since your house will be a lot cleaner, safer and warmer than the car.

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All pregant women should be prepared for the possiblity of emergency unassisted childbirth. They should know what to do if the baby starts coming precipitously. In my very first childbirth class (long before I became a homebirth advocate) we were taught that if you really feel that the baby is coming, it is better to stay home, since your house will be a lot cleaner, safer and warmer than the car.

So true. A great book on this is Emergency Childbirth by Gregory White. (pretty sure that's the author)

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

In the back seat of a VW bug on a dirt raod.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

My husband was born on the dirt floor of his family's house in rural Mexico. My MIL had all 11 of her kids that way...not a day of PNC, a set of twins, and all but two are alive and fine. (One of the two died in a freak accident in childhood, the other died from no one really knows. Nobody went to a doctor 45 years ago in that neck o' the woods.) Makes you wonder if all the stuff we do to women is really necessary all the time.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

P.S. I am not advocating no PNC, just that a) I don't think she had access to PNC, and b) my Hispanic family members don't tend to see pregnancy as an illness, so why go to the doctor??

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I would love to UC, I just don't think DH's tolerance could extend to that. After forcing him to read several books and reports he has agreed to a homebirth for our next child. I will hold out hope that the next child comes so fast I can UC, but given my last two 24+ hour labors I doubt it:)

If I were to UC I would seek complete prenatal care to ensure that myself and the baby were healthy. Some women do "UP/UC" where they do not seek prenatal care- but most of these women (that I know) are pretty informed and keep an eye on themselves. Probably more than a 2 minute doppler check at the OB would do for you anyway;)

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Well, it reminds me of the folks who don't like to take baths because they don't want to soak in their own filth . . . all I can think about is all the stuff that comes out of momma that will be floating around in water . . .:uhoh3:

steph

Oh my gosh! That's what I always think about with waterbirths! I wouldn't mind laboring in a tub, but actually delivering there? Huh uh. Count me out.

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Specializes in High Risk In Patient OB/GYN.
I will hold out hope that the next child comes so fast I can UC, but given my last two 24+ hour labors I doubt it:)

If I were to UC I would seek complete prenatal care to ensure that myself and the baby were healthy. Some women do "UP/UC" where they do not seek prenatal care- but most of these women (that I know) are pretty informed and keep an eye on themselves. Probably more than a 2 minute doppler check at the OB would do for you anyway;)

You'd be surprised how much faster you labor when you're in a familiar comfortable place where you are at peace. :)

And I agree, those I've known who've UCed without any formal prenatal care were very informed and educated (followed Brewer's diet, no drugs/chemicals, exercised/yoga regularly, ate all natural foods and/or mostly organic, some dipped for protein/sugar, monitored BP, very in depth pregnancy/childbirth knowlege, etc).

It's very unfortunate that some people jump to conclusions and hear "no prental care" and talk about poor judgement, ignorance, even child abuse/neglect, when really, statistics show that these births often turn out much better than their hospital bound counterparts (much less c/s, less infection, less hemmorhage, less tears, etc).

I plan on UCing either my next child, or those after. I will not get formal prenatal care except seeing a CNM once or twice to test for Trisomy 13, a condition that I would most likely terminate for (as well as some others).

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