Woman Gives Birth In Bathroom After Hospital Sends Her Home Twice

Amy S.F. Lutz — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 18:27:00 GMT

It was my greatest fear as my first pregnancy drew to a close: going to the hospital too early, and being sent home. What could be more demoralizing, or more anticlimactic? So as my husband begged me to let him drive me to the hospital, I kept calling my midwife, who told me she could tell from my breathing, from the tone of my voice, that I still had more laboring to do at home - until that final call, at about 4:00 in the morning, when she told me it was time.

Canadian Tracy Alphonse, 21, thought it was time - twice. She went to St. Mary's Hospital Center in Montreal on Friday night, but was sent home. On Saturday, her water broke, so she was taken by ambulance back to St. Mary's - and was sent home a second time. Alphonse told reporters, "Even after my water broke, I was sent away and told I was wasting their time and if I came back by ambulance, I would have to pay for the transportation."

Nice. Very professional and sympathetic to a woman in labor.

Mere hours after returning home, Alphonse - with the help of her boyfriend - gave birth in her bathroom to a healthy 6 lb., 3 oz. baby girl.

Hospital officials report that the case is "under review." Good. I've never heard of a pregnant woman being told to go home once her water has broken, and I can't believe that's consistent with hospital policy.

Strollerderby : St. Mary's Hospital Center

Woman Gives Birth In Bathroom After Hospital Sends Her Home Twice