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Childbirth

What's the legal position on traveling by car to the hospital in labour without a seatbelt?

44 replies

whomovedmychocolate · 09/12/2007 19:47

Idle curiousity - but does anyone know if it's legal to go on all fours with no belt on if you have to? I'm just imagining that sitting in the passenger seat tightly reigned in can't be much fun

OP posts:

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BellaBear · 09/12/2007 19:47

Good point,

I can't imagine anyone seriously prosecuting for it

whomovedmychocolate · 09/12/2007 19:49

I can just imagine the policeman stopping you would be in a right quandary - do I nick this woman or get out of the way before she blows?!

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BellaBear · 09/12/2007 19:51

OBVIOUSLY they would do the cheesy Richard Curtis film thing and drive ahead of you to the hospital, clearing the way of traffic.

stockingfiller · 09/12/2007 19:51

lol i didnt put belt on when i was in labour i was in back seat though kept turning round etc

Kathyate6mincepies · 09/12/2007 19:51

I don't know.
I only just got to the hospital in time with ds so much of the really good bits of labour were in the car. I seem to remember that between contractions I was telling dh off for going over the speed limit . When I took my seatbelt off and tried to turn round in the passenger seat dh started to realise we hadn't got much time.

notnowbernardimstuffingthebird · 09/12/2007 19:53

In all honesty, it would have been absolutely the last thing on my mind. There was no way I was even able to sit on my arse, it was too painful!

OhGiveUsAPruniPudding · 09/12/2007 19:53

I did put the seatbelt on!
I remember groaning a lot and wondering how DH and my friend (who was driving) could make conversation at all
Anyway, sorry I don't know the answer.

Hulababy · 09/12/2007 19:53

Officially would be illegal I would imagine. If there are seat blets available you have to use them no exemptions I think. I can't a policeman ever having much to say about it if they did stop you however.

camillathechicken · 09/12/2007 19:53

i think you;d be allowed !

i did wear my seat belt, i was in the back... and clinging onto the hanging thingie above the door and begging DH to 'STOP DRIVING SO FAST OV ER THE FCKING BUMPS IN THE ROAD YOU FCKING F*CKER'

SantasLittleToiletFlusher · 09/12/2007 19:54

Pregnant women are exempt from wearing their seatbelt but only if they have an exemption certificate from their GP.

I honestly do not think any police officer in their right mind would ever try and give you a ticket for not wearing one if you were in labour though!

They are still allowed a bit of discretion....

Turkeyandsproutsx3 · 09/12/2007 20:03

You should wear your seatbelt - if you had an accident then the consequences could be awful. I wore mine on way to hosp in the front - fully dilated and ready to push (no pain relief) - screamed all the way - was only 20 minutes and dh did drive very fast and was very very very bumpy

whomovedmychocolate · 09/12/2007 20:03

You see, I got a speeding ticket in labour (first pregnancy I had no idea what the pain was, thought I needed to poop ) so I think perhaps they might nick you if they saw your writhing about in the back.

Or at least nick the driver because they are jointly responsible for getting you to belt up

OP posts:

NAB3littlemonkeys · 09/12/2007 20:04

Wear a belt. It hopefully is a short journey and the idiot won't not crash into you because you don't have your belt on.

whomovedmychocolate · 09/12/2007 20:08

NAB makes a good point and in principle I agree with you. I have a 35 mile journey to hospital so it's either a seatbelt or DH gets a large dog cage for me

OP posts:

SantasLittleToiletFlusher · 09/12/2007 20:11

Yes, good point and the driver is also bound to be a bit distracted.....

minspugs · 09/12/2007 20:11

i wore the seat belt with both of mine, was bloody uncomfortable though. with dd1 we were pulled over by the police for having no back light (was 2 am) 5 mins from the hospital. the look on the poor blokes face when he saw me in the back was priceless. he asked if we needed a escort said no

Turkeyandsproutsx3 · 09/12/2007 20:17

I can honestly say that I have no recollection whatsoever of how comfortable the seatbelt was - top of the list was not pushing!

notnowbernardimstuffingthebird · 09/12/2007 20:20

I have to say, there was no way I could have worn a seat belt with dd1! Just no way. I could not be in a sitting down position through a contraction, and they were 2-3 mins apart during the journey.

I was on my knees on the back seat, attracting odd glances from passengers in other vehicles.

LadyOfTheFlowers · 09/12/2007 20:25

i wore it for ds1 but for ds2 we left when contractions were 2 mins apart and a minute long so needless to say i was in the back on all fours!

they do have some descretion and most would also allow a few mphs over the limit. as long as you are not taking the piss and are actually at the panting stage!!

chirpygirl · 09/12/2007 20:35

I managed to get my seatbelt on when we left the house, but then DH stopped at the bloody garage for some fags and a paper when I was going every 2 minutes.
There is still a fist mark in the headliner where I punched it in agony before taking the belt off and turning sideways.
The other customers in teh garage were fairly bemused at me screaming out of the window for him to hurry up. (I also remember telling him to stop turning f*cking corners and drive straight, you bastard)

Def illegal, but doubtful you would be charged with anything!

chirpygirl · 09/12/2007 20:37

Have to say DH spent the rest of the journey panicking in case we crashed as I had no belt, so I would wear it if you can.

Ceolas · 09/12/2007 20:39

Wouldn't have occurred to me not to wear a seatbelt...

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Hulababy · 09/12/2007 20:42

TBH the legality of it all would not be my concern.

"I'm just imagining that sitting in the passenger seat tightly reigned in can't be much fun "

No, probably not. But the consequences of crashing whilst not wearing the seatbelt when heavily pregnant would be even worse for me to conteplate not using the seat belt. TBH the legality of it all would not be my concern.

Bouncingturtle · 10/12/2007 10:23

I'm with Hulababy - I'll be belting up when I go into labour - part of the route is on a busy dual carriageway - it'll be just my luck DH is taking me into the hospital in rush hour. Luckily hospital is only 15 mins away.
I imagine any position you're in would be very painful!
After all your Dh could be the safest driver on the planet - but you can't do anything about the other buggers driving!

WhenScoobyGotStuckUpTheChimney · 10/12/2007 10:27

Ds i was on the back seat with no seat belt on, to much pain & if any police had stopped us & asked anything i think he would have known better not to mess with a pregnant in labour women

Dd however i was in agony but sat in the front & managed the seat belt even though i was being sick into a bowl.

actually just figured out why, probably had no seat belt with ds because my mum had taken us because dp could not drive, with dd dp drove me (passed his test) i hate his driving

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