The maternity ward I am going to have DS2 at closes one day a week. If I go into labour that day I need to go to Scarborough(boo hiss). Only thing is MW said to ring labour ward when contractions are between 5-10 minutes apart. If I wait until then I probably won't get to Scarborough. It takes 30-45 minutes to get there in good weather. It'd be about an hour in all this snow and ice.

So if I ring and they are closed what do you suggest I do?

Have you had a very quick labour before? In all of mine I was certainly at the contractions every 5-10 mins stage for a lot longer than 30-45 minutes. I guess all you can do is ignore what the MW said and hotfoot it to Scarborough at the first sign of any action at all. Good luck

I was in established labour with DS for 4 hours. The MW said when I had him I should really have a homebirth if I had another baby.

Don’t take any risks. Especially if you had a quick labour with DS1.
I know you don’t want to go to Scarborough, hopefully labour will not fall on that day. However, if it does, do not leave it and leave it so late just to go to your chosen birth centre. You baby is more important than the colour of the walls or the scruffy carparks etc.Scarborough will still have fully trained and professional staff able to help you. Better there than leave it so late, bad weather too, and need to pull over and call an ambulance from a layby!!

prepare for a HB. Get Ina May's Guide to Childbirth asap. It was all i needed to prepare for my HB. BTW, have you read my birth story? the shortened version is on MN. I ended up with an unassisted home water birth. I would have ended up delivering by the side of the motorway if I had attempted to get to hospital anyway.

Go as soon as you feel the first twinge. I've had fast labours & had to be in hospital so have your bag in the car ready.

How about a homebirth?

Ooh foxytocin can you link to your birth story short/long please? Great name btw.
Kay have replied on the wagon. I would suggest blue-light travel or hb.

LemonTart, the staff are the reason I don't want to go. I would rather have him in a layby then go back there ever again.

Glasgowstyle, can't have bag in car ready, we don't drive so my mum will hopefully be taking us.

I will now be asking MW about Homebirth but I am expecting her to say I have left it too late for it to be arranged.

you can never leave it too late to decide on a hb. even if you are already in labour you can decide to stay home. i did a lot of reading on planning a home birth as IME lots of times women are told things to deter them from a HB.

i also wanted a hb because i was terrified, really irrationally terrified, to labour again in a hospital after the experience with dd1 which left me with PTSD.

link

Like foxy says, it's never too late. A hb sounds like a great option for you - in fact the most sensible option - especially considering how quick your last labour was. Definitely have a chat with your mw asap - like today

Why does the unit close one day a week? That sounds insane. Is it staffing issues?

I am seeing her tomorrow morning and I will tell her that I am going to have him at home.

Shame that I don't have time to get a pool.

Good plan! How many weeks are you, out of interest?

I like the way you said 'I will tell her...' - that's the spirit

when are you due? I'm sure you can probably get next day delivery on a pool.

have you looked into pools? i suspect you are far along but surely if you order one today it can be there by saturday if not earlier? i found the la bassine excellent size and price wise.

Snaf, it is staffing shortages. They are closing it in April because they are building a MLU at Scarborough hospital so they are closing all the maternity units in the area. So it is being run down.

Apparently if they have a birth overnight there is no one to do the paperwork following day.

as long as you don't go into labour today or tomorrow it's not too late for a pool.

are you wanting to hire or buy?

I am 39 weeks on Friday.

I'd like to buy one so if we have another we have it.

I can recommnend this.

yup that's the one. another baby may be made in it soon too!

foxy! you have been enjoying dh since his return haven't you!

no, not by me. by another MNer who is due this month.

Phew. I thought that was a bit keen

theres only a one in seven chance you'll have this problem.
But I didnt make it to hosp as dd turned up a bit sharpish, even though it only takes 10-15 min to get from our house to inside our local hosp after parking....