London - Taxis to St Thomas' whilst in labour

[Blobby11]

Hi
I am due to give birth at St Thomas' in a few weeks and thought it might be easier to go to hospital in a taxi as parking could be a nightmare, but I've heard that some taxis won't take labouring women. Does anyone know a company who will?
Thanks

[iskra]

Pretty sure this has come up before. Have you done a search?

[lucidlady]

A friend of mine used Addison Lee to get to St Thomas's a few weeks ago whilst in labour. They were fine about it (her husband warned them) but did say that they couldn't bring the baby home from hospital in one of their taxis without a car seat.

[Blobby11]

Thanks Lucidlady, I'll give them a call

[wilbur]

I used Keens - 020 7223 1111 to get to Tommy's while in labour (I think the driver might still be traumatised as we'd left it a bit late) and they were fine. Didn't even mind dh cramming the birthball in the back seat next to me.

[crazynanna]

Wilbur...what a sight for passers by!

[PrettyCandles]

Black cabs are brilliant when in labour. I used them for two of mine (ambulance for the third - black cabs far more c

[wilbur]

Yes, it was an eventful night, all told. When dh called to get a cab to bring him home, they sent a people carrier without even asking!

[PrettyCandles]

Argh! Bleeping iPhone!

Black cabs are brilliant when in labour. I used them for two of mine (ambulance for the third - black cabs far more comfortable!), also once when I was in agony mid-pregnancy.

Black cabs cannot refuse a woman in labour, and IME the drivers are very considerate.

Have a couple of phone numbers ready, and make sure that they both work.

[MrsSchadenfreude]

I flagged one down in the street and had contractions very, very quietly on the back seat. Oh, and it was Guy's then, as Tommy's was shut for renovation of their maternity department.

[californiaburrito]

Addison Lee will do it. But remember, no matter what the midwifes on the phone say if you feel like pushing CALL AN AMBULANCE. A friend didn't and the taxi driver had a little extra work to do that day! Which, by the way, they were fine about.

[pinkpeony]

I used Addison Lee with DC2, as they would be quicker than getting DH back from work to drive me and with my contractions couldn't start running around the streets looking for a black cab (this was early afternoon). I didn't tell them I was in labour. They came very quickly after I called them (10-15 mins). I managed to suffer in silence through my contractions in the 20 minute drive to the hospital. DC2 born 2 hours after I got to hospital.

[herethereandeverywhere]

When I had DD at Tommy's in 2009 the maternity unit had taxi numbers they recommended for accepting labouring women - might be worth asking. And parking is a nightmare, we spent nearly £100 on it all told.

[BoftheP]

Riverside Cars & Couriers www.riversidecarslondon.com/ take labouring women, they were reccomended by Tommys 12 West Lane, SE16 4NY, London, Email [email protected] Didnt use them in the end but they gave us a very good quote and a number to call when the time came.

[wompoopigeon]

I used AddisonLee. Sat on a beach towel in the back swearing gently.