Can I insist on an induction? All advice welcome.

[JaquelineHyde]

Right my NHS trust has today decided to turn my local maternity unit into a midwife led unit only and is going to be sending all consultant led care patients 20 miles away to another hospital, a journey which will take 40mins in an ambulance and could be a lot longer in a car.

They plan to introduce this change in the next 6-8 weeks.

I am under consultant led care and am due in 6 weeks!

I have 3 other children at home and I drive but my husband doesn't, so if I go full term and need to travel I suspect we will have to call an ambulance.

Because this is all up in the air we have no idea exactly when this will begin from so one day we could be 2 mins down the road the next miles away. This makes childcare and travel a bloody nightmare. God knows what we would do if the baby needed to stay in hospital.

So I am due to see my midwife on Monday for a normal check up and will then see my consultant next week. Does anyone have any idea what if anything they might suggest and if they don't see any of it as a problem have I got the right to insist on an induction or will I be laughed out of the hospital

I'm just so fed up this is not what anyone needs to be worrying about in the last few weeks of pg but don't have a clue what to do about it.

[JaquelineHyde]

Anyone...?

[Shallishanti]

I can see why you're pissed off but not sure how inductiion would help?

[georgedawes]

I think you could ask, certainly. I don't think you should call an ambulance though, I appreciate you have a difficult situation but they're really for life threatening situations only.

[Ihavetopushthepramalot]

I think definitely ask your midwife when you see her. Hopefully they have something in place for people in your situation.
I'm not sure if you can demand an induction but I don't see why not as you will be full term at 38 weeks.
Make sure you tell her that this is putting undue stress on you.
Especially as you have three children already, your labour might be quite short.
Hopefully someone with more experience will post to put your mind at rest. Good luck.

[StrawberryMojito]

Have you been induced before? I have...it was horrendous. I ended up requiring an epidural, ventouse turn, forceps, tore really badly.

I would like to think, for your sake, the only reason they would let you be induced is a medical one.

[JaquelineHyde]

An induction would be scheduled for before the changes came into effect and so everything could (if the induction works obviously) be dealt with at my local hospital.

As far as the ambulance goes, I would hate to call one but I have no other choice.

My husband doesn't drive and I am not willing to drive myself for 45min to an hour to the next hospital whilst in labour. There is no one else who can drive us. I am not willing to take the bus (approx 2 hour journey) or train (30 mins with a taxi or bus at both sides making it at least an hour commute) and I cannot afford a taxi (minimum approx £30 depending on time of day and that is if the taxi firm will take on a woman in labour for a 40min journey)

I would be really happy to explore any other transport options if you can think of the george but I am stumped.

[Shallishanti]

I don't think they will induce you at 38 weeks withut a really good (medical) reason. I don't think it would be at all unreasonable to get an ambulance, they must have considered that when they planned the change.
Really, Strawberry is right, induction is not something to do lightly.

[JaquelineHyde]

Strawberry I know but I am in a flap and not sure how this is all going to work. I am high risk anyway and I'm now panicing that I will end up on public transport or in the street giving birth becaue of this stupid change.

Overly dramatic I know but I think I'm allowed to be just this once

[georgedawes]

I don't mean to labour (!) the point, shalli, but an ambulance is only for life threatening emergencies. If you were having a heart attack you'd want an ambulance right? There are only a certain number to go round.

I appreciate you're in a tough situation though, so definitely talk to your midwife. Do you have anyone else who could drive you? How long where your other labours?

[Shallishanti]

a woman in labour is potentially a life threatening emergency, she needs to be where she can have proper care- especially if she is already 'high risk'- how else is the OP to get to hospital?

[georgedawes]

Xpost.

You need to talk to your midwife then.

Taxi firms do take women in labour. I appreciate your situation, but I would pay for a taxi in your situation. Ambulances are there to save lives not take labouring women (in normal labour) to hospital.

[georgedawes]

Don't be daft. By your reckoning any woman in labour could call an ambulance then!

In any case, it's not a failsafe plan as they may all be on lifesaving calls..making it much more hectic than needed. I'd much rather get a taxi personally.

[Ihavetopushthepramalot]

If your pregnancy is high risk they might decided to induce you anyway.
Especially if you're miles away from a place where they can help you if anything goes wrong.
Pregnancy is such a stressful time for some people and it's only natural to worry.
Your midwife and/or consultant may already have a plan for you.
I know it's hard, but try not to worry too much until you have spoken to them.

[HairyHandedTrucker]

I would not have been able to be in a car for an hour in labor with first dd. I had to take an ambulance. still op inductions are a fucking nightmare and best avoided imo

[JaquelineHyde]

Thank God I have a midwifes appointment booked in on Monday morning

I have only had 1 previous full term pg (I have 2 adopted DDs and 1 biological DS)

My last pg was ok until my waters broke at 30 weeks, they managed to keep me pg for 4 weeks (in and out of hospital obviously) and then my labour started spontaniously at 34 weeks and lasted for 18 hours, DS taken straight to SCBU obviously no long term health issues.

This PG has been up and down, at my 12 week scan 4 small cysts were found on the umbilical cord and sent everyone into a panic, no one knows why they are there but the babies development appears fine, I am currently measuring 3-4 weeks larger than I should be (but we all know how reliable these things are) and I have crippling SPD that has limited my mobility massively to the point that I started maternity leave in January!!

I'm just flapping I know, but if I have to go to the other hospital I can see no other way but an ambulance transfer and they won't be sending me home to wait it out that is for sure!!!

[georgedawes]

I'm sure your midwife will be sympathetic, they may well be advising induction anyway.

[MinnesotaNice]

I agree with OP, how else is she to get to the hospital if not by ambulance? It be extremely dangerous for her to drive while in labor, not only for herself, but for others on the road.

I had an induction at 41 week (in the US) and it was fine. They started the Pitocin drip at 1330, had a few contractions, got an epiduaral at about 1530. I had a nice afternoon nap, active labor kicked off at roughly 0330 the next morning and DS1 was born at a little after 0400. I know it can be different for everyone, but just wanted to say that not all inductions are horrific--mine was about as pleasant and calm as can be expected. Honestly, it was relatively pain-free.

BTW--with DS2, there was no way I could have driven the 50 mins to our hospital and if DH hadn't been around, I wouldn't have hesitated to call an ambulance. But I know in the US that is what we are instructed to do in the prenatal classes. Good luck!

[Twinklestarstwinklestars]

I have the same issue, my last labour was only 20 mins! Ds was in shock and ended up in scbu. Our hospital is 45 mins away on a clear traffic day, double probably if a sunny day as its a seaside town and I'm due in July! I've spoken to my consultant but I'm high risk anyway with high blood pressure, asthma and now baby has possibly got a hole in its heart so I may end up 1 1/2 hours away to give birth depending how my scan goes on tues. Definitely speak to them and explain your concerns.

[Ihavetopushthepramalot]

With regards to driving yourself to hospital I think your insurance is invalid once you go in labour so that is definitely not an option.

Hope it all goes well for you on Monday op and your mind is put to rest. Let us know how it goes!

[pyjamarama]

You won't get an induction for non medical reasons. An induced labour is automatically higher risk than a "natural" labour. Is there no-one locally who could be "on call" to drive you to hospital when you go into labour?

[JaquelineHyde]

Twinkle both these hospitals are in seaside towns and I agree on a sunny day or weekend the travel can easily double! I hope everything goes ok for you when the time comes, fingers crossed for the scan on Tuesday.

There is no way on this earth that I will be doing any kind of driving if I suspect for one second I am in labour, that is that!

[5madthings]

They may induce you because of your SPD, they do do that. They tried to with my first preg at 38wks, it diudnt work and I went home for another two and a bit weeks before going in again!

You can only ask.

[JaquelineHyde]

Only one person could drive me and they are having my other 3 children so can't drive me.

At least on the way home we can jump on the train or bus, luckily I don't mind breastfeeding on public transport

[JaquelineHyde]

Thanks 5mad I shall see what they say, maybe that will give me the option.

[goodygumdrops]

I'm sorry but I am with George. An ambulance is not a taxi service. How were you planning to get to local hospital? You need to beg borrow or steal the taxi fare or get a friend on board to drive you. People die because of misuse of the ambulance service. If you are unsure phone the labour ward when you are in labour and if they feel an ambulance is appropriate they will send one to you.

I hope it goes smoothly for you.