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Childbirth

Has anyone given birth in a car?

30 replies

CountessDracula · 21/04/2005 23:02

A friend of mine did the other day! Having been turned away twice from hospital (second baby).

Her dh delivered the baby while on phone to 999 giving him instructions.

OMG!!!

OP posts:

Report

CountessDracula · 21/04/2005 23:03

(oh and if you did in similar situation, what did you do re complaining to hospital etc?)

OP posts:

moondog · 21/04/2005 23:05

Far out!
Can't work out how though. Front too cramped surely? Stretched out on back seat or wot?

CountessDracula · 21/04/2005 23:06

Apparantly in the front seat

OP posts:

lockets · 21/04/2005 23:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

gingernut · 21/04/2005 23:07

An acquaintance of mine did (3rd baby I think). They just didn't quite make it to the hospital. Don't know any other details though!

CountessDracula · 21/04/2005 23:07

hmmm not sure will ask!!

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JanH · 21/04/2005 23:08

Not sitting down though - must have been kneeling, bent over seatback, surely?

Quite a few babies do get born in cars but usually because they arrived quicker than expected - being turned away twice is appalling

PrettyCandles · 21/04/2005 23:09

A friend of mine did, in the hospital carpark with her husband attending her - by the time the medical staff got to them, she was holding the baby! Fortunately it was their second child.

astonished · 21/04/2005 23:11

I would advise her to contact her Maternity service Liason Committee for advice on how to proceed with a complaint and also perhaps contact the Association for Improvement in maternity Services who may be able to help. If she is (understandably) angry with her treatment it is important she deals with this as it may fester which is not a good emotion to have particularly post natally.

BigGayDad · 21/04/2005 23:40

Luckily Mrs BGD didn't get as far as the car!! We phoned the hospital to tell them the contractions were er contracting, they said it wasn't worth coming in cos it would be ages yet. Phoned them again half an hour later later to say they were about 2 minutes apart. They said we'd better come in, Mrs BGD said "I'm not going F*in anywhere".

BGD phones 999, ambulance control give instructions down the phone, including gems like get ready to catch if the baby comes out quickly - yeah what with, I've got the phone in one hand and babies are slippery little buggers - Ambulance turns up just in time to finish the process off, dd2 born on bathroom floor, dd1 sleeps through the whole process in the next room! We found out later that the hospital was extremely busy that night so had tried to delay us because of that.

JoolsToo · 21/04/2005 23:47

probably more conceived in a car

moondog · 22/04/2005 00:01

Were you scared bgd?

BigGayDad · 22/04/2005 00:05

Funnily enough no!! Mrs BGD had to go in to hospital for a few hours after the birth, and when I got home after dropping her off there it was then I got scared. Started worrying about what might have happenned!

FairyMum · 22/04/2005 07:36

My friend gave birth in the hospital lift on her way to the labour ward.

ghosty · 22/04/2005 07:56

My dad helped a stranger deliver her baby in a taxi once ...
He was a young soldier doing his national service on his way to parade when a black cab pulled up and said, "Oi, Private .... In the back .... "
My dad (being a good soldier) did what he was told and was just in time to catch a baby ... the cabbie was trying to get to the hospital but worked out they wouldn't make it ....
I love that story!

bobbybob · 22/04/2005 08:09

My dad was a policeman and used to deliver the odd baby in public toilets. A car seems quite luxurious by comparison.

Mirage · 22/04/2005 08:51

I'm scared that this will happen to me.After my 1st arriving so fast,the midwives told me that if I ever had any more-to arrive at hospital 6wks before the due date to be sure I got there in time..

No2 is due on 2nd June & I am seriously worried that I won't make it in time & end up giving birth in the car en route.My midwife has siad that if I seriously don't think we'll make it in time,just to stay at home & call an ambulance!

mears · 22/04/2005 09:29

Mirage - have you considered home birth?

uwila · 22/04/2005 09:43

OMG... Can I ask what hospital?

I think I would start with a formal letter to the PCT (assuming it was NHS and not private).

frogs · 22/04/2005 09:54

When pregnant with my third I thought I was immune to birth horror stories, until I heard the following, involving an acquaintance who gave birth to her third on the back seat of a minicab stuck in traffic on the way to the hospital. Not only was her dh in the front seat, so unable to be much help, the baby was an undiagnosed breech, and the head got stuck.

Fortunately it turned out OK for all concerned (except possibly the minicab driver).

PrettyCandles · 22/04/2005 15:08

Frogs, that's one reason I've insisted each time that we go to hospital in a black cab - plenty of floor space!

coldtea · 22/04/2005 15:12

My sisters friend gave birth in the bath. 2nd baby, she only got in to relieve the pain. She phoned 999 as she felt the urge to push they talked her through it & sent an ambulance & police car to break down the door! She managed to open the door though, stark naked with baby attached!

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CountessDracula · 22/04/2005 19:52

Uwila I think it was the West Mid

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popsycal · 22/04/2005 20:05

i missd giving birth in the car 7 weeks ago bu about 5 minutes

Mirage · 22/04/2005 20:05

Mears,yes,I wanted a homebirth as soon as I found out I was pregnant again,but have been diagnosed with GBS,so have been advised strongly against it.

Also,we are in the proccess of moving house [insane idea,I know} & the moving date & my due date may well coincide,so it looks like its the hospital for me-or the back seat of a Mondeo.

Flip

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