How to bring premature newborn home from hospital

[Lalla525]

Hi all,

Need some help here.

We live in london. I have been hospitalised for over 3 weeks and have planned c-section next week (36w). When baby is ready we will need to bring it home.

We live 1h drive from the hospital.

We do not have a car. We generally use zipcar but my dh struggles with the break etc and all that strong shaking is probably not v good for a premature newborn.

Public transport (which would have been the obvious choice) terrifies me because of covid.

We could ask a friend, but nobody is really isolating.

We could call a cab, but not sure they would really care about a newborn. Also, we would probably need breaks because baby cant stay in the car seat for an hour.

I really dont know what to do and I'm starting to panic. Do you have any suggestion?

[GreenTulips]

I’d get a black cab with the window shut

Baby will be fine for an hour. I wouldn’t worry. Aim for just after feeding and winding and baby should sleep through.

[Lucked]

Hire a car your DH can drive.

Why does you DH struggle with the break in a zip car? Is it an automatic and he is unfamiliar with them (common mistake is to try and use both feet but if you so much as tap the break at the same time as the accelerator it is like an emergency stop). If a manual he Just needs to be more gentle.

[Lalla525]

Because he has not driven for 15 years and only got back to it In recent weeks when we had to do more trips to hospital and there was covid. Whichever car you give him will be tough for him

[NaviSprite]

I haven’t been in your position but might it be worth discussing with the hospital to see if they have any transport recommendations- if you have a friendly nurse you see regularly maybe float it with them first and see if there are avenues you weren’t aware of?

I had to get a taxi with one of my twins when they were discharged (second twin was in hospital a bit longer) but we didn’t have as far to travel. I do think the biggest concern about lengthy travel with a newborn in a car seat is if they’re resting their chin on their chest too much and the pressure against their back (as a lot of our small airways in the lungs are at the back), so as long as you’re sat beside baby and regularly adjusting when needed, maybe that would work? Or a sympathetic taxi service may be able to accommodate having to take a break or two on the journey? I’m sure there’s a solution somewhere, can your partner possibly investigate the taxi side of options whilst you ask the hospital for their recommendations? Congratulations by the way and good luck with everything

[titchy]

Black cab. A one off journey of an hour in the car seat won't harm your baby at all.

[viques]

The hospital might have a contact number for a volunteer driver who could help.

[Frlrlrubert]

The recommendation was 2 hours in a car seat not that long ago when I had mine. An hour will be fine especially if you can sit in the back with the baby and make sure they are positioned well.

I'd get a taxi.

[Lalla525]

Is back cab better than a private driver (like a chauffeur service)? If so, why?

[TwistyHair]

I would get a cab and sit in the back with baby. I bought a cybex aton 4 and Q for my prem and small babies. The straps go down tiny and they lay flat. The hospital did a car seat challenge before we left where the baby is hooked up to oxymeter in the car seat for an hour. If it’s not too hot you could also put a rain cover over the car seat if you’re worried about infection.

[LostSapphire]

I'd ask a friend and give them petrol money. 5 mins break at the 30 min mark, that's all you need. Even if not isolating, they will almost certainly have fewer contacts than a cab driver. Would not trust your DH if an unconfident driver. He'll be nervous enough as it is.

[Elouera]

How were you planning on getting back from the hospital before covid???

A black cab is better, because passengers are separated from the driver by the Perspex/plastic screen. In a private hire car, you are all in the one space sharing the same air.

Can you borrow a car from a friend or hire a car?

[BlueGreenYellowRed]

My son was born at 36 weeks too (although he was in hospital for 2 weeks after that) and we brought him home in a car seat in an Uber. Wasn't as long as an hour though.

[Sussexguy85]

36 weeks should not be too much of a problem, just treat them like a normal baby but be extra careful with COVID. Cab drivers are human too and will drive safely, just get a good car seat.

When we took our DS home (27 week prem) we put him in a car seat and got my Mum to pick us up, I didn't drive then.

Good luck

[krispycreme]

As pp said black cap is better than Uber due to glass screen. Might be worth carrying some wipes though to give it a little wipe down before you get in though I don't think this is necessary if you clean your hands before handling the baby.
I think one hour will be fine given you will be sat supervising them and can see if there are problems.
I agree with not having your DH drive, sounds like you will be stressed enough without having to worry about his driving.
I do think I'd ask a friend if they've been WFH but still been going to the shops etc. It's likely that no one has even been in the back of their car for months. I'd certainly be happy to drive a friend and their newborn home.

[doadeer]

We got a taxi from UCLH - everyone I know in London did this. We pre-called a mini can and said our newborn would be there. Driver was very careful.

I would do a black cab with Covid - you can call one from the hailo app. You will be on the meter so if you need to pull over and take baby out you can but I'd probably be inclined to just try to get home and quick as you can.

Be careful with your seat belt and yourself - ask driver to go gently over any bumps so it doesn't cause your scar any pain.

[doadeer]

Cab not can!

[110APiccadilly]

Can you get a lie flat car seat? My friend did this when they had a premature baby and I think with that it was ok for them to be in the car seat for longer. Can't help on brands or anything I'm afraid but that's what I would be looking into.

[SpillTheTeaa]

I have a lie flat car seat and the same rules apply. It doesn't mean they can be in there longer.
Could you ask the hospital transport service? You pay and they can take you or if you phone the hospital they have drivers that volunteer to drive people to their appointments. If you're in the position just make a good donation to them.

[Bubblesbebe]

@doadeer I will be giving birth at UCLH as well, did you use a carseat in the mini cab? Or did they bring one?

[doadeer]

We took our own. I wouldnt risk using their one as it could have been in a crash. Its also more relaxing to get your baby in the car seat in the hospital rather than the pick up area outside the hospital as this is small and people smoke out there.

We using Whittington Cars if that helps!
@Bubblesbebe

[Lalla525]

Thanks all - I will ask the hospital. I still need to buy a car seat and I will get a lie flat one (although I will still do breaks).

Speaking of which, what exactly am I supposed to do during a break? Pick baby up?

[Lalla525]

I'm at UCLH as well

[PotteringAlong]

You don’t need a break for a journey of an hour. Just go straight home.

[doadeer]

I wouldn't do a break personally I'd just get home. Once your baby is content in the car seat I wouldn't get them out and then have to put back in etc in the middle of nowhere.

When you book the car for UCLH make sure you specify it's the exit by Grafton way and Elizabeth Garret part of the hospital.

I would do a few tests of putting your car seat in the car in advance if you haven't done this before as you don't want any stress... Obviously ignore if you've done before.

[BertieBotts]

The problem with the lie flat car seats is that you need to use an isofix base with both of the ones which can lie flat in the car. And this isn't practical if you don't have your own car.

You could book a black cab and wheel baby in pram into the cab in the wheelchair space. It's legal to do this and you would then not need to worry about the car seat time. But if you had an accident (very rare chance) baby would have no protection.

You could look at some of the seats which have padding and positioning which help them for tiny babies or newborns. I would say to look at Venicci Ultralite (their website explains the positioning features) or maxi cosi pebble. Both of those seats will go onto a pushchair using maxi cosi type adaptors, and can be fitted in the car just using a seatbelt.

There are a few carrycots which are car approved. But these are essentially the same deal as using the pushchair in the wheelchair space on a black cab - little to no crash protection for babies.