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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to get a taxi in labour?

58 replies

cantheyseeme · 04/12/2013 18:39

Me and OH dont drive and live 16 miles away from family who drive and the maternity hospital. If i go into labour before my booked section i dont want to call an ambulance cos i feel like il be wasting resources when i have. put money aside for a cab but OH thinks im mad! Aibu?

OP posts:
SantanaLopez · 04/12/2013 18:40

YANBU, but double check they accept women in labour before hand. Some won't in case of leaky waters!

Pobblewhohasnotoes · 04/12/2013 18:41

No, ambulances are called 'maternataxis' for good reasons.

Get a taxi. Just find out which ones will take women in labour.

VikingLady · 04/12/2013 18:42

I did this and my local taxi co are happy to take labouring women, although the usual soiling charge applies. You could offer to sit on a bin bag and a couple of towels though!

I would call them in advance though.

ScarletLady02 · 04/12/2013 18:45

YANBU.....my DH still takes the piss out of me as I went into the birthing centre on a bus....

bunnymother · 04/12/2013 18:47

We caught a taxi when I went into labour w DD1. Just make sure you sit on a garbage bag in case your waters break (mine didn't, but I was a bit worried about it happening).

ThurlHoHoHow · 04/12/2013 18:47

I didn't warn them. I just got in the taxi and groaned a lot. I reckoned anyone who was going to chuck a woman in labour out of their cab at 3am was the sort of person who deserved an earful...

But yes, take a towel to go underneath you, it's just polite.

WidowWadman · 04/12/2013 18:48

I got a taxi when my waters broke wit my first. Took a binbag and a towel to protect seats, wasn't a problem at all

VivaLeBeaver · 04/12/2013 18:50

Yanbu. People have a good few months to save up for a taxi fare for this.

AlbertaWildRose · 04/12/2013 18:51

I have taken taxis twice while in labour and it was never a problem, even when the baby was nearly born in the second one! We just had to ask the driver to slow down a bit as he was paranoid we wouldn't make it to the hospital in time. I think I brought bin bags to sit on, but I can't quite remember.

CleverClod · 04/12/2013 18:51

Thank you.

It annoys me no end when people call for ambulances when it's not an emergency.

I think people should be made to pay when they do this, perhaps they'll think twice before using them as taxis.

Original poster
cantheyseeme · 04/12/2013 18:52

I hate the thought of me using up an ambulance and some poor sod really needing one, im not telling the company cos ive gotta go in asap so hopefully i wont be too leaky but will deffo tell the driver when he arrives and take a black bag and towels Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
cantheyseeme · 04/12/2013 18:53

I am also not telling OH until it happens Grin

OP posts:
Snatchoo · 04/12/2013 18:56

I got a taxi as well. Was in full blown labour, waited 45 minutes for the mini cab and ended up having to get a hackney. Who took me the long way.

I had the exact change and was between contracti

Snatchoo · 04/12/2013 18:57

Oops.

Between contractions so he got the right change. Cheeky sod!

EirikurNoromaour · 04/12/2013 19:00

Yanbu, why would you call an ambulance unless you were imminently going to give birth? Call a taxi. I did, I told them I was in labour, no worries.

StatelyAsAGalleon · 04/12/2013 19:01

We HAD to get a taxi when I went in to labour. We don't drive and it was three in the morning! We took a maternity mat AND a bin liner AND a towel. The taxi diver was very understanding (although he did take a route that involved 29 speed bumps).

CarrotCakeMuffins · 04/12/2013 19:02

I had a scan last week, and there was a list up of local taxi companies who were happy to take you to hospital when in labour (providing you weren't about to push!)
So it may be worth checking with your hospital or midwife if they have a list of willing taxi companies.
Bin bags and towels sounds like a good plan though.

WooWooOwl · 04/12/2013 19:02

So what is you OH planning then?

Does he think it's acceptable to phone an ambulance just because you've gone into the early stages of labour? Or is he thinking you will be able to get a lift from family?

Original poster
cantheyseeme · 04/12/2013 19:09

Oh isnt really thinking about it other than shit what if theres complications, hes not being a selfish ambulance nicker, i think he thinks my waters will go and the babies head will be between my legs, im avoiding the subject with him until it happens now Grin

OP posts:
2blessed · 04/12/2013 19:10

I phoned my local cab companies to check. When the time came I used a maternity mat. Bless the driver, he used back roads to avoid traffic but said roads were full of speed bumps. The longest journey of my life! Smile

ems1910 · 04/12/2013 19:13

My oh is a paramedic and he turns up to women in very early labour, stood waiting like at a bus stop ready to go. Some partners are stood behind waiting with their car keys to drive behind :/

You are not being unreasonable. Unless in a real emergency :)

WooWooOwl · 04/12/2013 19:30

Maybe if he gets to go to ante natal classes with you he will realise it doesn't happen quite like that then!

But you do need to convince him that ambulances aren't there for women in the early stages of labour. There would be nothing that paramedics could do during labour anyway.

Original poster
cantheyseeme · 04/12/2013 19:36

Neither of us have been to any classes Smile
I have spoke to paramedics who have delivered babies before. But I know how much it costs for an ambulance response so its so pointless for us.
OH doesnt actually think it happens like that hes being a bit precious, im not allowed to go to the big xmas market cos of crowds and a steep hill SmileGrin

OP posts:
Potol · 04/12/2013 19:43

I was booked in for an ELCS but went into labour 5 days before. We live in London and don't have a car. We called a cab (Addisons to be precise) and the man got me there super quick. Admittedly it was 3 am. If you are booked in for a section they won't want you to labour for long so you will need to go in as soon as your waters break or contractions start. It is a little more problematic if you are having a natural delivery because you could go in and find that you are not in established labour and be sent back.

Squitten · 04/12/2013 19:46

I got a taxi with DC1 - sat on a towel, it was fine

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