to think you can't drive yourself to hospital when you're in labour?

[Flingingmelon]

Would have put this in Pregnancy but wanted opinions from people who have already had kids.

Good friend due with her first next month. Her DH works away a lot and she doesn't have a lot of close support - who can drop everything if required.

She seems to think that when she needs to go to hospital (to have the baby) she can drive herself.

There was no way I could have driven myself in, but has anyone managed to do it?

I think she's in denial a bit and obvs I have sent her suitable taxi company numbers, but am I just being soft?

I'm not am I?

My friend did, dropped off her kids to grandparents on the way too. I think she was bonkers for doing it!

Really no ambulances for labour? Guess I'd have to birth alone if I have any more children then! Driving in labour would be a no from me.

I was driving with 2 kids and no DP when I realised I was in labour. I had to pull over at one point but luckily I wasn't too far from home.

SweetPea that raised my eyebrows too, esp as I was told by a MW during labour to ring an ambulance if the homebirth MW didn't get there within a certain time.

I would not consider it safe to be on the motorway with only a taxi driver in attendance if the baby made a sudden appearance!

Absolutely not, by the time I got the ok to come in (after two days of not close enough together contractions) I was writhing and gasping in pain, it was bad enough for the person driving me there, I obviously couldn't have done it myself.

Second time around, same again, went in very late and went in in an ambulance. None of this driving around and looking for a parking space malarky.

No, no ambulances for labour unless an absolute emergency. They would send one if you rang probably but that doesn't make it right. My OH has turned up to early labour with partner in attendance who was going to drive behind so they said he can also take mum in and went on to an actual emergency.

There is a difference though if you are in fast labour, no hb midwife for a while and need assistance immediately.

My sister did, twice

My first labour was an hour and three quarters, my second was 34 minutes. Considering the size of the area covered by the homebirth team of midwives where I live, I think that if I have another baby I'll be calling an ambulance when I go into labour!

No, no ambulances for labour unless an absolute emergency. They would send one if you rang probably but that doesn't make it right.

So if your husband is away (for whatever reason) you have to drive yourself? Really? I'm sure ambulances get called for far less serious things than being in labour! Labour is a serious thing, baby and mum could die. I hope that paramedics don't generally hold this view.

At recent antenatal class midwife told us absolutely do not attempt to drive when in labour, dangerous for all involved and anyone else on the road! Also don't call an ambulance unless it is a real emergency, i.e. bleeding or lots of distress, as it costs the NHS £1,000. If you are stuck and there's no one to get you to hospital, they told us to call the maternity unit and they will arrange a taxi to collect us.

Obviously your friend's hospital might not do this, but probably worth asking.

I can't find the report but I'm sure a mother ended up in court doing this. The judge stressed that she'd been a danger to other road users and could have called a taxi or an ambulance and shouldn't have driven herself to the hospital.

she cannot seriously think she'd be able to be in charge of a vehicle whilst in labour?

My midwife arrived at the hospital 2 hours after I had given birth.
I am very grateful for the paramedics who looked after me. God knows what would have happened if I had been refused an ambulance.

Probably would have had the baby on my hall floor.

By the time the hospital will actually admit you, you need to be in established active labour. No flipping way you'd be fit to drive a car safely there! She needs to call a taxi.

It doesn't really matter. Right now, she has no idea what labour is actually like, and thinks that she'll be fine.

When her contractions are 5 minutes apart and she is due to go in, she will probably have noticed that she is in no fit state to drive, and will call a taxi. We took a taxi both times, and it was fine. 2nd time, I was in VERY active labour and the driver did it in 6 minutes flat, which must be a record!

On the other hand, she might be fine, and perfectly able to drive herself, as several people on this thread have found.

Arguing about it is kind of pointless - it will all depend on what kind of labour she ends up having and what resources are available to her at the time.

Taxi not ambulance for normal labour (to those asking). BIL spent some time as a first responder and he spends lots of time dispensing taxi numbers to women in early labour. First responders are not allowed to transport passengers so he often gets there first and decides whether an ambulance is required or not. This is London so other places might be more generous!

No, you shouldn't. Although I know someone who is a GP who did.

No, she is deluded. She will learn!