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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

TO Call an ambulance in labour?

164 replies

1997r2017 · 14/10/2017 21:55

So I’m 39 weeks today and we don’t have a car. For the past week I have had pain all down my leg, my midwife said I can take cocodamol occasionally so I did but it didn’t really help with the pain.

Today I rang the hospital explained to the midwife there, and was told to go in. So I went in and the senior/head midwife just laughed in my face saying ‘what do you want morphine?’ Obviously not, just preferably a stronger dose or codeine or anything that would help, I was very upset as that is why I called up beforehand .. she didn’t check me or anything. However this hospital isn’t my local hospital as I moved during pregnancy.

On Monday I will be going to my GP to ask to transfer, although I understand this may be late, so my question is if I call am abulance in labour will I be allowed to go to the local maternity unit.. I have had a low risk pregnancy so there is nothing to ‘plan’ about the birth and I can provide blood group info etc.

To help this make sense I have really bad anxiety battle anciety hospitals/ medical professionals and the thought of this midwife being on duty when I’m not in labour has had me crying all day etc ..

OP posts:
sillyquestion477 · 14/10/2017 22:03

Ambulances are for LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCIES

You have had 40 weeks to plan how to get to hospital when you go into labour. Many people who don't drive manage it (myself included and I lived an hour from my nearest big maternity unit and had a 45 minute labour and delivery with my first child so it was possible I would not make the hospital in time with my 2nd because it had to be the further hospital due to complications....but never would I have considered using an ambulance)

Get a taxi !

It's also not there for your convenience of getting to choose which hospital you go to because you don't like the one you are at. Again you have had plenty of time to pick and choose hospitals !

Original poster
1997r2017 · 14/10/2017 22:03

I just don’t want to give birth at the hospital I’m registered at and idk if I will have time to transfer before labour

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 14/10/2017 22:04

I mean if I leave it to the stage where taxis will refuse to take me?

Do you mean you would deliberately wait until a taxi wouldn't take you?

kaytee87 · 14/10/2017 22:04

Why would you leave it to the point where a taxi won't take you?
Ask to change hospitals if you feel that strongly about it. I doubt very much you will care once you're in active labour though.

Steeley113 · 14/10/2017 22:04

The whole point of your antenatal notes is that if for some reason you need to attend a hospital that is not the one you are booked at, they can see you. I don't even understand why you have mentioned an ambulance. It cost the NHS £500 just to put you in that ambulance.

AdalindSchade · 14/10/2017 22:04

You really need to stop.
You will give birth at the hospital you are booked to give birth at. I suppose you could call a cab to take you to some other hospital but that may not guarantee you get to give birth there.
You're talking about waiting until you are about to give birth before you go to hospital so you can avoid one midwife who was a bit short with you? That's really not normal or ok. Do you have a CPN or mental health worker?

Ummmmgogo · 14/10/2017 22:05

it doesn't matter which hospital you are going to, it will still be unacceptable to call a taxi.

NapQueen · 14/10/2017 22:05

How far away is the hospital you are currently booked in at and why dont you want to deliver there?

Ummmmgogo · 14/10/2017 22:06

argh I meant ambulance

Fairylea · 14/10/2017 22:06

Delivery wards are busy and huge with lots and lots of different midwives. Chances are you won’t even see the one that annoyed you. I’ve had two children and each birth had about 4 different midwives during the duration. Shifts change and midwives come and go.

PurpleDaisies · 14/10/2017 22:06

You really need to talk to somebody about your anxiety. That's the big problem here.

Ditsy1980 · 14/10/2017 22:06

Whether the transferral is complete before you go into labour is irrelevant.
You would only call an ambulance in Labour if it was an emergency- you're losing massive amounts of blood etc. You do not call them and then say "oh can I go to the local maternity unit". That's what taxis are for if you don't drive. Or you know, make arrangements with a family member or friend.

GerrytheBerry · 14/10/2017 22:07

I have really fast spontaneous labours and with my last baby they left homebirth equipment at my house in case I couldn't get to hospital in time, but was told only back ambulance if midwife hasn't arrived and baby is about to pop out.
I would think you should get a taxi.

BrutusMcDogface · 14/10/2017 22:07

Have I got this right: you want to get an ambulance so as to avoid a midwife who has made you feel bad about going into maternity unit with leg pain?

Confused

If you have anxiety I don't think an ambulance when you're at the stage of being about to give birth, will help in any way, shape or form.

NeedsAsockamnesty · 14/10/2017 22:07

It’s fairly simple you go into hospital at the timings that your labour ward tell you if things slow down after you get there then you explain that you are concerned you may not be able to travel back due to being reliant of taxis and see what they suggest

whereisforever · 14/10/2017 22:07

An ambulance will take you to the closest maternity unit, there isn't usually a choice.
Please don't call an ambulance if you don't really need it, it's a dreadful waste of precious resources.

Bratsandtwats · 14/10/2017 22:07

Please don't call an ambulance unless it is a genuine emergency. You have had months to plan how you will get to the hospital. Calling an ambulance costs at least £300. A taxi costs a lot less. Ridiculous abuse of emergency services.

sillyquestion477 · 14/10/2017 22:09

I also didn't want to give birth at the hospital I was booked at for my 2nd child but the choices are few and far between in my area for high risk pregnancies so I had to go with it. And as it turns out I had a perfectly safe and very supportive enjoyable birthing experience.
However while you are off on a taxi to get to a different hospital because you are fussy about where you give birth and haven't planned in advance. There's a chance I'm sat waiting on that ambulance with a small child who cannot breathe. Desperate to get a paramedic or to get to any hospital. And yes it has happened before thankfully we got a first response car and she was treated within minutes but we had a futher wait of 45 minutes on an ambulance to take her into hospital due to the lack of ambulances in the area and the workload so it's unnecessary to add to that for non emergency calls !

LovelyPrep · 14/10/2017 22:10

Confused you need to be thinking of a better plan.
An ambulance won't come for you just because you don't have a car and leaving it too late on purpose just puts you and your baby at risk. Chances are that midwife might not even be on duty and if she is, ask for her not to be looking after you.
Seriously I am 36 weeks pregnant and have struggled with severe anxiety but this issue simply requires big girl pants and planning. Don't rely on be allowed to waste resources.

WitchesHatRim · 14/10/2017 22:10

Let me get this straight.

Am I getting it right that you want to use an ambulance to play the system and get to a different hospital?

Seriously!

FlakeBook · 14/10/2017 22:10

Ok, a few things.

You won't have been on the labour ward today so that midwife won't be caring for you during labour.

If she was, you could ask for a different one to care for you.

You can book on at another hospital. Even if you're not booked in there, they won't turn you away in labour.

I'm not sure where the ambulance comes in. If transport to the other hospital isn't an issue, you're asking the wrong question.

mogulfield · 14/10/2017 22:12

You’ve decided not to like an entire hospital because of one member of staff? Meaning you’re travelling further to give birth?
Still confused where the ambulance comes into it. At what point will you be life threateningly ill?
The only time in my life I’ve called an ambulance was when my son had stopped breathing. They got to us very quickly, probably because they weren’t overwhelmed with dealing with women in labour calling up.

catbas · 14/10/2017 22:12

I hope you don't feel bad if someone who actually needed the help died because of you wasting valuable nhs resources. Suck it up buttercup. Use a taxi or have someone on standby to give you a lift. Fucking hell.

WildRosesGrow · 14/10/2017 22:16

I gave birth at a different hospital to the one I was booked into, as the original one was full up. This meant going to a different health authority, it didn't seem to be much of a problem.

Hopefully you will be able to sort out your transfer before you go into labour, in which case it will not be an issue. I can understand why you are worrying in the meantime, as late stage pregnancy can be an anxious time. If I were you, then I would find out which is your nearest hospital with a maternity department and just head there with your maternity notes, if you go into labour in the immediate future.

They will have all the information that they need from your notes, you and your birth partner. Make sure you have the number of at least 3 reliable taxi firms (and any friends who might be able to help if necessary). Then your partner can ring a taxi, you can get to the nearest hospital and hopefully everything will go well. Good luck.

neveradullmoment99 · 14/10/2017 22:16

I think you are being a bit ridiculous.
I think you should just take yourself to the hospital you are registered with. Why on earth would you wait until you are in the latter stages of labour to go to the hospital? How do you know your other hospital will be any better?
At the end of the day, you have no idea what complications can occur. Delivering a healthy baby is the top priority. You may never meet the staff you have encountered when you go into labour. I would just go to the hospital that you have registered with to save any complications. Its just not worth it imo.

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