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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:
Bubblebubblepop · 14/10/2017 22:35

KingIrving there was something seriously wrong with your ambulance driver. Usually they arrive to deliver the baby, not to take mum to hospital.

JumpingJellybeanz · 14/10/2017 22:36

I called an ambulance when I was in labour. I had a plan for getting to hospital and a backup and a backup for the backup. Labour went from 0 to 100 in minutes, all 3 plans failed, and I found myself all alone in full on labour. Didn't really do much good as DS was born in the street outside my house as paramedics screamed at me in panic and tried to drag me into the back of the ambulance. Grin

Bettyspants · 14/10/2017 22:36

A big fat nope like all the others. Sounds like you are planning to delay going into hospital as long as possible while you are in labour so you can call 999. Very risky and very unfair. Plus the paramedics will likely take you to the hospital you are registered at even if you are about to pop . If you are progressing well with no complications - continuity of care.

Rachie1973 · 14/10/2017 22:37

Bubblebubblepop Sat 14-Oct-17 22:32:18
Oh dear OP. I don't think anyone understands where the ambulance comes into it. You can change hospitals whenever you like! But you don't need any ambulance to get there?

I think..... and I may be wrong..... that OP is booked to give birth at hospital A, which is further away. During her pregnancy she has moved and now lives closer to hospital B.

She hasn't rebooked into the nearer hospital, but was upset at a midwife in Hospital A and now wants to give birth in hospital B.

She assumes that if she presents in labour unbooked that Hospital B will send her off to Hosp A where she is registered. She also assumes that an Ambulance will just drop her at the nearest Hospital (in this case B) where she now wants to go. Thus getting her own way by default.

squishysquirmy · 14/10/2017 22:38

To help this make sense I have really bad anxiety....

I think pp's possibly need to read this statement, before piling in to have a go at op for asking this question. Because it explains a lot.

Op, if I understand correctly, you are asking "what if I need an ambulance" hypothetically, rather than saying that you will call one when in labour - is that right? You are worried that if you need an ambulance you will end up in the hospital with the midwife you didn't like, not the maternity unit you want?
Because if so I think you are overthinking things. Understandable, but it is very unlikely that you will need an ambulance in labour. And the chances of you getting the same midwife is also very unlikely. (I had an ambulance before I went into Labour, called by a midwife on a home visit because my bp was high. I was fine and very well looked after).

Please discuss your anxiety with your gp, and maybe have a v. v. brief birth plan (I know not everyone likes these) which explains your anxiety. And when you are in labour, take a taxi when you are ready to go in. Ask your midwife/gp for advice of when the best time to do this is If it is an emergency, call an ambulance.

Look after yourself, and good luck! Flowers.

Bubblebubblepop · 14/10/2017 22:38

Ah thanks Rachie73

OP you're bonkers!

everydayanewday · 14/10/2017 22:38

I’m sorry to say that just because one hospital has one midwife that you feel was unsympathetic, that doesn’t mean that another hospital won’t too! Midwives do have to be a bit no-nonsense about pain. Giving birth isn’t a pain-free experience.

Except postnatally on home visits, I literally never saw the same midwife twice. Chances are you wouldn’t too.

Also, everyone has a run in with someone they feel is dismissive and unsympathetic - there’s one GP at my surgery who practically groans when he sees me and the feeling is utterly mutual!! I’ve not left the practice. I just always book with someone else where I can, and where I can’t I just hope for the best!

There will be several midwives on duty, your partner can advocate for you and ask to swap midwives if the worst comes to the very worse and the one you think is unsympathetic is assigned to you.

Moving your care at this time seems a bit extreme. I’d want to be completely sure that the transfer would have time to go through or I’d be staying put.

Bubblebubblepop · 14/10/2017 22:39

Also divadee- blood loss of 6.5pt and you didn't want to come in and ambulance after homebirth? You're fecking bonkers Grin

squishysquirmy · 14/10/2017 22:41

Also, I know this is AIBU but...

The op is 39 weeks pregnant and is battling very bad anxiety relating to hospitals and medical professionals. Please could we stop posting bloody horror stories about birth?

thegoodnameshadgone · 14/10/2017 22:42

Just change your hospital if your not happy but do it ASAP. I did the day before I went in labour. Was all fine. Don’t leave it till the last minute to go when your in labour as if you want an epidural which I wanted from day one, if you leave it too late you can’t have one. The hospital I went to wouldn’t do one after 5cm. I was 8cm when I arrived at the hospital (10 mins away from my house) as to me the pain wasn’t that bad. It’s different for Everyone and I was very lucky with the pain.

TatterdemalionAspie · 14/10/2017 22:42

Don't ambulance's charge you £400 if you call them unnecessarily? Is that just a myth?

Oh how I wish that this were true!!

Lana1234 · 14/10/2017 22:42

Is there no one who can give you a lift when it comes to it? If not taxi will be fine, take some maternity towels just incase to put down on the seats. Last thing you want would be to get charged for any mess. Is your own midwife approachable? Sound like you need some proper support in coming up with a plan for when the time comes.

Sooooooooooooooooooooo · 14/10/2017 22:42

An ambulance will take you to the nearest hospital. But you shouldn't be calling one. You've had 39 weeks to think about this, get a taxi. How do you think you're going to get home?

mogulfield · 14/10/2017 22:42

I don’t think it’s harsh to say don’t divert front line emergency services to people who aren’t in an emergency. I say this as a mum who has had a life and death emergency with my own son, I was beside myself. I thought I was watching him die.

So I’m going to be straight with the Op and plead with her (and anyone) not to call an amubulance in labour.

I have suffered with anxiety in the past, it’s a seperate issue that needs dealing with and still doesn’t justify an ambulance.

Bubblebubblepop · 14/10/2017 22:45

OP won't need an ambulance. Like most first time mothers she'll be labouring for 2 days before baby comes Grin

GinIsIn · 14/10/2017 22:46

You need to call round taxi companies, explain the situation and have one lined up who will take you for when you need it. Ambulances take you to the nearest or most appropriate place if treatment so if you are after something outside those bounds, you need to make your own arrangements.

Witchend · 14/10/2017 22:47

When I had dd1 we'd just moved to a new area we knew no one and didn't have a car. We were told by both the MW and the hospital to phone 999 to get an ambulance to get in. Taxis apparently (round here anyway) are reluctant to take someone in labour in case they end up with more responsibility (and mess) than they'd signed up to. Wink

In the actual event, labour was progressing fairly slowly when they asked us to come in so I went in by bus. Let's just say I've never known a bus driver go so carefully over the speed bumps. Grin

With dd2 we knew lots more people so asked a couple of people if they'd mind taking me in if they were around. It was Sunday in the end (and dh was playing in the worship band a church) so we had so many offers to take us there.

Irony was with ds we hen had a car, but labour progressed very suddenly, and when I phoned the hospital to say we were coming in, they listened to me and wanted to send an ambulance and I had to persuade them that wasn't necessary.

Fuckit2017 · 14/10/2017 22:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Rachie1973 · 14/10/2017 22:48

FenellaMaxwellsPony Sat 14-Oct-17 22:46:19
You need to call round taxi companies, explain the situation and have one lined up who will take you for when you need it. Ambulances take you to the nearest or most appropriate place if treatment so if you are after something outside those bounds, you need to make your own arrangements

That's what OP wants Fenella, she doesn't want to go to the hospital she's booked into. She wants this nearer one and is hoping if she calls an ambulance she'll get it.

squishysquirmy · 14/10/2017 22:50

Its not harsh to say that at all mogul Anxiety certainly does not justify calling an ambulance when in labour, but it might explain why the op is asking a question that seems irrelevant/obvious to most of us. She is overthinking and panicking about something she doesn't need to panic about, and many (not all) of the responses on here have been very harsh.

Fuckit2017 · 14/10/2017 22:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FrankiesKnuckle · 14/10/2017 22:51

An ambulance won’t take you to the nearest. (Not in my trust anyway)
It will take you to your booked obstetric unit unless there is a significant obstetric or medical emergency.
So, if you’re in normal, active labor with contractions less than 5 in 10mins then off to booked you go.
If there is significant blood loss, part presentation of baby, cord prolapse or potential for abruption etc then we have to ask the nearest unit if they will accept you.

A taxi firm should in no way refuse to transport you in normal labor.

ShoesHaveSouls · 14/10/2017 22:52

OP, I'm sorry you were treated like that at the hospital - sounds like you were unlucky, and got a mw who was rushed/ impatient/ rude/ overworked or whatever. I had severe pain in my shoulder (really severe) and rocked up to a&e at 30wks - and they couldn't have been kinder to me. They even admitted me to have bedrest and do tests to ensure it wasn't blood clots/pulmonary embolism.

I believe you should speak to your gp about a transfer, as you plan to do - and when in labour, get a taxi to the hospital you want. Just make sure you take your notes. Good luck - being in pain during pregnancy is horrible.

verystressedmum · 14/10/2017 22:54

Do you have any family to help you? A partner?
Most women in labour don’t drive themselves anyway even if they have a car and can drive but you won’t need an ambulance unless an emergency happens.
Hopefully your transfer will complete before you go into labour but the midwife you saw might not even be on duty. You will be ok.

Danceswithwarthogs · 14/10/2017 22:55

I think you need a good birthing partner that you can trust...to advocate for you, to get you there etc. at the moment you sound like you're twisting yourself up in knots.

TBH it's really not easy to know where you're at in labour and moSt people (especially with first babies) will want to be in hospital for some pain relief/waterbirth etc well before they're at such a late stage that they need to push/call an ambulance. Most people don't get past 6 centimetres at home (especially if you're already finding late pregnancy twinges and nerve pains difficult to manage). Aside from the wastefulness of calling an ambulance, having a last minute panic to get to hospital (any hospital) and potentially having a baby on a bumpy journey/in a hospital car park is really not what you need (or good for your anxiety) and equipment/staff experience is minimal compared to a well run maternity unit.

Phone your current midwifery unit tomorrow, ask about moving hospital/having home birth etc - whatever you want... and make a plan for transport. Control as much as you can control but be open minded about possible deviations from your ideal birth plan. Then try to relax Flowers please.