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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect to be able to park at the hospital when in labour?

295 replies

Therareotherbooks · 07/03/2019 15:09

Last few antenatal appointments there hasn’t been a single car parking space on hospital site. The nearest on street spot I managed to find was 1/4 mile away and I had to call a taxi from the road side to drive me to the hospital doors.

I am now terrified about what will happen when I’m in labour. Obviously my DH will be with me so can drop me off but if he then has to go and park miles away I could be on my own for ages.

AIBU to expect there to be some designated car parking for women in labour?!

OP posts:
Witchend · 07/03/2019 15:43

I went to have dd1 by bus. Clutching a TENS machine and getting a single (and dh getting a return) I think it was obvious to all on the bus, but we didn't need to worry about parking. Grin

muminmanchester · 07/03/2019 15:46

I was worried about this too before my first labour OP. But as others have said, there are plenty of ways around it and actually in the end we did get a space. I remember walking from the car to the ward and stopping while I was having a contraction - right in front of the last available car parking space in the car park while about 3 cars circled politely waiting for me to shift. DH kept telling me to move so someone could park there... I seem to remember giving him a two word answer!

Good luck with your labour... and if your hospital is like mine it's worth saving up your pound coins to pay for parking - you may be there for some time!

independentgroupie · 07/03/2019 15:46

Just get a taxi.

butteryellow · 07/03/2019 15:47

Why should someone in labour get a parking space over someone who's parent/child is dying?

I think you're getting a hard time here OP. My answer to this is because she's a bloody patient! - Well, actually, she's 2 patients, not a visitor, not matter how worthy that visitor's visit is!

But yes, likely it'll be at an odd time, and you'll be able to find a space. I had my first at a city hospital where there was no parking at all, and my second had a special carpark for pediatric/maternity carpark which was busy during the day, but when we arrived you could find a spot (still busy though)

MonteStory · 07/03/2019 15:50

I can see the points other posters are making about hospital not being fun for anyone. But because of the nature of childbirth - difficult to plan for, perfectly normal but also dangerous, makes it rather difficult to walk, can be messy - I can see why it’s one medical need that might warrant a parking space.

Our hospital has them - medium sized city general hospital. You stay there whilst in labour and pretty much once you’re through the third stage the midwives are nudging you to move your car Grin Therecare about 6 spaces labelled ‘women in labour and their birth partners’. I had no idea it was so rare.

Our hospital also comps parking for those visiting for less than 30 mins, visiting paeds, for cancer treatment and people dying.

BitOfAKerfuffle · 07/03/2019 15:51

YABU
You do realise when u go into labour if its anything like my hospital and i'm sure a lot of them are the same....you ring in....get told to come up and spend an hour or more sat in a maternity assessment unit (pretty much like an a&e for pregnant and labouring women) in a waiting room before u even see a midwife to check how your labour is progressing or to put you on a monitor.
I spent many hours in that waiting room many times due to complicated pregnancy bleeds, reduced movements etc and ive seen women in there who are literally about to give birth just sat in the waiting room.
Its not like on the TV where u turn up and someone is waiting on you and you get taken in and put in a bed and there's midwives all around you !
So on that token your DH could leave you at the doors then go and park the car and walk back again...im sure u can manage for 10 minutes !

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 07/03/2019 15:52

YABU, in London at least. There just aren't the spaces. Hospital sites are full of frail old people tottering miles to their car - you will be fine for 15 minutes while DH goes to park.

Cheby · 07/03/2019 15:56

Do you have very severe SPD OP? Just wondering why you couldn’t walk 1/4 mile. I had SPD and while I would have been in pain I could still manage a 5 min walk right up to delivery. In any case, your DH will drop you at the door, might even be drop off bay parking so he can accompany you up to the labour ward, get you settled then come down and park the car. Quick run round to check for spaces, if there are none then park down the road, brisk walk back and it’ll be 10 mins at the most.

You are very unlikely to deliver your baby that swiftly, and if you look like you are about to deliver the baby as you walk through the door, I’m sure the staff would allow your DH to leave the car in the drop off bay while that happens (can’t speak for everyone but they would at our hospital).

thedisorganisedmum · 07/03/2019 15:58

YABU

It's unlikely (possible, but unlikely) that will give birth in the time it takes your DH to park the car and come back! I am sure you can manage on your own for a few minutes. You are going to be a mother you know, things are on your shoulders from now on!

DanceToTheMusicInMyHead · 07/03/2019 15:59

With DC2 DH dropped me off and couldn't find a parking spot. He ended nipping in front of someone, apparently nearly got punched (Grin) and finally made it after 40 minutes with 8 minutes to spare. They discharged me 3.5 hours later...he said it was hardly worth the faff of parking!

Cheby · 07/03/2019 16:00

Also your recent visits are likely in the middle of an outpatient clinic session...those 4 hr slots are the busiest each day, and there are 2 of them, usually 8-12 and 1-5. That’s only 1/3 of the day, the other 2/3 I bet the car park will be almost completely empty. And babies aren’t known for respecting working hours so chances are that you’ll arrive when the place is empty in any case.

waterrat · 07/03/2019 16:01

This is why I got taxis when in labour.

Yes you might think it would be less relaxing etc - but you will hve PLENTY of time to call for and wait for a taxi and it is so much easier than dealing with parked cars. Also you could be in the hospital for days - why would you want your car there.

Vinorosso74 · 07/03/2019 16:02

YABU as not all hospitals even have car parks especially those in cities. Where I gave birth there is no parking onsite during the day (only nightimes and weekends). You can drive through the grounds to drop off/pick up at any time.

ILoveMaxiBondi · 07/03/2019 16:02

What will likely happen is DH will bring you into reception and then go back to find parking. Meanwhile you will give your name and notes over to reception, take a seat, wait a few minutes, get called into the little assessment room, answer some questions, get on the table, get your leggings and pants off, get examined, be told how dilated you are, get your clothes back on, wait a bit more, get taken to labour or delivery ward. Your DH will probably already have walked in before your pants are back on.

waterrat · 07/03/2019 16:02

Being harsh but i don't think hospitals should prioritise parking for patients - the parking should be for staff doing nights etc if there is any parking.

We should all be driving a lot less - if it's a city especially - just get public transport.

Melroses · 07/03/2019 16:05

I used to wonder about this when I was pregnant with twins and could barely drag myself from the next car park that I had to park in to get to the increasingly frequent antenatal appointments. They arrived in the middle of the night so that solved the problem, and a month early which solved the frequent appointment problem.

The carparks are probably only busy for part of the day, taxi otherwise.

I have always wondered how people cope with central London hospitals.

Onceuponacheesecake · 07/03/2019 16:06

Go into labour at 1 am like I did 😁 get dropped off at the door.

Dungeondragon15 · 07/03/2019 16:09

WE can't park anywhere. DH could drop me off and leave me as I was so close to giving birth (happened within half an hour of arrival). We didn't get a ticket. I think that the midwives phoned an explained the problem.

Noqont · 07/03/2019 16:09

I got a taxi when I was in la out op to a oid this problem. Can't you do that?

Noqont · 07/03/2019 16:10

Bloody fat fingers. To avoid this problem is what i was trying to say.

Onceuponacheesecake · 07/03/2019 16:11

@waterrat you know hospitals are for sick people, yes?

I know night staff in my local hospital have no issue parking as most visitors and day is patients have gone home anyway

Dungeondragon15 · 07/03/2019 16:11

*Yes you might think it would be less relaxing etc - but you will hve PLENTY of time to call for and wait for a taxi and it is so much easier than dealing with parked cars. Also you could be in the hospital for days - why would you want your car there.8

Not everybody has plenty of time!! If I had called and waited for a taxi I would have given birth in it. I really doubt that taxi drivers want to drive women who could potentially give birth in their car to the hospital.

Dungeondragon15 · 07/03/2019 16:12

Yes you might think it would be less relaxing etc - but you will hve PLENTY of time to call for and wait for a taxi and it is so much easier than dealing with parked cars. Also you could be in the hospital for days - why would you want your car there.

Not everybody has plenty of time!! If I had called and waited for a taxi I would have given birth in it. I really doubt that taxi drivers want to drive women who could potentially give birth in their car to the hospital.

bananamonkey · 07/03/2019 16:14

Our hospital is the same, it’s ridiculous (they need to build a multi-storey), it’s so crap for the staff as well. Luckily my labour didn’t progress till 8 at night when the car park was empty.

SnuggyBuggy · 07/03/2019 16:14

Hospitals are a fucking nightmare for parking. They centralise them at big sites with no thought to how staff and patients are all supposed to park (not to mention fit into waiting rooms or the canteen at lunchtime)

I'd just get a taxi