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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:
thedisorganisedmum · 07/03/2019 22:22

haven't you got any friends around who could look after your DS until your parents arrive?

It's not really the end of the world if your DS comes with you -especially if you have packed a bag of snacks and entertainment for him too!- but there might be nice people who wouldn't mind babysitting for 1 hour or so.

I for one wouldn't mind spending 1 or 2 hours in the middle of the night in a neighbour's house until family turns up , as long as DH is here to look after my own kids.

Mascarponeandwine · 07/03/2019 22:37

Our hospitals parking is quite frankly insane. The maternity car park has about one third blue badge spaces, two thirds free-for-all spaces, and a barrier system that goes to one in one out. So you get loads of maternity-related cars get through the barrier and are circling - they can’t park because it’s only the disabled spaces that are empty (guess the barrier doesn’t know this Grin). And then the blue badge holders all sat in their cars in the 90 minute one in one out queue. No idea who thought of that peach of an idea Confused

Talkingfrog · 07/03/2019 23:23

Our hospital is terrible for parking. There is a drop off point near the maternity doors, but cars are expected to be moved in around 10 or 20 minutes. (the additional car park is across a busy road and a 5-10 min walk, but not very big anyway) . When being shown around during ante natal classes, they told us where we could be dropped off, and what to do to get in at night time. I ended up going in at midnight! Baby was born at 6.30 pm.
It is worth speaking to your midwife, and finding out the situation in your hospital.

grinningcheshirecat · 08/03/2019 00:05

But why isn't a taxi an option? One of my EX boyfriends was a taxi driver at the taxi company of his parents. They have done plenty of long trips. It costs money, yes, but you've had 9 months to save up for it.

StylishDuck · 08/03/2019 00:18

I got told at my antenatal appointments that as long as you weren't blocking any emergency/ambulance access then basically park as close as you can, anywhere you can and if you get a ticket then the maternity ward will deal with it. Obviously if you have to park in a non space then move the car as soon as is practical. I ended up being induced both times so wasn't an emergency but it was reassuring. Also, there were plenty of spaces available outwith normal visiting/outpatient appointment times. Chances are, you'll be needing a space then.

Original poster
Therareotherbooks · 08/03/2019 02:38

@grinningcheshirecat

We live rurally- a taxi would have to be prebooked. Our nearest taxi company is miles away and so would need to come from there to pick me up first taking ages. They also don’t operate on Sunday’s or after 7pm! I’m sure there are others in the towns further out- but again they would have to be willing to come from there to get me to then do the 30 miles so actually would probably cost me a 50 mile journey!

OP posts:
Original poster
Therareotherbooks · 08/03/2019 02:41

I can’t believe the thread has gone on for so long. Thank you to those people that have had a little sympathy and to those with sensible suggestions.

I will get DH to drop me at the door and he will then go and sort the car. Fingers crossed I can get there early enough for it not be too stressful and worry about him missing anything.

OP posts:
icklekid · 08/03/2019 02:59

Hope it works out op. I went into labour 6 weeks before due date and DH was 4h drive away... He made it just in time. Parking was last thing on my mind! My point is when it comes to it things work out, might not be as perfect as planned but you will not worry about them in the moment

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 08/03/2019 07:07

Do some research on parking times and when free and not free
Get a collection of £2 and 1 coins ready

It’s this way for everyone don’t sweat it too much Flowers

Bahhhhhumbug · 08/03/2019 08:29

OP you keep flitting between user names, you have apologised once saying you didn't realise computer wasogged on under a different name then did it again 90 mins apart last night. I find it hard to follow a thread or take it seriously when we don't know who the Op is or how many alter egos are in the debate.

yikesanotherbooboo · 08/03/2019 08:39

YABU . Try really hard not to worry about every little thing ... you will wear yourself out. You are not I'll, you are young and having a baby. Almost every other category of person at the hospital and staff have a higher priority than a labouring woman. Your DH can drop you off to the care of the midwives and it will all be fine.

MeAgainAgain · 08/03/2019 08:45

I can understand why you're worried op

I think it will be fine though

Most labours go on for a while so the 2.5 hour gap between thinking need to go and arriving at hosp will be fine I'm sure

Can is out obv so put that out of mind

Yes your DH should drop, park and come back

Good luck :)

MeAgainAgain · 08/03/2019 08:47

Isn't having spd the same as being ill?

Why are issues related to pregnancy so minimised?

Anyone with extremely restricted mobility and having to use a wheelchair at times would not be viewed as, but ill in the disease way, but not 100% OK.

I have found this thread hard reading tbh

maddening · 08/03/2019 08:50

Only 8 hours in the working day means that there is a high chance you will not be arriving in that time period where it is hard to park - I was in 4 times over 4 days of back to back slow labour always in middle of the night and tons of space in the car park

SnuggyBuggy · 08/03/2019 09:15

MeAgainAgain, because we should be good quiet little women and just get on with it

TaMereAPoilDevantPrisu · 08/03/2019 09:15

One in fifty women experience rapid labours. That's not extremely rare. I was ten cm dilated when I arrived at the hospital an hour after my labour started, I was very glad to be dropped off right outside and picked up in a wheelchair and whisked into the delivery suite.

Dungeondragon15 · 08/03/2019 09:17

Some of the comment on here are ridiculous and make me wonder if that person has given birth. Even if they have they are pretty naive to think that every labour is the same as theirs. Plenty of women can't walk any distance while in labour let alone half a mile or get public transport. I certainly didn't have time to wait for a taxi either and even if I did I didn't think it fair to expect them to carry a woman who is about to give birth. The cleaning bill if I had given birth in the car would have far outweighed the cost of a parking fine.
Fortunately the midwives and hospital were more realistic and although DH parked somewhere he shouldn't, we didn't get a fine as they appreciated that he didn't have much choice.

TantricTwist · 08/03/2019 09:46

At my very busy hospital when in labour we are told to park directly outside A&E where the ambulances park, tell reception and I think possibly leave keys with them ??? can't remember re the keys now but I did this with both my DC.

sparkling123 · 08/03/2019 09:49

Not sure if you've had your hospital tour yet but that's when we got told where to park. If you've had it already I would ring up mat unit and ask. We got told to pull up anywhere near entrance except emergency areas and leave car (partner to help you onto ward as it's a few minutes and 2nd floor) then go back and move car.
I don't think you're being unreasonable, just unrealistic, hospital parking is a nightmare at ours, they would never have a dedicated area for maternity let alone active labour.
I had to go in a lot during pregnancy and ended up parking 10 mins away for appointments as I got fed up of circling the car park only to have to park a mile away, so I can completely see where your worry is coming from.
You think Jesus, if I can't even get a space after 15 mins circling the car park what the hell am I going to do if I'm in labour!
Good luck, I'm sure it will be fine. I would just pull up near entrance and get partner to move car once you're on the ward. Sorry people on here have displayed zero empathy for you, cus you know labour's no big deal, and a new born doesn't need any special care, it'll be fine, just have it on the bench outside the hospital with the smokers after you've cycled yourself 10 miles ffs lol

jaseyraex · 08/03/2019 09:50

Ah OP, it probably will all be alright on the day but I understand your worry.

The hospital I had DS1 at had a designated car park for the maternity wards. You couldn't park there without a little ticket they gave you at your last antenatal appointment and they had someone policing it to move people on trying to park there that were going to the main hospital. You just had to get your ticket stamped at the reception for each day you were still in hospital. DS1 came 15 weeks early so I was very glad to not be panicking about parking!

The hospital I had DS2 at is a more a free for all and I had the same worries you did. That baby would come as quick as the first and DH might bloody miss it all! Although after all my worrying, baby was 2 weeks late and I had to be included so no mad rush to the hospital anyway Grin

You never know how things will turn out on the day. Try and make other provisions if you can, but otherwise try not to think about it too much (easier said than done I know). Hope all goes well when the time comes!

Roxyxoxo · 08/03/2019 09:50

I was worried about this too so completely understand, but in honesty, when the time came I wasn’t too fussed; hopefully it’ll be the same for you and your mind will be elsewhere. He had to park on a side street and got a ticket, annoying but neither of us were bothered by that point! Make sure he has petrol and that you phone in when you think it might be time- don’t leave it too late, better for them to say don’t come in yet then making a mad dash and this being problematic.

grinningcheshirecat · 08/03/2019 09:52

Just keep in mind that most women make it on time the first time. Try to let it go and relax. Even if you do have a rapid labour while he is parking, you wouldn't need your DH. Fast labours tend to go very well.

MeAgainAgain · 08/03/2019 09:57

TaMere OP has at least 2.5 hours between going into labour and earliest she can get to hosp so not sure that's super helpful.

TedAndLola · 08/03/2019 10:03

Do you think you deserve or need a space more than people undergoing chemo? More than patients with heart failure? More than patients with spinal stenosis? More than patients with arthritis?

MeAgainAgain · 08/03/2019 10:12

She's anxious about birth.

You could extend your argument to say that she is less deserving of any hospital resources than other patients.

Most births are fine why do they need to happen at hosp at all, taking resources away that could be used on more deserving people.

I am uncomfortbale with the OP being told essentially that she would push dying people out of the way to get herself some minor benefit.

Do you actually think she is evil?

Or just worried about giving birth to her first child?

Do you think birthing women should be afforded any resource from hosp at all? Most don't need it. That's the logical end point of your argument. You can drop all the stuff that massively improves quality of life where the person isn't actually dying as well. How far do you want to take this idea?

Good news is it's already happening.