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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:
MrsCplus · 08/03/2019 17:51

When I was in labour my husband parked in the staff spaces seen as there was always loads empty and had planned to move it but baby was born 20 minutes later. He moved it when I was finished being stitched up. About an hour max 😂

Anique105 · 08/03/2019 17:57

Drama queen op. Heard of a drop off zone?

SaveKevin · 08/03/2019 18:10

My hospital is one of those that you just have to drive round and round and stalk people until you get a space, if your lucky you will get their space and their ticket as its £5 parking, regardless of one hour or all day.
Another local hospital they don't let you in the car park unless theres a space so you just sit there unable to go anywhere as theres queues behind you backing onto the road.

When I was in labour at hospital one, OH dumped the car with a note on the windscreen, took me in and then moved it a bit later (if i remember rightly he moved it at lunch time between appointment times).

Second hospital he dropped me off and waited to get a space but it wasn't long.

I can understand its a worry, but it will be ok. If your near enough that a cab wouldn't be horrific given the cost of parking, maybe that would be the answer if its a busy hospital time. But both hospitals for me parking is only an issue 9-2, and thats a tiny proportion of the day. The rest of the time its ok and you will get parked.

yolofish · 08/03/2019 18:22

When I was having DD1 (almost 23 years ago now) DH had to drop me off while he parked, and I sat in the main reception, panting and sobbing. By the time he came back, someone had actually been SHOT in the same lobby area - but I hadnt noticed!!

Alsohuman · 08/03/2019 18:44

@ivykaty44 you definitely need to brush up your maths skills. 4mph is less than 4 minutes to walk a quarter of a mile.

winniestone37 · 08/03/2019 18:46

look the parking is the least of your worries

DoAllMeerkatsComeFromRussia · 08/03/2019 18:49

What about picking up a cheap wheelchair? We bought one a few years ago on eBay when we were taking MIL away with us and knew she'd struggle with walking distances. They aren't great and you wouldn't want to be in it for long but it would serve a purpose. You could pop it in the boot (they're fully collapsible) and then wherever you managed to park, DH could wheel you round to the hospital so you wouldn't have to negotiate getting yourself in and to the labour ward (which always seems to be miles away and upstairs) alone and in labour. Even if you were able to get a spot in the car park you might struggle to walk to the ward in labour.

On another notes, big congratulations to you and best of luck for the delivery and your new life as a foursome!

CatherineofTarragon1 · 08/03/2019 18:53

Fgs! Really! If the NHS cannot accommodate you , book yourself into the Portland. Loads of parking there.

TedAndLola · 08/03/2019 18:53

At no point have I said I am more deserving than the situations you suggested

Of course you have. You want dedicated parking spaces for women in labour, not available for people with any other condition, in a hospital where patients often can't park. You said that because you thought you deserved or needed the space more.

It's great if you've changed your mind but let's not pretend it isn't what you said!

CatherineofTarragon1 · 08/03/2019 18:55

Or , at the Lindo wing, like all the other princesses.

puppy23 · 08/03/2019 18:58

At my local hospital you'll be paying to park so you'd be bonkers to park there and would be better off opting for taxi/lift from other family member etc

Birdie6 · 08/03/2019 19:04

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

I was on my own for my first - husband was deployed overseas. It's not the end of the world. .

Sara107 · 08/03/2019 19:11

Our hospital has a designated set down area for women in labour, outside the door of the maternity wing. Having been set down it is then up to the fever to go and find parking wherever they can. My ante natal teacher advised collecting up a big back full of change in the weeks leading up to due date so as not to be caught out unable to feed the ticket machines. The hospital has nowhere near enough space to reserve parking for women in labour or any other type of patient.

Sara107 · 08/03/2019 19:12

Up to the driver to park, why does predictive text always decide to change perfectly normal sensible words into something ridiculous??

Bumblebeesmum · 08/03/2019 19:21

Get a taxi the full way? Parking is a nightmare at hospitals - I was 7 months pregnant when my 1 year old became critically ill & obviously I didn’t leave his bedside whilst he was unconscious - plus my husband rushed in to be there too. I think our combined parking costs were something like £150 for the privilege of the experience !

Bumblebeesmum · 08/03/2019 19:25

My second baby came rather quickly - the midwives on the phone told us to leave the car at the entrance and rush in. Once they established baby wasn’t being born immediately they sent hubby off to move the car. He got back 10 minutes later and after another 20 minutes or so she was born.

Most hospitals will have plans in place for imminent sounding births but for the vast majority you’ll have hours to waddle around....my first labour was 4 days !!!

RainbowTurd · 08/03/2019 19:27

I’ve had 3 babies and all 3 labours happened In the middle of the night when parking was a piece of cake. Don’t sweat it! Parking is the least of your worries when your in labour 🤣🤣

bubblegumunicorn · 08/03/2019 19:30

You never know you might go in to labor at 3 am and get there when the day carpark is quiet! I would get DH to drop you off at the doors then park! Hopefully he will find somewhere close to park are you in an inner city hospital?

bubblegumunicorn · 08/03/2019 19:37

Have you thought about a home birth? that could ease both the anxity and the stress! I wouldn't worry too much because honesly your baby could be late and you need to be induced or you could need an emergancy C-section or anything you can't plan for childbirth so just enjoy the time you have left before labour :) You will be fine!

Llioed · 08/03/2019 20:10

My husband dropped me off at the doors nearest the maternity dept, and went and found a car parking space. He was gone 15/20 minutes tops. It wasn’t a big deal.

You will be ok, OP. Just get dropped off at the doors with a small bag you can carry, with your maternity notes, phone, charger, money, etc. Your DH can bring the rest of the items (in another bag, etc) for you. It will be fine. Good luck!

MerryInthechelseahotel · 08/03/2019 20:25

Alsohuman

ivykaty44 is spot on with her mathsHmm

Good luck op Thanks We are all allowed to worry about things and your worry is very valid. Take no notice of the posters who like to belittle women.

FrameyMcFrame · 08/03/2019 20:29

There are labour ward spaces at our Hospital. You get the precious parking disc when you're admitted on to the ward.

Carly767 · 08/03/2019 20:34

Most hospital parking is run by private companies for profit, do not expect any concessions

NotBeforeCoffee · 08/03/2019 20:39

1/4 mile?!
A whole 400 meters from the hospital door?! That’s outrageous

(Seriously, you called a cab for that?)

MerryInthechelseahotel · 08/03/2019 20:49

Could you only find time to read the opening post notbeforecoffee or have you got a problem with empathy?

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