London Taxi recommendations for getting to Hosp in Labour

[Kiwifruit]

Hi

We don't have a car, and have heard that not all taxi companies will take women in labour. Has anyone used a taxi to get to the labour ward in London, and what taxi company did you use (we're in West London, going to UCH)? Any useful tips (someone has suggested a plastic sheet so taxi driver doesn't have to worry about his/her upholstory...)

Thanks!

You don't have to tell them you are in labour do you? I didn't. My taxi driver was really sweet. Said I was bringing a gift into the world and the taxi fare should be his gift to us. We did still pay him though.

Remember to keep a stash of cash somewhere at home for when the time comes. One less thing to worry about.

I'm in E london btw, so don't know of any where you are. Good luck.

I asked my hospital (Tommy's) about getting there without a car and they suggested calling an ambulance! Which would be free but would feel a bit naughty if it wasn't actually an emergency. Apparently London Ambulance Service was OK with that idea though - I got colleagues to check with them.

Sorry, don't know which taxi firms are relaxed about this, but have you tried asking Anderson Young? (Fulham-based).

We went to hospital in a taxi when I went into labour (waters broke at home, so a bit messy too!). Taxi driver couldn't have cared less either way (no hassle, no joy...!). I did sit on a giant Mothercare bag though. He must have known we were going in for delivery, we were clutching bags of pillows (top tip by the way, bring your own from home with coloured cases so the hospital don't nab them by mistake....!). We flagged ours in the street.... good luck!

We used Radio Taxis. . .we live in the Paddington area and had only to go to St. Mary's Paddington. . .but with contractions 3 mins apart and broken waters (pad was sufficient in my case) I couldn't make the walk. And dh had to look after ds til babysitter arrived, so he couldn't drive me.

I ended up with an elderly taxi driver who was VERY worried and VERY upset that dh wasn't accomanying me. He knew, though, that the hospital was 5 mins away, so there wasn't really much question of my delivering in his taxi. How long is the journey from your area to UCH, kiwi?

Anyway, this same taxi driveras coincidence would havepicked me up 6 months later when I was out with 6-month-old dd. He said, "My goodness! I told my wife about you and she and I have been thinking about you and WORRYING about you for the past 6 months, wondering if it all went OK with the delivery. I shall have to go home and tell her that you have a 6-month old baby girl now!"

For me, it's the most heartwarming London taxi story I've ever heard or experienced.

Yes, don't flag up that you're in labour. Any decent minicab company should be fine, but I would really recommend setting up an account with one of the big names. You only pay when you use it, you get priority over cash bookings and you don't have to worry about having the right cash.

Agree with frogs. . .our fave of the big ones is radio taxis, as I mentioned.

I got picked up by a London Cabby when I had just taken a patient to be sent home on a flight from Heathrow (Got to wait in the Harrods lounge where all the celebrities go from their private jets! T'was empty though ). I was about 7 months pregnant and had a vast array of emergency equipment I had had to take with me. He looked at me, rather worried, and said, 'Do we need to rush love?'. Bless him.

Radio taxis have black cabs, don't they? Which is good 'cos you can get an unfolded buggy in them. But metered (I think) so possibly more expensive. I have a/c with GLH, who are also v. good. Addison Lee also meant to be good.

I used Addison Lee for my wedding, and couldn't fault them, but not sure what their policy is regarding labouring women!!

Re: using an ambulance - we were told on our tour of the labour ward (at St Mary's W2) not to ring for one unless it was some sort of emergency. Saying that, I guess if you really couldn't get a taxi then that would constitute an emergency surely?!

Use a black cab, not a minicab. I learnt on a First Aid course that a black cab will not dump you if you need medical help but will make sure that you end up in a hospital. Also, it can be very difficult to move in advanced labour, and the large floor of the black cab makes it easier to get in and out of the cab (or even to deliver ) and for your birth partner to support you en route. I used a black cab for both of my labours, and for a minor emergency during one pg, and ended up crawling out of the cab at least once if not twice. No way could I have coped with the back seat of an ordinary saloon. I was going from NW London to UCH.

A tip: check your phone numbers to make sure they work. We wrote the numbers of two black cab companies on the flap of my labour bag, and when dh called them on the night, we found that both numbers didn't work! Yellow Pages to the rescue.

Thanks for the tips Ladies, will call Radio Taxis tomorrow and set up an account. no idea how long the trip is ExpatKat - probably not a silly idea to give it a go! Takes about 20 mins on the tube (Maida Vale to Euston Square), but dont think that's an option when i'm in labour!!

Kiwi, we must live pretty near each other. . .at any rate the trip from Maida Vale to UCH shouldn't be too long at all by cab.

LOVE your name Ladylazarus. . .(of course I'm a Plath fanatic)