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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Taxi to hospital in labour - any tips?

20 replies

llandb · 09/11/2010 21:30

Have been told to get to hospital quickly once labour starts as am attempting VBAC. Am very keen to follow this advice.

It's about a 15 minute drive or an hour walk (and don't have a bike :))

DP doesn't drive and I suppose I should heed the advice that one shouldn't drive oneself (and don't fancy waddling from car park anyway)

In any case, I'll probably just have to haul myself down to the delivery unit while DP sorts out childcare (finding out which friend(s) can cover for us) - then he can follow. There may not be a friend available to drive me at the time (depending on when it all kicks off).

So I suppose I'll have to take a taxi.

Any tips as to what to say to make the taxi company agree to transport a labouring passenger? And to get them to collect me pronto?

Or which companies are best or to be avoided? (Am in Cambridge, as in Cambs)

TIA :)

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Marjee · 09/11/2010 23:24

I got a taxi to hospital in labour and they didn't have a problem with it. Dh didn't tell them when he booked it but when the taxi arrived it took me a while to get dressed as I was in a bit of a panic (transition!) so dh ran out to apologise and explain to the driver and he was lovely. He didn't even mind me swearing constantly the whole way there which was luckily only 5 minutes drive as ds was born within 30 minutes of us arriving!

I don't think you have anything to worry about as you'll be quite early on when you go in, you don't need to tell them on the phone and they'd have to be pretty heartless to refuse to take a woman in labour to hospital. I would advise taking a towel or mattress protector to sit on just in case your waters go in the taxi though

Original poster

llandb · 10/11/2010 09:03

Thanks, Marjee - I was worried they would refuse, but perhaps that was groundless - and thanks for the towel or mattress protector tip :o

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notcitrus · 10/11/2010 09:26

Might be worth though calling a cab firm to let them know you will be needing a cab to get to hospital in due course, so they can then prioritise you when the time comes.

I used cabs a lot in late pregnancy and the drivers seemed quite disappointed I had MrNC to drive me to hospital when the time came.

Bin bag for under the towel also good, I'm told.

Octaviapink · 10/11/2010 09:32

Yes, they shouldn't have a problem with it (though may be worth checking in advance which ones are 24 hr) - I got a cab last time twice (once for too-early and once for the real thing!) and will be getting one again this time.

littleElif · 10/11/2010 09:58

we don't have a car and DP does not drive either. MW advised us to ring the ambulance. We have been told that taxis like to refuse woman in labour...

cory · 10/11/2010 10:31

I found taxi drivers wonderfully supportive (lots of false alarms)- one even told me that they'd be fine delivering me because he'd done it before.

Poppet45 · 10/11/2010 12:30

Don't neglect to tell them, if you ring now, well in advance of labour and talk to them, then on the day they will send the most relaxed unphased driver they have. If you keep it a secret you risk getting Mr 'my cab is my pride and joy'. Not a good idea. My cabbie was a dad of four, lovely, drove slow over speed bumps, let me lean over the bonnet and moo during a contraction once we'd got there, and said that by the time it comes to the fourth 'it's like going out for the shopping'.
Cabbies take labouring women to the hospital all the time. It's a big deal for you, not them.

Poppet45 · 10/11/2010 12:31

I think it's illegal for cabbies to refuse to carry a labouring woman. Please don't waste an ambulance.

nymum · 10/11/2010 20:07

Have taken a taxi in advanced labour 2x without incident/problem (other than moaning in back seat which may be a distraction but at the time could have cared less).

I also had a VBAC and was cautioned the opposite- that I should try and wait at home until contractions nice and established (which I took a bit too seriously and arrived at 8cm) to avoid anyone getting panicky and pushing for a csection if they were getting antsy about my progress. Of course, getting to hospital asap will make the taxi ride more bearable!

bubbahubba · 10/11/2010 20:57

Don't rush to the hospital. you will just be put on a monitoring machine and flat on your back.....get there when you feel ready. cabbies never have a problem, i don't think

Original poster

llandb · 10/11/2010 21:22

Thanks, everyone!

littleElif my community MW for pg1 told me the same thing - call an ambulance rather than a taxi. I said, 'what, waste and ambulance?!' and she pretty much thought I was bonkers for thinking that way. (Have a different CMW now)

But Poppet45 I have since been told (by another MW in the same area) that they are not supposed to say that and we are not supposed to waste an ambulance - unless we think we're going to need the help of the paramedics at home or en route :o

Wasn't expecting to post to say this, but things are stepping up and I may be testing this sooner than I think - have towel and bin bag packed!

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Panzee · 10/11/2010 21:24

Ooh how exciting! Best of luck :)

Original poster

llandb · 11/11/2010 01:20

Thanks, Panzee! Still here, after all. False alarm. But at least now my hospital bag is packed! :o

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florilegia · 11/11/2010 13:30

Good luck, llandb! I'm in Cambridge too, also with a non-driving husband, so I feel your pain...

SkaterGrrrrl · 11/11/2010 17:04

We got a taxi to the hospital in labour (twice in one day - the first time was a false alarm). We didn't tell the cab co I was in labour till they arrived. Its a 40 min drive in traffic but luckily due to time of day it took us about 20 mins. I didn't bother with a towel or anything, and my waters hadn't broken yet.

Both drivers were really sweet and shook DH's hand and wished us luck!

PrettyCandles · 11/11/2010 17:16

Do you have black cabs in Cambridge? Like the London taxis. They are the business when you're in labour. Firstly there's room for you to move around if you need, you're not stuck sitting leaning back with no legroom. Secondly they're obliged to take you to hospital and can't refuse you for being in labour. Also (IME) the drivers are mostly dads, and have a lot if sympathy for your situation!

Whichever company you use, make sure to check that their phone number is correct and keep a note of it in your labour bag. Two different companies, if poss, in case you go into labour on a busy Friday night, for example. Also keep money for the fare in the labour bag.

Can you tell I used cabs?

florilegia · 11/11/2010 17:30

Actually, I did take a taxi to the hospital for my first scan (didn't want to get lost and miss the appointment as it was very early), and the dispatcher was a little bit "woman wanting to go to the maternity ward at 7am? ". I was worried they'd refuse to take me, but it turned out they were just wanting to check if it was an "emergency" or not, because if it was they were going to ask me to bring a towel to sit on just in case!

carlyvita · 11/11/2010 17:53

I'm going for a VBAC and certainly won't be rushing anywhere at first twinge, as strapping me down I personally feel was just first in the long list of "care" and interventions that caused my C section in the first place.

Just my opinion after reading all the VBAC stuff!

Bue · 11/11/2010 18:37

Am quite sure a cab cannot legally deny you a ride. And why would they want to? I think it would be fun to drive a pregnant stranger to hospital!

Original poster

llandb · 18/11/2010 22:57

Thanks again, everyone! I composed a lovely, grateful reply the other day, and then our router crashed between composition and sending, and I lost the post. I have learned the value of saving!

florilegia good luck! And :o at the grilling from the taxi company

PrettyCandles I'm not sure whether we have black cabs here - I thought I'd seen them can't find them, so think I'm projecting from having seen them in the Big Smoke. I have taken your advice and have ensured that I have numbers in my phone, and that at all times, I have phone charged and topped up, and cash!

Bue fingers crossed for a cabbie with a sense of adventure! :o

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