Taking a newborn home without a car - do we need a car seat?

[startupDad]

We're expecting our first (a boy) in September. We live 15 mins walk from the hospital, and don't own a car. We had planned to walk home with a buggy, but have been told that they won't let us leave the hospital without a car seat, even if we are walking.

Of course, it's possible that we will need to get a taxi home or something, depending on how everything goes, but still, it seems like a strange rule.

What do other car-less parents do? Should we just buy a car seat for the sake of showing the hospital, and then carry it home while pushing a buggy with the baby in it?

Sorry Mike, not picking on you, you posted straight after me, that's all, so I saw your post immediately.

I'm just worried that the OP - I'm presuming it's a man - has unrealistic expectations of how his wife/partner is likely to feel after giving birth. I hope she feels she can say what she wants and not be made to feel like weak or lazy or something.

His post raised a little red flag to me but perhaps I'm reading too much into it.

Personally I couldn't walk comfortably, even at home, for about a week. Anecdotal evidence has led me to believe this is very common, particularly after the first birth. The mere thought of walking for 15 mins with fresh stitches and post-partum bleeding makes me wince.

But perhaps that was just me.

Well we can all only post from our own experiences. I appreciate that I was extremely lucky to have 3 very good births. It just so happens so did most of the people I know. I didn't get the same red flag you did.

I just hate the thought of posting here for advice with a first baby and hearing only the bad stories. It would have scared me even more than I already was.

Can you borrow a car seat if you get a cab. I've got one you can borrow I'm in in the north west

I've had 3 "good" births, kinda. Stitches, loads of bleeding etc after. I think I would like the option of not having to walk so soon post delivery. I appreciate I "could" but feel that doesn't mean I "should". The vast majority of my friends were very sore post birth, no matter how good the births. It's a really intense physical experience, and that takes its toll on a woman, no matter how fit, mentally prepared, etc we are.