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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Car journey in labour

38 replies

Notsure1234 · 20/05/2017 18:48

I was induced last time so never had to make the journey from home to hospital in labour. This is the thing I'm most worried about this time round!

In labour I went into a 'zone' and needed to stay in one position to cope. The worst bit of my labour by far was the wheelchair journey from the ward to delivery suite and that was only a few minutes! It was agony. How on earth will I cope with the car journey?!

OP posts:

isthistoonosy · 20/05/2017 18:53

I was worried about this with dc2 as with dc1 my waters broke so during the drive in I wasn't having contractions. Tbh it was fine, early labour was easier to cope with as I knew what was happening and I was more confident I could handle it.
I picked a nursery rhyme to sing during contractions and kind of lifted myself up during them. I had the car prepped with cushions, hot water bottle, plastic sheeting etc to make the best of it.

It wasn't the most fun hour of my life but it was fine. I'm sure it will be for you too.

Intransige · 20/05/2017 18:54

This is one of the reasons I had two home births.

Womble75 · 20/05/2017 19:32

I managed it with lots of swearing at DH LOL I was timing my contractions and they were every 3 minutes so would put my head down and deep breaths just before and zone out.
Typically it was at night and the A road was having roadworks so had a diversion and then had to direct DH through the town. I've never sworn so much in my life.
Just get into a position you feel most comfortable in, I pushed the seat right back and reclined a bit so I could stretch my legs out but whatever works for you.

Babywearinggeek · 20/05/2017 20:44

I actually think I passed out from the pain of not being able to move during contractions 😂 I hated the journey (I made it 4 times before ending up having ds at home by accident because midwives said I wasn't in labour 🙈) given my time again I'd have got in the back (no seatbelt) and sat/laid/knelt however I was comfy and then told DH to drive super carefully 😂 Especially when roads are empty at night. And if nothing else just keep reminding yourself that it's not forever!

Lj8893 · 20/05/2017 20:48

Could you have a home birth?

Original poster

Notsure1234 · 20/05/2017 20:58

No reason I can't have a home birth Lj8893 but I really don't want one. I find being in hospital for the labour more reassuring. It's just getting there that's the issue!

Thanks for all the shared experiences. I guess there's no choice really is there so will just have to hope I have a good coping technique at the time!

Really hoping it's night time as it's only about 15-20 mins away but could be an hour or more in rush hour traffic. Did everyone wear seatbelts?

OP posts:

reallyanotherone · 20/05/2017 20:59

Find a route with no speed bumps!

Sitting in the car was fine, but bloody hell the speed bumps!

MrTumblesbitch · 20/05/2017 21:02

I spent the journey on the backseat of the car sort of holding on to the back of the headrest and looking out the boot window. Traffic was rush hour, and i known I scared people in the cars beside me as I was 10cms and screaming. I tried to get out the car a few times as well not sure what I was thinking

I had an incompetent cervix and literally went from feeeling a bit weird to 10cm in an hour though, so not typical. If I ever get pregnant again I'm having a planned c section though!

GlitterRollerSkate · 20/05/2017 21:04

Hi I was in active labour in the car. We had to stop twice so I could get out and walk around until I was composed enough to carry on. The baby was back to back and I was still in pain between contractions but we made it perfectly well wearing a seatbelt. It was a 40 minute drive to the hospital. I wouldn't worry about it to be honest you'll make it! You have to or have a car baby

isthistoonosy · 20/05/2017 21:06

Seat belt was no issue, don't remember even feeling it.tbh

MotherofBoy · 20/05/2017 22:18

I had a 45 minute drive to the hospital when I was in active labour at about 5cm. I was like you before we left - in a zone had to be on all fours. So yes the car journey was challenging! But actually, it wasn't as bad as I imagined. I remember feeling pretty awkward mid-contraction at red traffic lights as it was high summer and we had the windows open and I was groaning like an animal... I put my feet up on the dashboard and pressed against during contractions as well as gripping the seat which I think helped a bit as gave me some focus and a more all fours type position than sitting upright! I actually walked onto the labour ward from the car when we got there. I think the focus of just getting to the hospital kept me going, I didn't want to stop as knew it would be harder to get going again so we just drove straight there and I didn't even stop walking when we got to the hospital during contractions as I just wanted to get down on all fours again as quickly as possible!

MotherofBoy · 20/05/2017 22:21

P.S yes I wore a seatbelt, not worth the risk, I kept yelling at DH not to drive like a madman as we went in at 9.30am so there were lots of cars on the road still!

musicalmama · 20/05/2017 22:24

It's uncomfortable but manageable! My baby was back to back so in a lot of pain but any bumps in the road were excruciating. It's not any worse than the rest of labour!

Pisghetti · 20/05/2017 22:25

A TENS machine? Not everyone likes them but I found one pretty good during my last labour and it gives you a focus during the contractions as you control the strength in relation to the intensity of the contraction (ramping up to max and back down again as the contraction peaks and falls again)

annlee3817 · 20/05/2017 22:32

I went straight into active labour, and the car journey thankfully was only fifteen minutes. I refused to sit on the seat with the belt on, my husband tried to argue and got a polite F Off. I kneeled in the footwear and laid my head on his lap, my Dad drove. I couldn't give a care about safety at the the, also as it was 3am the roads were thankfully quiet. Just go with what feels comfortable

Original poster

Notsure1234 · 20/05/2017 22:36

I do plan on hiring a TENS machine so hopefully it'll prove useful in the car. I'm already feeling sorry for dh as I know I'm not going to be pleasent company

OP posts:

Original poster

Notsure1234 · 20/05/2017 22:37

I'm hoping I get that same tunnel vision Mother of just focusing on getting to the hospital and not stopping

OP posts:

PacificDogwod · 20/05/2017 22:38

Don't leave it too late to get going to the hospital, is my advice.

I very seriously thought I'd deliver in the car when DS4 was on his way - he did appear within 10 min of arriving on the labour ward.

RJnomore1 · 20/05/2017 22:40

I remember it well. I punched the car door while dh bit his tongue and broke the speed limit. It was midnight so quiet roads.

I couldn't actually sit, I had to kinda stand and bend at the knees to lean on the chair as my torso was rigid.

We got there though, my advice get in early and don't faff about with the tens at that point.

kel1493 · 20/05/2017 22:41

I'd had a sweep in the afternoon, and my waters hadn't broken, so contractions weren't too strong by the time I went to the birth centre. I was fine in the car. I walked to the delivery suite and sat waiting to see a triage midwife. Then I walked to the birth centre. I didn't need a wheelchair at all. I just kept taking deep breaths and trying to breathe with the contractions.

MadeForThis · 20/05/2017 22:48

Tens machine helped massively. Gave something to focus on and made me feel like I had some control over the pain. Was 7cm when we arrived and DD was back to back.

tararabumdeay · 20/05/2017 22:52

We got an offside puncture so DH lying in the middle of an A road while I was clinging to the handle and bearing down wondering what to do if he got run over. Middle of nowhere, no mobile phones.

Made it the last 10 miles to the hospital on a space saver tyre; couldn't move when I got out of the car. DS born 2hrs later.

I had insisted that I stayed with DS1 until Eastenders finished though I knew I was in Labour the day before.

In hindsight I'd check the tyres, jack, wheelbrace and order a couple of mates to be motorcycle outriders.

Bluefrog26 · 20/05/2017 22:58

DP took a different route to save time as contractions were getting closer and closer but forgot about the road full of speed bumps. Had DD1 in the back of the car so couldn't even swear😡🤐.

Highmaintenancefemalestuff · 20/05/2017 23:07

My hospital was a 20 minute drive. It was the longest 20 minutes of my fucking life! I felt every bump and every corner.
Throughout both my labours I was already starting to push when we made the journey so I do know if that made any difference.
Probably not what you want to hear but I preferred the pain of the journey to the thought of being in hospital for hours before delivery.

My advice would be to tilt to the side, so sitting on one bum cheek. Hold the door handle tight and breathe. Don't try and get in the back of a three door but if you have a five door get in the back and find a good position.

NC1nightstand · 20/05/2017 23:18

Ds2 was actually born in the car on the way to the hospital! First baby took so long to come out that dp was convinced it would be the same with ds2. I knew it was different. It is still the stand out experience of my whole life. There was a point when I realized I was just going to have to go through it and once I got to that point my body just took over. Sounds a bit crunchy but I don't know how else to explain. It was amazing. The fact that we had to pull over in heavy morning rush hour traffic didn't phase me in the slightest.
Obviously I wouldn't advise it but my point is OP, you will be ok. You will be ok. Those babies come out when they're ready, they're not bothered about where we are. All the luck in world to you, have a wonderful birth!

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