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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Driving to hospital

52 replies

nousername123 · 24/11/2017 20:12

I'm a very confident driver, my partner can drive but isn't confident and stresses me out when he drives. The hospital is 40 minutes away. I can't afford a taxi. Has anyone else driven themselves?

OP posts:
Original poster
nousername123 · 24/11/2017 21:07

Understatement -
My partner is disabled from a bad crash in which he had to be revived twice and was in a coma. It's not as simple as his getting a grip unfortunately x

OP posts:
Katescurios · 24/11/2017 21:12

What are your public transport links to the hospital like? Obviously no good at 2am but if your on a bus route that could work??

Austentatious · 24/11/2017 21:12

in those circumstances, you either go in early and drive yourself (I did that through central london and it was fine) or call a friend / ambulance if necessary
One thing about driving yourself is that your partner will need to move the car anyway - you will be far more broke than a couple of taxi fares if you park in a hospital carpark for a couple of days! (what about a bus? again if you go a little earlier, that would work if it's direct / close)

Original poster
nousername123 · 24/11/2017 21:15

I could get the bus I suppose. The hospital is on the bus route I think. Obviously if it's ridiculous time in the morning then plan b. The issue I have is everyone in my family works nights! If it's late at night though there won't be lots of traffic so I wouldn't mind my partner driving me x

OP posts:
letdownalittleagain · 24/11/2017 21:16

I did, but I wouldn’t rely on being able to.

It was 5/10 min (my waters went at work! I was getting out!) and I went for a check as they broke, and it was very early Labour. 20 min later I was in no state to drive, and 20 min after I was holding a baby! So 40 min..

letdownalittleagain · 24/11/2017 21:17

My best advice is even unknown neighbours are amazing at baby times, we meet some when they knocked on our door and offered help if we needed it. Don’t be embarrassed to ask, it’s a one off, friends, colleagues etc

Understatement · 24/11/2017 21:19

Well what was the point of your OP then?

If you'd posted saying my partner has disabilities that make it very difficult for him to drive, I'm sure the responses would have been much more constructive. Confused

PinkHeart5914 · 24/11/2017 21:27

labour is rather painful and no way can you concentrate fully on the road and be in labour, you risk causing a crash with lack of concentration and causing harm to you and your child and to the people around you. Maybe that risk is small but it’s still a real possibility and a stupid risk to take! Also some labours are unbelievably quick

Your dp will have to drive, your have to ask a family member/friend, look at asking a taxi firm ( this will end up costing less than hospital parking if your in for a couple of days ) most people are helpful if they are able to be especially if you explain your situation

Wolfiefan · 24/11/2017 21:27

He's disabled and can't drive or he simply lacks in confidence?
Either way you can't drive and you won't want to be on a stopping and starting bus.
Your DP drives you or someone else. You can't possibly drive.
And you still need to make a plan for coming home. What if you need a c section and can't drive for weeks?

MrsMoastyToasty · 24/11/2017 21:30

I live in the Bristol area and you're making a couple of assumptions. 1. The traffic will be moving 2. That you'll be able to park 3. That you'll be near your car when you go into labour.

Original poster
nousername123 · 24/11/2017 21:39

I didn't want an argument or anything I was just asking if anyone has done it before. Thank you to those who have constructively replied to my post. Yeah I'm worrying about the traffic, getting from Weston to Bristol is horrendous like 60% of the time. I would rather give birth in Weston but been told I have to go to St Michaels in Bristol.
My partner physically can drive but is traumatised by his accident. If it's quiet he will be fine. I've just got visions of it being on a Friday in rush hour or something knowing my luck! I might post on Facebook and see if any of my friends will volunteer. I have 9 weeks to go which feels like ages but I suspect it will go quickly x

OP posts:
wibblywobblyfish · 24/11/2017 21:44

I drove in early labour, I was out with the kids by myself and as soon as I realised that I was having regular contractions as opposed to BH I got them all in the car and went home immediately and summoned DP. Managed to breathe my way through it but it wasn't actually part of the birth plan Grin

bathghter · 24/11/2017 21:57

I remember thinking how I would probably have to drive myself to hospital because P is a drunk that’s another thread LOL bless my heart... I’m a super driver 10 years incident free but I could NOT have driven myself to hospital

smellybeanpole · 24/11/2017 22:34

Speak to your health advisor or midwife about your situation. You cannot drive or take a bus in active labour.

CupanTaeAnois · 24/11/2017 22:40

If you are struggling for the price of a taxi fare bear in mind the cost of hospital parking too if your car is in the car park for a number of days.
You would not be able to drive home after a c-section.
I would not have been able to drive confidently through any of my labours.

badg3r · 24/11/2017 22:40

Yes start working on helping your DP gear up for the drive. Also bear in mind that the route may seem terrible a lot of the time, but rush hour is only a few hours a day and only five days out of seven. Statistically you would be quite unlucky to get caught up in it.

If the traffic is terrible for 4h a day including weekends, there's only a 17% chance you'll get stuck in it (maths geek Wink).

bumblingbovine49 · 24/11/2017 22:42

I drove myself for the same reason. DS could n't get the car out of the tight place I haf was parked in. He was a much less experienced driver than I was and was obviously nervous anyway .

Once I had got the car out it seemed easier for me to drive to the hospital as I was much calmer than him and happy to drive

. Two big BUTs though is that the hospital was less than 15min drive and although my waters had broken I wasn't having contractions. I don't think it would be wise or safe to drive 40mins while in labour even early labour.

bumblingbovine49 · 24/11/2017 22:43

Sorry DH not DS!!!!

TammySwansonTwo · 24/11/2017 22:51

May get flamed for this but if you physically can't get to the further away hospital, you may just have to get to the one that's close by - if they need you to be elsewhere they can transfer you. I have a few twin mum friends who had to have theirs at a place that's an hour away at least when traffic is bad and we' - most went to the local and were transferred.

Original poster
nousername123 · 25/11/2017 19:59

Tammy Swanson two-
I was thinking that. If it's rush hour there really isn't much point in trying to get there. I could go to Weston hospital and be there in 10 minutes. I wouldn't worry about getting flamed on here, seems to be that you get flamed for saying hello on here 😂

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 25/11/2017 20:04

You need to talk to your MW.
You can't take a bus or drive yourself.

Tedster77 · 25/11/2017 20:09

I’ve worked in Weston and St Michaels and believe me - despite being told to put a pound a week away for a taxi during pregnancy nobody bloody does and they turn up in ambulances ALL the time.....(of course that doesn’t get them home again - sometimes much to their disgust!!!).

Weston will not accept you in labour if you’re not booked there. It’s brilliant but a low risk midwife led unit.

Do you have ANY friends who could take you? You really cannot drive from Weston UP THE M5 into central Bristol in labour!!!

You could drive in for an induction but not in established labour.

Best of luck!!! X

primarnoodle · 25/11/2017 20:16

My plan was to drive myself too as dp doesnt drive... but yeh that wasnt happening 😂 you will either have to save now for a taxi later or beg a neighbour to take you when the time comes.

If you have to be in hospital instead of homebirth then ask for an induction?

PinkBuffalo · 25/11/2017 20:29

zoe
Definitely post out to your mates on Facebook. If I was your friend, wouldn't be able to drive you, but we'd all club together for a cab for you (I would even ring the taxi companies to find one that would take a woman in labour)
Most mates help each other out and you may be surprised if your honest about your situation to people you know.

sycamore54321 · 27/11/2017 05:43

As everyone else has said, it's a terrible and dangerous idea. Asking on Facebook is a great idea - even an almost-stranger, nearby friend-of-a-friend would I'm certain be delighted to help out. Or heck, find out how much is a taxi and straight-up ask someone to pay it.

Also talk to your midwife or doctor. See if they can refer you for any kind of small welfare fund to pay for the taxi. Or failing that, I'd seriously ask about an induction or scheduled c-section. As you have a distinct medical need to be at the larger hospital, turning up at the midwife unit is also a dreadful ideas for will only waste time getting you and your baby the medical attention you need.

The only thing to do is to ask for help. Tell people exactly what you need.