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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Scared about not getting to hospital on time

15 replies

MumbleLumble · 29/07/2019 16:04

So DC2 was a 4 hour labour. Not mega quick but we live a 40 minute drive to the hospital. He was born very soon after arriving at the hospital. The midwife accidentally broke my waters and ds was basically just fell out 10 seconds later. I didn't really push.

I'm now pregnant with my 3rd and terrified I'm not going to make it to the hospital in time. The only person I have to drive me to the hospital is DH but if he's at work, he will have to drive home, collect me and then drive the hospital. Which will take well over an hour.

I have considered a home birth but both of my DC have had to go to the baby unit straight after birth without me being able to hold them and I'm worried about this baby needing to be transfered to hospital anyway. I also have a very nervous dog who wouldn't cope with me screaming and strange people being in the house.

I don't really know what I'm asking. I'm only 10 weeks but I can't stop worrying.

OP posts:
Original poster
MumbleLumble · 29/07/2019 21:43

Bump

OP posts:
M0RVEN · 29/07/2019 21:46

I’m sorry to hear you are so anxious. Can you say why both your babies had to go to special care immediately ?

Who is going to look after your other two children when you and Dh go to hospital?

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 29/07/2019 21:46

Could you look into local taxi firms and see about booking one of them as soon as the contractions start? Then dh can make his way straight to the hospital.

What's the plans for the kids? Is there someone who can drop everything and come round for them?

Elisheva · 29/07/2019 21:51

Could you have a planned caesarean? A friend has similar concerns and is having a caesarean at 38 weeks. She met with a consultant and a lead midwife to discuss her options.

PhannyMcNee · 29/07/2019 21:54

Talk to your midwife. I had very similar (and justified) worries with dc4 and my midwife was brilliant at coming up with a ‘worst case’ plan.

Original poster
MumbleLumble · 29/07/2019 22:07

I'm not 100% sure why they did. They were both shocked when born and didn't breathe by themselves I think. Both big healthy babies apart from that.

I have a few options for the kids but I feel like I don't want to bother people yet even though I know they will say yes, if that makes sense.

Sorry I know I shouldn't worry about this all yet but it is good to talk about it and good to hear some of you have also been though this but come up with solutions.

I'm not sure if taxis will take pregnant women in labour because of potential mess? Maybe I'm wrong but definitely soemthing ill look into, thank you.

OP posts:
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 29/07/2019 22:09

I took a taxi both times.

Original poster
MumbleLumble · 29/07/2019 22:15

Someone runs a small taxi firm just round the corner from me so I will ask them if they would. It will make me feel better having that extra back up plan if I need it, thank you.

OP posts:
M0RVEN · 29/07/2019 23:56

I think you need to ask your midwife what the issue was last time. Because if the baby arrives when you are at home or in the car or taxi you need to know what to do.

And of course you must “ bother” people if you go into labour at home alone with your children. You need to have a list of people to call to help so you can be sure to get one of them round ASAP.

Once you have another adult with you and if baby is coming quickly, they can dial 999 and the ambulance service will talk them through how to support you.

I have two friends who gave birth to their second children very quickly . One was in the car on the way to hospital and the other while standing at the night entrance to the hospital. Both mums and babies were fine.

cranstonmanor · 30/07/2019 00:08

I'm not sure if taxis will take pregnant women in labour because of potential mess? Maybe I'm wrong but definitely soemthing ill look into, thank you.

My rural living friend was advised to sit on a binbag plus towel. Towel to get most of the waters, binbag so it doesn't seep through to the seat.

Youhavewonaprize · 30/07/2019 04:09

I know you’ve said you’ve considered a home birth but don’t rule it out just because you might need to be transferred. I had a HB and found it so much easier being transferred after labour in an ambulance rather than being driven in the car/taxi while in labour. Like your dc, my dc2 was rather shocked at being born and had rescue breaths at home, but was obviously less seriously affected than yours as we transferred due to , rather than for him. Whoever collects your other children can take the dog too, or he can be shut in another room and looked after by your do. With any luck you won’t be screaming too much - being at home at night with a sleeping toddler makes you surprisingly less vocal!

Good luck, whatever you choose to go for

endofthelinefinally · 30/07/2019 04:24

I have been in this situation and I completely understand your fears. What made it worse for me was that none of the midwives or doctors took me seriously at all.
I asked about a HB, but was refused due to my age and chronic anaemia. (Thank goodness though, because I subsequently found out that my midwife was based nearly 2 hours drive away. Given my labour was 45 minutes from first contraction to delivery, that would never have worked).
I made several alternative arrangements with friends and neighbours so I had plans A, B, C.
In the event, I was at home with just the DC, who were asleep.
Lovely neighbour came over and committed the MN cardinal sin of calling an ambulance. Paramedics were wonderful, all was well.
It is actually OK to dial 999 if you think you are about to deliver on the floor at home.

Daisycat16 · 31/07/2019 22:58

I understand your concerns. My first was 15 minutes active labour and it was only by pure chance we were at the hospital in triage. Even the midwives were a bit stumped. When number 2 was on the way we met with the consultant and discussed our concerns i.e distance from hospital/childcare and possibly short time to put things in place etc. They were really understanding and suggested elective induction. We had all the home birth kit delivered (just in case) and had a date set to go into hospital for peace of mind really. I hope it all goes well for you.

cardboard33 · 01/08/2019 09:45

We got an Uber to the hospital when I was in labour. It was fine. My waters hadn't gone but I had a massive incontinence sheet to sit on incase they did, and the driver was really helpful getting out loads of sheets from his boot and counting my contractions on the way in Grin I'd been really worried about it as we don't have a car and our go to people weren't answering the phone (I was also fast although as it was my first I didn't know this until later, we got to the hospital when I was 8cm dialated and he was born about two hours later) so Uber was our only option at 4.30am.

We were planning on phoning around local taxi companies to have a few options but my baby came early so we hadn't got to that part of our planning process.

Tobebythesea · 02/08/2019 20:33

I am scared too so I have a planned induction at 38 and half weeks. Hoping for a vaginal delivery.

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