what happens if you go into labour away from home?

[asset1]

I'm 40+4 today and trying to work out what to do over xmas. This is my 2nd pg - DS is 2.10 - and I knew well in advance with him that something was going on (prelabour), but then full on labour was only 4 hours.I don't feel like anything is going on at the moment.
So the question is do we travel 1 1/2 hours by train to my parents house for a big family xmas which DS would adore? Or do we stay here near the hospital where I'm booked and wait? If I go into labour at my parents there are probably 3 hospitals within about 40 mins drive but I've never been to them.
By xmas day I will be 10 days overdue but really keen to avoid induction so planning to hold out till 42 weeks at least. As I'm writing this it sounds pretty stupid to travel but I'm just no good at waiting and drives me mad to think that we have to put everything on hold when nothing is going on.

One hospital is very much like another, just go for it. If you take your notes you can apparently go in whereever in extremis. Besides, it's more likely you'll go into labour stuck on the motorway on Boxing day and have the full blue light special coming to pick you and your baby up after you've buggered the car upholstery

Oh poor you!
My SIL went into labour when she was visiting her mum (6 weeks early). You just go to the nearest hospital with your notes, they may tell you off a bit, but they can't not treat you.
It's not like you get the same midwife as you've been having while pg unless you are very lucky, and these days lots of hospitals don't even let you visit beforehand, so I can't see there's much difference really if you go to a random hospital.
I think you should do exactly what you want to do.

take your notes and a labour bag whereever you go

Agree. Go for it, if you want to. You can always check out the local hospitals on MN to find out which one is best. Someone is bound to be local!

(If you do plan to go away, don't forget to buy some food in, incase you go into labour on Christmas Eve. You don't want dh and ds1 to be at home eating beans on toast on Christmas Day.)

In some ways going to your parents sounds like the sane thing as they will be able to babysit your ds. Otherwise, say it's Xmas day, how can your dh go with you to hospital when he has to be looking after ds?

I'd probably be a bit more concerned about the train journey in itself, just on the offchance that you went into labour on the way there or back. Is there any way your parents you could come and pick you up? Don't forget you'd need a carseat on your way back from hospital so it might be worth taking one with you if you can.

thanks everyone! really pleased that the general opinion is that we should travel. I was thinking it was a clear no no. Still got everything crossed that I'll have the baby in the next few days but getting despondent because no real signs. yes labour on the train would be tricky, and I suppose every labour is different so this one could come out of the blue. yes would need a carseat anyway.
on the other hand things would be so much easier with all the family around to babysit and cook and entertain DS etc. Its funny a couple of years ago I wouldn't have been bothered at all about missing xmas but DS is so excited this year it would seem such a shame for him to miss out on a full on family affair (even though bound to drive me and DH mad a times!)
I think if there is no progress by the weekend I'll check out MN knowledge on the local hospitals and decide.

I'd go for it.

it could be very exciting, you give birth in a manger somewhere on xmas day...

she said helpfully

You would have a trainful of very cross people if they had to delay the train to get you off

Go for it - the chances of suddenly going into such a state of full blown labour in the 1.5hr train journey are quite remote. Either you would be niggling enough b4 getting on the train to not want to go, or you might start niggling on the train, but it should be minor enough for 90mins.

Of course if you post next week to say you had a precipitate labour and gave birth on the train then I'll take it all ack

The hospital where I work is near a large seaside resort and we often get holidaymakers in labour who have decided to come to Butlins on the week of their due date