What happens if the delivery suite is full?

[FeminineRageTheMusical]

Has anyone had any experience where the delivery suite where they planned to give birth is full when they go into labour?

I’ve been in for various triage things, and they always say they are super busy and I’m waiting in the corridor outside for 45 mins to an hour.

Went for a growth scan at 40+3 today, was coming up as accelerated growth but they said they wouldn’t do anything today anyway because the delivery suite is full and chaotic. The measurements were borderline so I’ve come home to wait for spontaneous labour, but now I’m concerned about what would happen if the delivery suite is full when I go into labour?

The hospital is 5-10 mins drive away, but the next nearest hospital is 1 hour, which makes all the difference as my last labour progressed very quickly, and second time round could be even quicker.

Any reassuring stories much appreciated thank you ❤️

I would guess there are different policies at different hospitals. In London or other bigger cities where there are several hospitals I imagine transfer to another hospital is quite common. More rural they will get more creative. When I was to be induced they sent me home Friday as they were busy and said they would ring before Monday . I got a p/call Sunday to be in before 10am.

They got a midwife down from post natal to deliver my second born and my first I had in a side room rather than a delivery room. It had all the same stuff though so was fine.

I've had three children. First one had to be a hospital birth, he was breech, they tried to turn him but he whizzed back round again. I definitely did not want a c/section. I was told to see how things went bilut if the baby or l was to show any distress, l had no choice...l gave birth naturally even though he was breech, all went well...The next two , l had at home. Absolutely brilliant, l would recommend it to anyone that can...As my contractions gathered pace, rang the community midwife...Two arrived which is the norm...They brought entomox (gas and air) and everything else they needed. Two wks before the due date my GP wrote a prescription for all the drugs l may need.... The midwives stay with hou from beginning to end, they were fantastic. Being at home was better too, for my dh. He was more relaxed as l was being in our own home, brewing up for the nurses, chatting etc, the best experience ever. After the birth, the midwives took all the rubbish with them and basically that was it...With my last l had no pain killers, wanted to see if l could cope without them, and l did...l know it's not for everybody, but if anyone is thinking about it, l say do it, so much better than being in hospital where the midwives are overloaded...

I was dumped in a waiting room, told to stop pestering, while women reading magazines were seen before me. They then seemed surprised I’d been fully dilated for quite some time.

@FeminineRageTheMusical how are you getting on now? I'm guessing maybe you had the baby already because you were 40+3 when you posted.

Still pregnant unfortunately 😂

Reading all of the responses has been mostly reassuring that I’m unlikely to give birth in a corridor or in the car.

It does seem to depend so much on the individual hospitals and trusts though!

@FeminineRageTheMusical good luck! xxx

If you turn up and are literally about to drop a baby they won't turn you away - it might be an impromptu delivery but they will look after you one way or another.

Also condolences on still being pregnant 😂

I got to labour on the pre labour ward, they whizzed me off to delivery room. My second stage was written down as ten minutes. As thst was the amount of time in delivery room before I delivered.

I almost gave birth in the induction bay because they didn’t have any space in delivery. They found a room and a midwife just in time. Baby born 3 mins after I entered the room 😅

This also happened to me, my closest hospital 5-10 mins away was full and we were sent to one 30 mins away. Baby was delivered by emergency c-section within about 10 minutes of being there. Not the most reassuring, however I’m assuming by the timing of your post that you now have your beautiful baby?

My friend was induced when full ward and it came very quickly as second child so no time for water birth etc

When I had my son the delivery suite was full so I gave birth on the ward I was on. They closed the curtains and when he was born everyone cheered apparently, but I was a bit out of it (gas and air), so I didn't clock it but I was told afterwards 😂 This was 30 years ago so unsure if they would do that now. Congrats to you! 🥰

I think that's pretty standard, water births only happen when the pool is free anyway.

Yes I have! A beautiful 8lbs 10oz baby boy 💙

There was a room in the delivery suite so it all worked out well in the end. Glad we didn’t have to go further as it all moved very quickly!

Glad everything worked out ok for you. Congratulations on your baby boy! 💙