What happens if you go into labour away from home

[Tess321]

Can you wander into any maternity unit?

Yes, you can. Although you will need your ante-natal notes and it may cause a bit of confusion as they won't have copies of your notes in the hospital. I checked this out when a family member was taken into hospital a week before I was due - we thought we might need to drive 4 hours to see her, but as it turned out she was ok. My midwife was more concerned about me sitting in a car for 4 hours with sciatica than me going into labour in a strange place. She made me get hold of telephone numbers for the delivery ward at the hospital we were meant to be visiting, just in case.

you should call the nearest one, and make sure they have a bed ! if not,they will tell you where to go, you should carry your notes with you when out and about at all times, in the last trimester, just in case

It's also worth phoning the local one in advance of turning up lest the doors are locked and you can't raise anyone on the intercom (as happened to a friend of mine pitching up fully dilated). Luckily the security guard realised the bell wasn't working and called the ward, otherwise she'd have had her son on the doorstep!