Really dumb worry - neither DH nor I drive

[beanlet]

Sorry to ask something so stupid, but neither my husband nor I drive, nor do either of us have any really close friends whom we could ask to drive us to the hospital -- and our families are all a long way away.

Will a taxi take us to the hospital when I go into labour, or can they/do they refuse to do so? Or should we just call an ambulance? Calling an ambulance seems wrong when labour isn't really an emergency, but I'm really worried that taxis will refuse to take a woman in labour.

And I REALLY don't want to go on the bus!

Anyone with any experience of this?

they are not allowed to refuse to transport you, but dont tell them when you call them, just say that you need to go to hospital. (and dont go into labour in central london on saturday night, took me 2 hour to get transport to hospital)

call a taxi and don't say you are in labour until it arrives - i have bought some huggies bed mats to sit on just in case waters go in taxi!!!! my dh drives but parking around hospital is hard during week so will get taxi if its mon-fri 9-5.

if you are in really advanced labour and worried about having baby en-route etc ok to call a ambulance but it will take you to nearest hospital not necessary one you are booked in at.

and if you have trouble getting a taxi in suitable timeframe then i think ok to call ambulance.

Thanks. Fortunately there's only one local hospital, and there's a major taxi rank round the corner from our house, so logistically it should be fine -- it's more a question of whether they can or will refuse to take me!

I took a taxi both times. Both times they were fine about it (although I tried not to let on; v painful contractions trying to sit quietly in the back seat = not good). YOu'll be fine.

I went by taxi for second birth - it's good form to take a towel or something to sit on just in case, and you wouldn't want to leave it too late, especially in the middle of the night, but it should be fine.

Given the length of time of average first labour you could probably walk (and most midwives would probably lecture you on how good for you it would be).

I went by taxi both times, and both times we told them when we phoned that I was in labour........there was no problem.

You can start phoning local cab companies now to ask them in advance if they take labouring women. Most do and are proud to do so! We took a black cab to the hospital with my DS as we don't have a car, and the driver was fabulous, uttered the immortal line that he had four kids and by the fourth it was like going out for the shopping, took it steady over speed bumps and let me gasp and splutter over his bonnet when I had a contraction in between getting out of the cab and waddling to the maternity reception! Plus hubs could totally concentrate on moi enroute to the hospital not the traffic, unlike some of my friends who felt very scared and alone while their hubbies were driving. Finally a black cab has lots of room and those fold down seats, which i leant over mooing happily. Admittedly we did get some funny looks from passing bus passengers during the morning rush hour, but all in all it was a very civilised experience.
Don't take an ambulance - they are not maternataxis!

We were in the same situation. I had numerous scares so kept shooting in and out of hospital: I found the taxi drivers a tower of strength and support. Still use the same company out of loyalty- and eldest child is 13!

lol at Poppet45, wish you could actually book a taxi driver like that! I'm the car driver in our household so we would have had same quandry as you, Beanlet - but with DS I had to be induced, so though we got a taxi to hosp there were definitely no contractions. However another friend got black cab when fairly advanced in labour, no problem (she'd no idea she was so advanced, mind you).

i worried about the same thing, we dont drive but got a taxi, just told the driver to take it easy over the road humps :D good luck!!

That's all incredibly encouraging everyone -- thanks! I'll ring our local cab companies to make sure, but it sounds like taxi will be OK after all.