Woman told to walk to hospital gives birth in street

[kathyis6incheshigh]

Here

God, that'll be all over the right-wing American media tomorrow to frighten thicko people into thinking a socialised medical system is a bad thing.

I have just been listening to whoever it is who sits in for Jeremy Vine and am gobsmacked that he asked the woman concerned 'where was the childs father when this was happening?' ... what a stupid and pointless question, though I am sure he was just being rude. Her answer was 'me and the baby's father are not together' . How disgusting that this should even be relevant. Maybe he was at work, maybe he was away, maybe she didn't know where he was ... how many fathers would neccesarily be there when a woman gives birth three weeks early? FFS stupid man and stupid question.

Definitely implying that she is having babies all over the place and so therefore it's her responsibillity. FFS she gave birth 3 weeks early - how the hell was she supposed to plan for that!

Well juule, the hospital is a bit hit and miss with it's care. I had a terrible time there. From start to finish. That's why I had the other 2 at home.

I was in labour and rang LRI to tell them. They said to come in.
DH was at work (doesn't drive, worked a few miles away)
mum/dad etc.. doesn't drive either.
I was living at the top of a 3 storey house (flats) nobody was around. I explained this and there response was, "Oh, well just ring us if you are intending on coming in!" I was petrified, I had no idea what I was supposed to do.

I didn't expect them to hare round with sirens etc.. Just they could have talked me through some options/treated me a little nicer! I'm sure I'm not the first 1st time mum thats nicely laid plans for delivery and birth went awry!!

I came on to be shocked but 100m
I had to walk that across the car park (and then more inside the hospital) and was 9cm dilated - fairly standard isn't it?
No idea about the hospital but an ambulance could not have been quicker - a porter with a wheelchair maybe but the baby would surely still have been born on the way.

No Stealth, 100m is not a great deal. I just have issues with the hospital itself!!

But surely they don't know what options are available specifically to you.
If you couldn't work out how to get there and you know your circumstances how could they make suggestions?
Couldn't you have phoned your dh/parents who know you better than the hospital and see what they suggested?
Didn't you have a back up plan for if you were on your own when you went into labour. Surely these thing should be thought about before you go into labour and not when you've started.
Thinking about it perhaps these things should be discussed at antenatal appts so that women are more prepared when labour does happen instead of some feeling they've been left high and dry.

I know where Grisedale Close is - its on the same side of the hospital as the maternity unit, you just cross over a road and you're there, and its on the opposite side from where the ambulances come from so she would definitely have had the baby before the ambulance arrived anyway.

Well they could have gently suggested that Stretch get a taxi couldn't they, not just 'Oh, well just ring us if you are intending on coming in!'

Surely they know by now that women in labour are quite often in a state and not able to think straight?

Stretch - sympathies for what must have been a scary situation - but hadn't you considered how you were going to get into hospital before you went into labour? Like the woman in article was allegedly told - you'd had almost 9 months to sort that out!

Yeah, I agree that making helpful suggestions would have been useful, for example in Stretch's case, just calming and reassuring.
But even if she was told to walk in, then unless they had reason to believe her baby was going to be born in the next 10 minutes (in which case she should stay put) then I don't think that was bad advice!

@lal123 - you don't realise that for a firs tbaby (or at least i didn't) - though for a third, yes i agree with you.

I was born in Leicester general - i crowned in the loos after mum was told 'go home, you're not in labour'! she'd just decided to have one more wee...though that was in the late 70's.

her 3rd and 4th were at home too.

I have to admit I am 8+ months pregnant and haven't considered every possible situation - I'm OK if I go into labour between about 5am and midnight (or can hang on till 5am when I can reasonably wake my mum) but in between those times...I don't know, if it's a fast labour the baby will be born at home. I have to admit for a sneaking preference for a home birth anyway

and if I go into labour as early as 38 weeks I might feasibly be sitting in the garage having my car MOT-d. Still that's only a short walk to the hospital

and do you think they give freebies if your waters break, like department stores?
I'd love a new car!

I'm 8 month pg too stealth!!

Yes, I did plan for what would happen. I would be sat at home, it would be pm at night, DH would be there, We would calmly ring a taxi and go together. My parents would not be at work and baby would arrive 10 mins after arriving and getting into bed! Didn't everyone plan theirs that way??

Yes, the taxi idea would have been a huge help at the time as I was panicking rather!!

God knows how we would do it now! 3 kids and DH drives long distances for work. That's a good reason for staying at home!!

Nah, maybe a free oilchange if you were lucky!

5pm, I meant!!

oneopinionatedmother - you don't realise WHAT? for a first baby?? That you're going to have to get yourself to hospital when the time comes?

If I go into labour when DP/DMIL aren't about then DD is getting sent to friends house or will be coming in taxi with me.

when are you due stretch? Are you on the Sept09 thread? Sorry, I'm still struggling to remember posting names!

I was on the sept09 thread, but it just gets too long to read all the posts! I don't like to post without reading most all the other ones first! Due 16th Sept, not long now!!

yes ikwym it quite often vanishes from my threads I'm on then I feel guilty when I go back and see loads has happened!
I'm due 4 days before you - you must be about 36 weeks now?
(I can't remember how far along I am but am tracking it with fridge magnets!)

I can never remember either!! at the fridge magnets!!!

Think I'm 36 weeks tomorrow?? Haven't got a thing sorted yet! Vaguely remember where I put the clothes from ds.

That would make sense - I was 36 weeks on Saturday.
Am kind of assuming the baby could come any time now (which is a bit worrying as I have another week at work!) and so if I go overdue it will seem really overdue iyswim?
Ahead of you on the clothes thing though - all washed, I loved doing that Still have to pack bags etc though, just keep procrastinating.
Is it reasonable to call your mum at say 2am if you think you're in labour?

@lal...well no, what i meant was, you don't realise that the baby can come so quickly you might have no time to do anything - and should ask the MW to come to you. It hadn't occurred to me (i was a HB, it never occurred to me the MW might not get there in time as i expected to get due warning, or indeed, what it would feel like when baby was 'imminent')