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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Would you go to hospital in an ambulance in this scenario??

36 replies

Janus · 28/02/2011 15:57

OK, the likelihood of me going into labour this week is slim, I am 35 weeks, 4th baby, other 3 have been 1-4 days late.
BUT, my husband has to be abroad this week for work, I have no family living within 4 hours. I am a little worried about what if the baby comes this week so have made a contingency with very nice friends that they would help. I live 45 minutes drive to hospital (first was a c-section so have been told I have to go to hospital for every subsequent birth). All labours have been relatively quick, first about 10 hours and then emergency c-section, 2nd got to hospital after labouring at home for about 3 hours to find out 10cms dilated and gave birth after about an hour, 3rd got to hospital as soon as knew in established labour (so about 45 mins at home to make sure in labour), gave birth within about 1.5 hours of getting to hospital.
My plan, if anything happens, this week would be to wait about 30 mins to check in proper labour, call a friend who will probably take 30 mins to wake up and then get here and then I have to work out how to do the 45 mins to hospital. Options really are a taxi or ambulance. Worried that taxi driver has a very real chance of having to deliver baby half way considering how quick previous labours are. Can I legitimately call an ambulance to take me to hospital or are they going to be very unimpressed? My midwife is on holiday for 2 weeks else I'd ask her. What do you think?

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Dylthan · 28/02/2011 16:03

If you feel you need an ambulance then call an ambulance.

My dh volunteers for the ambulance service and you've no idea some of the things he's been called to some people should really think before calling.

Put yourself and your baby first if you feel you need an ambulance then call don't feel guilty.

facefull · 28/02/2011 16:09

I am in the same boat as you and I will phone for an ambulance. Im 36 weeks and this is 5th baby. I went into hospital in a taxi as Husband was at work and I knew things were moving fast ( had baby at hospital with no midwife and no Husband there!) If It comes to it I will ring 999 and say things are happening too quickly to go by car. Taxi drivers are a bit hit and miss with pregnant ladies, some wont take you if you are in labour so best to just ring for an ambulance.

facefull · 28/02/2011 16:11

Meant to say with last one I went in a taxi doh!

Imightbelulumama · 28/02/2011 16:12

if you go into labour at 35 weeks and history of quick labour, then call labour ward for advice first, if you feel that you need an ambulance call one . however, if you are not in strong labour and are pottering about, it might be a bit of a waster really. if you tend to labour quickly, don't wait at home for half an hour, phone your friend immediately or taxi and get straight to hospital, you can always go home again if not labour, but if it is, then you are there in plenty of time hopefully, without calling 999

call labour ward today perhaps and ask what their advice is?

iskra · 28/02/2011 16:15

If you are by yourself & going into labour, I'd call an ambulance.

Dropdeadfred · 28/02/2011 16:20

i would call an ambulance if a taxi wouldnt take you...who will look after your other dc if you get rushed in quickly?

thesurgeonsmate · 28/02/2011 16:29

On the taxi front, my midwife's tip was to call the taxi company and tell them that you're in labour. She said there are taxi drivers who are happy to handle it, and that it's better for the company to know and send one of those than to wait and see what the attitude of an unprepared driver is.

Original poster

Janus · 28/02/2011 17:21

Just to clarify, I tend to have a couple nights with 'false starts' eg I feel pain but it then goes away again after an hour. So, I just wouldn't risk calling everyone out in the middle of the night until I was sure 'this was it', in which case that would be about 45 mins of labouring to just make sure it was starting.
My 2 friends who have offered to help are both not in an ideal situation, one has a 6 month old baby herself and the other has older children and lives about a 20 mins drive away. That's why either one would take 30 mins to get here as one would bring baby and have to get her up and dressed, etc, the other would have to drive here. Whoever is available first would be used to look after the other 3 dc whilst I got myself to hospital.
I would always tell the taxi company that I am in labour (in fact we used a taxi for first baby but we only lived 10 mins from hospital then) but I do think that 45 mins in a taxi, anything could happen and the thought of some 50 year old bloke having to deliver my baby in his back seat is not something I relish as I'm sure he wouldn't!!
I think I will ring the midwife team tomorrow (work 9-5) and just speak to a midwife, won't be mine but that won't matter, and see what their advice is too.
In life I always seem to be worried about being a bother to someone and I would feel mortified at using an ambulance only to find only 2 cms dilated or something, there's really no way of telling how quickly I will progress other than going on past pregnancies and so much can happen in 45 mins.

OP posts:

ednurse · 28/02/2011 17:24

YABU, it is an emergency ambulance. You've got 40 weeks to arrange someone to give you a lift. Unless you are fully dilated and contractions are getting closer VERY quickly or something is obviously very wrong then you should get a ambulance. If not, taxi it is. The labour ward would prefer you to go there 1cm dilated then to use an ambulance. Sorry if that's harsh but there's a reason medical staff call them maternataxi's.

reikizen · 28/02/2011 17:28

If you are absolutely sure you are in strong labour and you have no other way of getting to hospital then of course you will have to call an ambulance although I would try to arrange it some other way if at all possible (lift etc). Ambulance staff round here call themselves 'maternataxi' because so many women call an ambulance when they could just have easily got a lift/taxi and have wasted time and money. For example, I took a transfer from an ambulance on labour ward for a girl who actually had constipation (and a friend following behind in the car!) And women who say 'Can I just finish my fag first?' when the ambulance turns up to a supposed emergency. Makes the mind boggle.
Of course you can ring your midwife but you really will only be able to make the decision on the spot as it were, so please don't worry too much in advance. Ambulances are there for those who genuinely need them and having a baby in the back of a taxi is not a safe option!

Original poster

Janus · 28/02/2011 17:34

Thanks Ednurse, that did sound harsh to a very hormonal pregnant woman! If you think I'm lightly deciding to use an ambulance then you haven't read either post. My last labour was about 2 hours all in and I live 45 mins from hospital and have to arrange childcare to come at 4am in the morning which will take 30 mins at least so that leaves me a whole 45 mins to play with if everything runs smoothly and (as has happened each time) this labour doesn't get any shorter than the last one.
I honestly will not call one if I think I can get there with mild pain but if when waiting for the calvary to arrive and waiting for a taxi I think it is getting strong, should I risk 45 mins journey (at night, could be an hour in day) in a taxi??

OP posts:

reikizen · 28/02/2011 17:38

Janus, like I say, please don't spend too much time worrying about it now. You will know on the day which is the right option to take. And believe me, ambulance crew prefer a nice, labouring women to a violent, vomiting drunk any day. Must warn you that if you are not labouring and nauseous when you get in ambulance you probably will be when you get out! They are not a comfortable ride!

jasmine51 · 28/02/2011 17:53

janus I want to offer my support. You know your body - if you need an ambulance, call one. If other options are available then fine...but if not, dont get wound up, just do it. Good luck x (partner of paramedic)

Dylthan · 28/02/2011 19:14

This is not your 1st baby you know what labour feels like so you will know when baby is close.

By your posts I don't think calling an ambulance is a desision that you are likely to take lightly at the first twinge.

I think what you are looking for is reassurance that if you need an ambulance then they will come and not make you feel bad about being called.

They won't feel you are wasting their time and they will be there for you

In reality you're not very likely to go into labour the week your dh isn't there but if you do then yes an ambulance is an option that is open to you

Good luck x

littleducks · 28/02/2011 19:22

I agree you will just know what to do at the time

I got dh to call an ambulance with ds. My parents were on route to look after dd and my dh would have then driven me to the birth centre (about 30 mins drive)

He had a bit of trouble persuading the operator to actually send someone out (as my waters hadnt broken etc) but sure enough they came and out popped ds

ThreeBubbasAndManyBumps · 28/02/2011 19:31

My cousin's wife just drove herself (!) to hospital with #3 on the way as calling an ambulance would have taken too long - but she had to lie about it to the hospital staff so they didn't get cross with her!! Get an ambulance - that's what they're there for - that's what MWs told me in similar situation to you.

VodkawithRosie · 28/02/2011 19:46

I am a paramedic. It can be annoying when someone calls an ambulance for a maternity, but not when they are obviously in labour and at risk or giving birth on route or in serious need of pain relief.
The ones who grate are those who very obviously are not going to give birth imminently (epsecially when they then have someone follow them down in a car).
If I was attending you, your previous labour durations would be enough n my eyes to validate your need for an ambulance given your distance from hospital.

jimmijam · 28/02/2011 21:01

jnus u sound like someone who isnt just going 2 call out an ambulance as soon as u have a small twinge or if u feel u have enought time to get to hospital via other means, so when it somes to it jsut go with whatever you feel you need!
would it b of any use 2 contact taxi companies in advance 2 find out if any of them may carry you when you're in labour, rather than waiting until you're actually in labour and stressing your way through a list of numbers? and have some change ready (u could also get quotes from the taxi companies, remembering some charge more at night) next to the taxi numbers
best of luck
(i also live a 45 min drive from hospital so am dreading the pain in the car!)

Original poster

Janus · 28/02/2011 21:45

Thanks so much, I feel a bit more relieved now.
I certainly wouldn't call an ambulance if I thought I could make it to hospital myself, we do use a regular taxi firm and I will check with them how they feel about taking me if I were in labour but I'm pretty sure they will help out (the 2 owners even came to our wedding evening do last year, they do a lot for my husband who does a lot of travelling). Have also got another friend tonight who has volunteered to take me if I need her!
I have had the misfortune of having a haemorrhage about 2 years ago and had to go to hospital in an ambulance then, I did not even hesitate calling them, blood was pouring out of me and I honestly did think it was much worse than it was. Although a horrible journey as you do (as reikezen says) sway around all over, the staff were truly amazing at trying to calm me down as I was convinced I was gonna bleed out!

I think you are all right, I will know if my situation warrants calling an ambulance and then I will trust my judgement, I never felt guilty about calling the one ambulance I needed to, I know they all do an amazing job and I just don't want to be a burden.
Here's praying for a very quiet week!

OP posts:

TwoWeeSausages · 28/02/2011 22:08

YANBU.

I was in a similar situation with DS2 11wks ago.

I chose the ambulance.

DS2 was born in that ambulance in the hospital car park.

starfishmummy · 28/02/2011 22:17

When I was pg the midwives said it was perfectly acceptable to call an ambulance if we were in labour BUT if it was a false Alarm we'd have to get ourselves home.

NAR4 · 01/03/2011 09:49

I am overdue with my fourth baby and my midwife has told me that if I am in ANY doubt that I can get to hospital well before I need to push that I should phone an ambulance and they also will call a midwife for you to go to your house as well. In the unlikely event that you do end up giving birth at home alone, she told me lots of big warm towels to keep me and the baby warm, rub the baby vigourously to help stimulate breathing then lay it naked on your bear chest and DON'T TOUCH the umbilical cord even if you also deliver the placenta before help arrives. Don't mean to scare you with this, but I found it reassurring to know, just in case.

tlise · 02/03/2011 16:16

See that really annoys me. Cos people assume that you might be a time waster if you think about ringing an ambulance.

I have no car, no friends/ family for a lift and limited taxi firms round here. 2 buses to hozzie which is normally about 45 minutes away from home if you could get there by car, an hour and 20 minutes if the buses are on time. Now assuming that taxis wouldn't take me, what the hell would I do? Ambulance would be the only option, but I am not a fan of going in early anyway, and seeing as this will be my 6th, I can generally tell when its proper labour.

I would never dream of ringing an ambulance in normal circumstances. Even when I chopped my finger off while heavily pregnant with one of my children, I walked up to the health centre rather than bother anyone....admittedly I was in shock and didn't realise quite how much I had taken off at the time. When I found my daughter fitting, I rang NHS direct rather than bother the ambulance service although I was panicking. When she fell down the stairs and cut her head open, I rang a taxi to take us down to the doctors, despite all the blood.

Its not fair to make statements like you have 40 weeks to think about it. I could think about it all I like, I still have no-one to take me if the taxi's won't. It would be easier if they send me in at 37 weeks as is a good possibility. At least I will be in there.

Alimat1 · 02/03/2011 16:51

As a midwife the most frustrating tihng is when women attend several times via ambulance, not in labour and then wait for hospital transport to take them home - all fine.
However, when said women finally deliver, they are innundated with visitors in cars and then someone comes to collect them to take them home in a car.

Its very frustrating.
however, if you have a legitimate reason, and you KNOW you are in labour, its a different kettle of fish!

COCKadoodledooo · 02/03/2011 17:01

Why do people always assume babies will arrive/labour will start in the middle of the night?

Dh was working away every week (Sun to Fri) when I was pg with ds2. We have no family locally either but my friend was on hand just in case as stand in birth partner, her dh as babysitter to ds1. I wouldn't have used an ambulance unless no-one else could get to me, however my first labour was ridiculously long (30 hours +) and we're only 20 minutes tops from the hospital.

In your situation, this week, while dh is away then yep I'd probably call an ambulance. Especially if it'd take a friend 30 minutes to get to me (though presumably you wouldn't be able to leave home anyway until they were there because of your other children?).

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