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

[Janus]

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?

Janus, just to say you sound fab and absolutely sensible. You have your plan, it all sounds good.

Here's hoping the baby doesn't come early and you have a relaxing last few weeks .

Very best of luck.

I know a paramedic who strongly believes that labour is not a medical emergency unless there is serious bleeding and you should only call an ambulance in an emergency not just because it's inconvenient/difficult to get to hospital. I can see his point.

Having said that, we are planning to go to Cornwall for a week's holiday (near a hospital) when I'm 31 weeks (pg with twins). My dd's birth was 2 hours so we may call an ambulance but only as they would be premature, could come very quickly, and I lost a lot of blood with dd. DH could drive me - will play it by ear at the time.

Oh thank you, Prinpo you nearly made me cry!!
I'd like to think I'm sensible and would only call if I consider that I seriously wouldn't get there in time. Would never call an ambulance for 'twinges'.
Anyway, 2 more nights to go until he's home and no sign yet, touch wood!! My Mum comes in about 14 days and then I can completely relax and know I'm covered, hanging on in there!

I was worried about calling an ambulance for this too. But is it not the case the baby would be born premature? So does that not in its self warrant a ambulance just in case of any problems? At least they can put the blue lights on?! If it was full term and a taxi would take you Im not sure?! But then I have worked for the NHS and there are people who abuse the hospital transport system who do not deserve it at all!! We had a transport ambulance for people who take warfrin and need to get to the hospital to have there blood checked. We had old people who were really finding it hard to stand up let alone get to the appointment. Then you had some drug addicts who needed the same treatment who complained that the "taxi" as they called it had not waited for them whilst they did their chirstmas shopping after their appt. After seeing this it makes me sick!! So on that score I would not worry.

I had a 40 minute labour with my 3rd dc. I called the ambulance because I knew I couldn't cope with the car journey, and was genuinely afraid I would give birth on the way.

I will never forget the wonderful paramedic who sat with me, held my hand and gave me the gas and air, whilst giving a running commentary on our location, ditance from hospital and ETA.

I delivered 10 minutes after getting into the labour ward.

I am extremely grateful the paramedic wasn't your friend PrincessScrumpy

Janus - was wondering how long it would take for ambulance to reach you? Is there an ambulance station close by?

Good luck for the journey, an ambulance would at least have gas & air for pain relief on the journey! I'm only 10mins from hospital but I transferred (by car) with 30 mins to go and I can remember every bump of the road!

Fingers crossed for a quiet week!

With littlefrogs.

With my DC3, there was a chance that the cord might have been delivered first as the baby had an "unstable lie". I had a history of quick deliveries (4 hours, 2 hours) and when fretting about getting to hospital as I was by myself most of the day, the mw advised me to just call an ambulance.

When it happened, DH was home from work, and this time the labour was 1 hour. DC3 was delivered 20 mins after arriving.

But an ambulance would have saved on parking fees.

Not all paramedics are like PrincessScrumpy's friend,
having said that there is a rather black humour required in the ambulance service, and what people say in order to vent would not actually be how they would behave when dealing with patients. I am sure he would behave completely professionally if treating a labour case.

As I said before if delivery is imminent, pain is excessive, or there are other possible risks, I would consider an ambulance justified.

I wonder if it's part of the whole 'pregnancy is not an illness' thing. Not sure, haven't thought that through....

I do think though that having been through labour may make for a more sympathetic paramedic (in some cases)

vodka Having a paramedic in the family I can agree that experiencing pregnancy at close range has made him alot more sympathetic to labour calls. However it has also sharpened his view as to what is and what isnt an emergency. There are too many calls that treat the ambulance as a glorified taxi at the expense sometimes of real emergency labour cases. He is away at the moment and if things dont go to plan I may be on my own and needing to get to hospital that is over an hour away - he would be the first not to put me or the LO at risk but has arranged taxi numbers, a rota of neighbours and other contingencies to get me there - he would not advocate use of an ambulance unless the situation is life threatening.

Jasmine51 There are too many calls that treat the ambulance as a glorified taxi at the expense sometimes of real emergency labour cases

Totally agree

hi, i have no intentions of ringing an ambulance to get from home to hospital unless i become ready 2 push and am still at home (not wanting 2 bother the midwives by getting there ridiculuosly early due to rubbish pain thereshold, at the risk of being sent home etc i will wait until i absolutely cant take the pain at home anymore-as i did the 1st 2 times and was 5cm on arrival at hospital), but if on our 40+minute car journey to the hospital i feel that strong urge, im sure my dh will ring the maternity ward and c wot they say-if tey say it'll b better 2 give birth in ambulance than car then we will call one (our 1st was emergency c-section, our 2nd was born with mucous on lungs and struggled to breathe at first, so medical help would be very much appreciated).
i used to live a 10-15minute drive from the hospital we used to live near, and am anxious about the long journey this time.
this is probably the wrong thread for it, but do any of u have any tips for coping with the trip whilst in labour? im thinking a TENS machine may help-and my choice of music (not dh's)?