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Original poster

Anyone else snowed in and baby due?

33 replies

WocketInMyPocket · 18/01/2013 18:54

If so, just wondering what your contingency plans are?

We now cannot get out of our road due to the snow and I wouldn't be able to walk to the main road (especially not in labour!), but I am presuming that some sort of 4 wheeled drive paramedic vehicle would be able to come in an emergency? Booked in for a homebirth but pretty unlikely now as the midwifes wouldn't make it to the house Sad

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LimeLeafLizard · 18/01/2013 18:59

I'm 37 weeks so not due quite yet, but this has crossed my mind today.

I am also booked for a homebirth but am not sure a MW would make it here... also my 3 DC are supposed to be going to relatives' houses and I can't see that they would be able to get here safely to collect them.

How far is your main road? I'm sure they must have plans for this kind of event, after all it happens for a few days every year?

missmapp · 18/01/2013 19:01

I'm not now, but was 7yrs ago!! It was really bad then and the green goddeses were doing the jobs of ambulances, dh was away and I had fears of going through labour with a burly soldier!!

I did phone the midwife and she said that they did have one mw with a 4X4, but I also asked some friends with a 4X4 to be on stand by- as it was, it was fine. It was snowy when ds1 was born, but dh was home and we got in ok.

Phone your mw, she may be able to reassure you- hope all goes well.

MaggieMaggieMaggieMcGill · 18/01/2013 19:03

I'm not now, but I was a few days overdue in 2009, when London was brought to a standstill by the snow.
The advice from the (private) midwife was try and get to the nearest a and e, and she would try and get there if she could.

wouldyoupleasemove · 18/01/2013 19:17

Booked for a home birth and now 39 weeks with substantial niggles ( but with DC1 I had similar and it went on for weeks). I live in London and its no so bad here but did call the midwife team today and they said they would do all they could to get to me. They also said that you were unlikely to go in labour if you were stressed which is probably true but I remember the famous mumsnet home birth thread of last yearGrin....

Best of luck to all xxxx

Original poster
WocketInMyPocket · 18/01/2013 19:30

Lime - I have the same problem with my DD that relatives will need to collect, although my reasoning goes that come what may I'm going to have to make it to a hospital, so DD will have to come too in same vehicle and relatives can collect her from there.

Main road is 10 min walk up very steep hill, I can barely walk it when not pregnant Smile

Will ring midwifes tomorrow - cross with myself for not having thought about this before!

good luck everyone!

OP posts:
MaggieMaggieMaggieMcGill · 18/01/2013 19:34

wouldyouplease what homebirth thread, I think I missed that one?

worsestershiresauce · 18/01/2013 19:49

If you have a car, any car, buy some snow chains. It was one of the first things we bought for the baby as we live on a hill and get snowed in every year. Chains get you over any amount of compacted snow and ice without the need for 4 wheel drive.

PeachTown · 18/01/2013 19:54

I am 41 weeks! My plan is to keep as still as possible so I don't trigger anything off and try not to think about it.

Numbthumbs · 18/01/2013 20:03

Im 39+5, due sunday. Im terrified! We are pretty much snowed in and am relying on parents to come here in taxi to look after 18mo DD so that me and DP can get taxi to hospital. I started a thread a week or so ago about whether i could call an ambulance if a taxi couldnt get out and most people agreed that i could but my MW said i shouldnt unless i had actually delivered!!

No pineapples, curry, sex or bouncing on ball for me Grin

colleysmill · 18/01/2013 20:07

This happened to my friend in the snow of 2010 - the snow came down thick and quick and travel was horrendous. A 4x4 volunteer picked her up and all was well.

wouldyoupleasemove · 18/01/2013 20:25

I'm utterly terrible about linking threads but basically woman planning home birth got stuck in heavy snow and went into labour. They managed to get her midwife via mountain rescue and all of mumsnet was utterly gripped. It made the papers and everything. Hope someone with more technical expertise comes along and links (hopeful face) Shock

trustissues75 · 18/01/2013 20:55

I was living in NH, US and went into labor in the biggest snow storm of the season - I basically went in before i was in established labor and it was a good job i did - i think every full term woman went into labor in the vicinity that morning too - utter chaos. They had to turn triage into makeshift delivery cubicles.

I too would love to see that mw via mountain rescue thread.

FoofFighter · 18/01/2013 20:59

Remember that thread Grin will try and find it.

wouldyoupleasemove · 18/01/2013 21:33

Aha thanks v much! Foo

Moominsarescary · 18/01/2013 21:42

I'm nearly 37 weeks but have incompetant cervix and the stitch was removed a week ago so it has crossed my mind.

Hoping an ambulance could make it through

LimeLeafLizard · 18/01/2013 22:01

That mountain rescue thread sounds amazing! But I am not going to read it now in case it makes me more worried!

OP, that is always an option, to take DC with you to the hospital, although not sure what they'd say on labour ward if I turned up with my 3 little boys! Thinking about it now, my brother was born in winter and I went to the hospital in an ambulance with my parents and was collected from there by my grandparents.

Snow chains are a good idea... will get DH to look into it. Also trying to think if any of my local friends have a 4x4, but no-one comes to mind.

Moomins, my friend has that, had a stitch each time, and still went overdue twice, and only just before her due date third time, so hopefully you'll be the same and therefore still have time for the snow to melt!

FX we'll all be able to keep our legs crossed and will be fine!

Twattybollocks · 18/01/2013 22:09

Almost 37 weeks and have my legs firmly crossed! Dh is staying at his grandads 30 miles away tonight and is now stuck due to snow at least until tomorrow.

comeonbishbosh · 19/01/2013 08:15

I had my DC1 as planned home birth 3 yrs ago. It snowed heavily and suddenly just before evening rush hour (big northern city). Though we live on a steep untreated road only 100m or so from an treated one, the main problem was that the city went into gridlock and midwives and gas&air delivery taxi all caught in traffic.

The good news is that tho my labour progressed quicker than expected, I was 10cm when mw 1 got here, we all managed fine, never panicked, midwives were brilliant and even a 3rd mw came out midnight ish to do stitches. If I had needed to transfer an ambulance would have got to me. The way I look at it far better that midwives were stuck in the traffic not me trying to get to hospital!

Now - ha ha ha - in same situation again as overdue with DC2 another planed home birth. Friends think this is hillarous of course! I just hang onto knowing not to underestimate midwives... They are a game bunch and they will get here if they possibly can!

Good luck everyone!

eagleray · 19/01/2013 09:56

Was due yesterday and in a similar situation to others here - live on a steep hill which hasn't been gritted, supposed to be having a home birth and a bit cut off at the moment!

As soon as the snow was forecast a few days ago, I got in touch with the council to make sure they would grit the road and they said no (it's a narrow road, but heavily used and notorious for being impassable in the snow). Ended up getting really stressed and upset and my BP shot up so ended up being monitored in hospital. Added complication of DP working away all week (2+ hours from home)

In the end, the snow fell, road is still impassable and no baby! Kind of glad it didn't happen yesterday but also slightly feel the baby has stood me up Sad (there's quite a bit of pressure on me to be induced next week).

My contingency plans now consist of having DP's car parked v close to main road (would take about 5 mins to reach it) and also have contact details for a couple of local 4x4 owners.

All the very best of luck to everyone waiting. I will read that thread from last year later - think I'm feeling strong enough to cope with the details!

ScottishLassAboutToPass · 19/01/2013 11:06

Hi I'm due this week too and my midwife advised to call an ambulance if I went into labour. Last labour was under 1 hour and we live about 40 mins from the hospital. She said it's much easier for them than trying to find you stuck somewhere on the road in and delivering on route.

I too am keeping very still with legs crossed at the mo. Off to read that other thread now...

LetThereBeCupcakes · 19/01/2013 12:11

I'm due tomorrow and utterly bricking it. The main road nearest us is sheet ice and slopes down to a busy A road at the bottom. With no grip at all cars are just sliding out into the traffic.

No contingency plans here, nothing we can do really. I'm booked in at the local MLU but I highly doubt we'd be able to make it there. Just praying baby stays put, really.

comeonbishbosh · 21/01/2013 05:28

Oh dear another couple of inches here. This weekend has seen me pouring over forecasts calculating when roads might be more passable but baby obv not interested. Now suspect either baby will come but midwives can't,, or baby won't and it's into hospital for induction on Tues. DD1 coldly and fractious so we're all going a bit stir crazy.

iamwhaticallpregnant · 21/01/2013 06:35

I am worried abt this too. 37 weeks and we cant drive anyway! The roads are completely snowed over. The doctors is over the rd so wondering if i could hobble there and see what they can do. But hopefully he will stay put :-( very worrying - dont want my first baby on my kitchen floor like a Corrie special!

WeAreEternal · 21/01/2013 07:42

Obviously it is different everywhere but my friend is a midwife, and they have all been supplied with off road vehicles. Usually they use their own cars but they have been told not to risk it.

Hopefully this is the same everywhere.

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