Taxi to and from hospital?

[AhoyAhoy]

I am 27 weeks and starting to think (and worry a bit) about the logistics of this). My husband doesn't have his license and family I would ask to drive us all work/ live at least 30 minutes drive from us, so likely would not be available at short notice.

Is a taxi to and from the hospital a reasonable option (taking the baby's carseat with us)?

Big concern is a number of our local taxis smell of stale cigarettes and drive erratically.

Has anyone done this, did it work out ok?

I am seriously considering a homebirth, but our midwife- led delivery unit sounds lovely and I think, being my first, I would prefer the reassurance of being at the hospital.

Thanks in advance

We did this. I was nervous taking her in the taxi but they drove carefully and helped us with the carseat and chatted about babies all the way home, it was fine!

If family are only half an hour away I would ask them to take you. I'm not sure a taxi would pick up someone in labour.
I think you would be fine coming home in a taxi though.

I got a taxi to hospital in labour with daughters 1 and 2 - it was fine! My parents came to visit and took me homw

This is also something I have been thinking about - I am 25 weeks along with the same problem. We have no other way of getting to the hospital when I am in labour (other than public transport, which doesn't appeal!), so I think we will have to use a taxi. We live in London where it's very common that people don't have a car, so I'm sure there must be a taxi service that will do it. I was thinking of phoning round to find out which ones will take us, and if they have any requirements like sitting on a pile of towels or whatever!

Apparently it is legal to transport a baby in a taxi without a carseat, but personally I am not comfortable with that so we will bring one for the journey home.

Thanks all.

I think I will try to have a couple of people on standby- but if it's during work hours, or at night when they will have had a drink (as my family certainly will), it will have to be taxi.

I will call around the taxi firms, and think I will speak to my midwife about it too. I'm in Birmingham, so I imagine this must also be quite a common thing.

My mw advised me that if I needed a taxi to not let them know I was in labour when booking as the drivers weren't turning up.
Just worth noting

Ooh, thanks for the heads up Littlemiss.

Got a taxi to and from with DS - central London so no parking even if you wanted to drive. I had rung my local firm in advance to check they would be happy taking someone in labour. Used the same firm to take us home as we have used them forever and they were happy to drive around for a bit and not charge us TOO much waiting time whilst we waited to be released.

Addison Lee are great and neither their drivers nor their cars ever stink. Slightly more expensive (we're talking a couple of pounds) but so worth it. Actually you can set up an account with them, plus they have an app, so you can book one that way not having to worry if you don't have any cash on you, for example. Would highly recommend them. There is also the option of HailO, which is the black cab app.

Thanks so much for the advice. It's just one thing after another to worry about!!xx

Are Addison Lee London based or nationwide?