Silly question regarding when you go into labour

[K8eee]

So you phone the hospital, give them the heads up on what's going on and make your way there...

First stupid question. Where do you park? The regular car park or is there a separate one for the labour ward?

1. The main entrance to our hospital isn't through a&e just a main door. Where do we go if it's locked...?

1. Do you really have to have the car seat with you to take the baby home? Obviously if your driving home then you do, but my parents have told me you won't be let out without a car seat we've got one but I'm curious

1. In a normal space as near the entrance as poss, in A&E carpark if...
2. Its at night you go to a&e entrance
3. Yes you do!

1. Regular car park. Get your husband/partner to drop you at the door first.
2. They buzz you through the main entrance at my hospital if the door is locked.
3. Yes

1. no idea - I got a taxi

1. It'll depend on the hospital - when I called the labour ward they explained that I had to go to a locked door with an intercom system and be buzzed through. I promptly forgot everything they had said, but luckily the taxi driver's wife had given birth there the week before, so he knew where to go.

1. They wouldn't let me leave carrying ds in my arms, I had to put him in the car seat. I don't know what they do if you don't have one. Make you stay until the baby is bigger?

Normal car park
A&E
Not if you are walking or getting bus home!

I imagine it is the usual car park but I'd check with the specific hospital. I used the normal one which is a decent walk away for scans etc but I've never been in in labour. As for the car seat, you can do whatever you like, its not a prison, they can't keep you there, you decide when its time to go home and what you need. I've a car seat that stays in the car so I wouldn't be logging it everywhere. I think these are questions for the hospital though, don't you get a tour or something if you want to use a hospital ? Maybe see if you can go on something like that?

1. Main car park

1. Depends on your hospital, ask in advance

1. Of course you can leave without a car seat, they can't exactly stop you! If you're going home by car they like to check baby is strapped in correctly, however they can't insist on it. I walked out with DS in my arms, carried him down to where my dad was waiting in the car and strapped him into the car seat. Midwives had no idea how I was getting him home, just asked if I had appropriate transportation and I said yes.

My hospital did organised tours of the maternity ward on the weekends where they answered all these questions, it might be worth calling them up & seeing if yours do as well.

at Nottingham City, you can park right outside the maternity suite doors, just let them know on reception who you are.

City maternity is open 24 hours.

The midwife helped us carry our stuff out to the car including the car seat. They do check you have one.

I love Nottingham City Hospital by the way, highly recommend them if you are in the area and trying to choose.

i would imagine it differs from hospital to hospital. At mine (Edinburgh Royal Infirmary) we have a specific carpark for the maternity centre, and in the day you walk into maternity triage, at night you buzz in, having let them know you're on your way. a&e is on the opposite side of our hospital. Double check with your midwife. When you call in they'll probably tell you anyway too.

The only thing I can add is that when DP collected me from hospital (I had to stay a couple of days - E-CSection), they wouldn't let him take the carseat upstairs to the maternity ward, because of possibility of germs. I think they had their own in-house babyseat/carrier, and we were escorted down to reception by one of the nurses, DS was transferred from one t'other, and were checked out there. I think they liked to observe that we could do the seat up properly.

Discharging was a bit officious - they did so many checks to ensure we weren't baby snatchers! A bit unromantic, but it made us feel good, that they were so careful.

Best of luck, OP!

How did Prince William get it wrong?

Ah. Thanks.

1. main car park, don't forget to take plenty of money to pay for it

2)if it's locked then go through a&e

3. no, you don't. they cannot force you to use one or stop you leaving. they may have a good go mind you! but ultimately it is your baby and they can't make you do/not do anything