Transport if nearest maternity ward is full?

[catsofa]

I don't drive and neither does my DP, so I guess we'll be getting a taxi to hospital when I'm ready to give birth. What happens if the hospital maternity unit is full (as apparently often happens at my nearest) and I'm told to go somewhere else which is too far away to get a taxi to? Do we call an ambulance?

Not here apparently Sophie, according to OH. But it's rare our maternity unit wouldn't have space.

If your maternity ward is shut and so you need to go quickly to an open hospital, just call an ambulance. There is, in fact, the risk of a magical mystery tour as someone called it - as sometimes the units shut one ofter another (hospital A is shut so everyone goes to B, B then shuts due to the influx and so C is the next place to go, etc).

There is also the joy of the number of taxi firms that refuse to take a woman in labour (unless you live near a taxi rank in which case whoever is at the from of the line has to suck it up).

You will need to have enough money to get home, but you won't be under so much time pressure/stress then (and labour is often at night, whereas going home has a better chance of being when buses are running)

I'm not talking about an emergency situation. Just as a general needing to the hospital.

It probably depends on where you are OP.

Round here I know a few people who have had an ambulance down to maternity over the years when they haven't had access to a car easily. Its not far either, maybe a fiver in a taxi, but they must be getting told its ok to phone for an ambulance.

When you get your hospital choices bit of paper, call them and ask

I expect the grandparents will drive here to take us home, but they live too far away for me to wait for them to drive here to take me to hospital. That's why I didn't ask in my OP about that.

People don't seem to understand about saving - I am needing to eat more and better quality food than usual already, I am slowly buying bits like nappies and nipple cream and maternity pads when I get the chance, and we need to get enough together between now and April to get a pram, a cot and goodness knows what else. I'm not able to find another unspecified amount which may or may not be enough to pay someone to drive me to an unknown location while I am in labour, and why should I?

I'm asking for info on what might happen, not for your tips on financial planning.

Thanks so much to everyone who has said useful things, I hadn't even heard of taxis refusing to carry women in labour so that's another thing I need to look into in advance!

I'll ask the midwife next time I see her, see if she tells me to save up for taxi fare (she won't).

You aren't supposed to use an ambulance as general transport but they won't refuse you. They make not take dh though, may only be you. And you may have to wait as you wouldn't be an emergency. I was transferred from one hosiptal to another in labour as they didn't have enough nicu cots free at my hospital and I was in premature labour with twins. Had to wait 5 hours for the ambulance though and dh had to drive behind he wasn't allowed in the ambulance. After I had the babies, I was discharged after a few days but the babies still in so had to get taxi to see them every day as couldn't drive due to c section. Dh was back at work, saving paternity leave for when they were discharged, so he drove us both home each day as he came to hospital after work. That went on for a week before I was readmitted as I became ill.

I definitely would put some extra money aside for transport in case you are at the further hospital so dh can get home even if you get an ambulance there and so he can visit you following days if you are not discharged. Expect the unexpected is my top tip for childbirth! Be ready for anything!

Good luck and I hope you get in ok at your nearest hospital.

And if grandparents are bringing you home make sure they have the car seat!