Snow worries.

[PregnantOnPurpose]

I'm only 9 weeks, so I'll be due in January.

My aunty had a baby in February, and she said her main concern was the snow and that now I would have the same problem.

Of course she is right, I live rurally, were never well prepared for snow, people go bonkers when it does snow and it becomes a ghost town. My nearest hospital is 45/50 minutes away.

Has anyone else had this problem? I just want some reassurance I suppose. It always seems to snow here end of jan/beginning of February.

Well id just keep an eye on the month long forecast and if that indicated it might show then start making contingency plans. I wouldn't be worried about it. You'll know a week in advance what the likelihood of snow is. If it's already snowing at that point just go somewhere closer to hospital. Consider a home birth too.

Home birth is my worst nightmare, it's my first baby and I struggling with anxiety on a normal day, so a home birth would drive me nutty.

Going somewhere closer to the hospital could be an option, it's just deciding when to do it as due date sare so unpredictable, I could be booking a hotel for 2 weeks lol.

Heh well if you must, you must.
I'm pregnant with my first and I live in the country. I'm opting for a homebirth. All the info says you are more relaxed in your own home, midwife has a pack of stuff deluvered to you so youre all prepared and if anything goes wrong theres many thubgs they can try at home before going to hospital. Also, if i wasnt doing it at home id be in a midwife led unit and if anything went wrong there its still an ambulance to hospital. I actually live closer to the hospital than the unit so makes sense for me to be at home.

I think you just don't need to worry about this right now. You'll know to make plans nearer the time.

We live in the country and hour minimum form hospital and a local lady (who lives at the bottom of a hill) went into labour late one night when it snowed really badly! Being Cornwall we are never prepared for the snow (doesn’t happen often) there were cars abandoned everywhere and make shift centres for people passing through to stay the night etc. The community really pulled together!
Anyway the lady went into labour and a post went out on fb to see if any of the helpers with 4x4s could try and get to her to get her to hospital (not her first baby) but thankfully by pure chance an ambulance made it to her and she delivered a healthy baby in hospital!
Our community really rally in times of need, we have now set up an emergency plan and everyone with 4x4 cars and tractors etc helps out. We also have people on standby to drive nurses/doctors/mw/carers to their shifts so the people who really need help will get it! Maybe look into seeing if your community does the same?
Being your first you are likely to be in labour much longer than subsequent babies (but doesn’t always happen) try not to worry, I know it’s easier said than done, but it’s a long time to be worrying about such things that may never happen x

Lived rurally for a while- there are ways and means depending on exact weather issues...

In Devon one lady in labour with twins (mid blizzard!) went to hospital in a fire engine (with snowchains and other engine in front with crew to deal with fallen trees.

Air ambulance always possible if gridlock but air conditions ok.

On a personal organisation level get winter tyres for your/DH's car. Good ones are better in heavy rain and cold temperatures and a total game changer in snow. DH gets around rural hilly areas in a heavily laden 2 wheel drive estate (so less weight than most over driven wheels). He carries chains but has only used them once (When he took an optimistic short cut and ran out of ground clearance - shouldn't have needed them!

Make sure car has adequate fuel and washer fluid as well.

Please don't worry, enjoy this time. How many January's has there been with really bad snow where you live

We are an hour away from the hospital on rural Scottish roads that often get shut because of snow. I was due on Christmas Eve and my contractions started on Christmas Day. I went into hospital on Boxing Day with a significant amount of snow on the road. We had snow tyres on and had the option of 4 wheel drive.

Where do you stay? Is there a high chance of snow?

I would try to put it to the back of your mind just now. 9 weeks is still quite early to be thinking of labour. Enjoy this part of pregnancy first.

There really isn’t anything that you can plan for now that will be extant at your due date. Unless you decide to move house, which is the only dead cert solution to being closer to a hospital.

You are only 9wks, you have a truck load of other hurdles to negotiate before this one comes into the fore.

It’s june. You’re worrying about something you cannot control and is months and months away.

It’s going to be a very very long pregnancy if this is the kind of thing you’re panicking about 9 weeks in.

@PotteringAlong yeah its June, but in still going to give birth in January (should everything go ok)

I was just after reassurance e aa first pregnancy and already suffer with anxiety.

Thanks for your unhelpful input.

@PregnantOnPurpose the anxiety you’re feeling is totally normal (in my experience - currently expecting dc4) If like me, you will probably always have something to feel anxious over whilst pg (sorry 😞)
With my first I was literally a 20min drive from the hospital (July baby) and I still panicked over getting there! Also I worked at the hospital right next door to delivery suite (with staff parking right by the staff entrance) - didn’t stop my anxieties 🤣
My best advice is to try not to focus on these thoughts that consume you, try different methods to relax and enjoy your pregnancy if you can - yoga/meditation/calming music/breathing exercises - I don’t know, whatever works for you or try something new? (Take my words with a pinch of salt if you like Cos Once I’m anxious over something everything else goes out the window 🤣) xxx

OP, I get you. Your concern is a valid one. I worried about this with my second pregnancy as I labour quite fast. I was due a January baby like you. We used to live on the moors in the north east and hospital was a good 40-45 mins away on a good weather day. Well, Snow....forget it! my husband once put his cross country skis on to get to work when it got that bad and I certainly wouldn't have been relying on him to drag me to hospital on a sled.
Thankfully we moved before he was born and were a 5 minute drive from the hospital but had we remained I was considering asking to stay with friends nearer the time as I wasn't comfortable having a home birth. I do worry about what could go wrong. As it turned out I narrowly escaped going to theatre with my second as although birth was straightforward the placenta wasn't budging, finally when it did I had to have iv medication to calm down the bleeding and then further meds for high blood pressure.

I guess your choices could be:
a) stay with friends/family nearer hospital location
b) look in to air B&B which tend to be much cheaper than hotels.
c) As someone suggested keep an eye on weather forecast and make decision nearer the time.

@PregnantOnPurpose oh my I hadn't even thought about anything like that! Due December so should be fine as the snow usually comes a while after that now...

Fingers crossed it's nothing we have to contend with!

A home birth is an awful idea if you’re worried about snow in a rural area. If there was an emergency you would be stuck. I suggest calling the hospital - many will offer planned inductions if there’s concerns about weather etc.

Well not necessarily teddy. Just because it snows doesn't mean you are stuck. People really are strange when it comes to snow. See a couple flakes and it's like quick get the food in, I need to leave work now or I don't get home blah blah.
As I said, check the long forecast and keep an eye on the week ahead and you can plan from that. You can't do anything else.