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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

How to travel to hospital for/after birth - help

86 replies

wondering7777 · 09/11/2019 10:29

I have two hospitals near me, one a 10 minute drive and the other (my preferred) a 25 minute drive.

Unfortunately while I can drive, DH can’t. I’ve read that some hospitals insist you can only leave after birth with a car and baby seat. What am I going to do?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

RolytheRhino · 09/11/2019 14:18

The hospital can't force you to stay.

I think they have a duty of care to ensure that the baby will be travelling safely home. I don't know whether they could forcibly refuse to let OP leave or not, but they could well report to social services if they felt OP was planning to put her baby in danger by travelling in a car without a car seat.

Original poster

wondering7777 · 09/11/2019 14:29

if they felt OP was planning to put her baby in danger by travelling in a car without a car seat.

Which I'm most definitely not, I hasten to add!

OP posts:

Newbie1981 · 09/11/2019 14:29

Taxi. Not that difficult

Newbie1981 · 09/11/2019 14:30

I have to say it felt so weird arriving with an empty car seat.

Newbie1981 · 09/11/2019 14:33

Sorry, one more thing. Don't Uber, book an actual cab that you can call up and confirm that it won't be a smoker, and preferably someone who is parent so knows how to do the car seat. (Obviously that's just luck tho) if you get an Uber you could end up with god knows who!

Also you can practice putting the car set in. Go to John Lewis and they let you practice putting the car seat on the seat and strapping in

Original poster

wondering7777 · 09/11/2019 14:46

Go to John Lewis and they let you practice putting the car seat on the seat and strapping in

I didn't know that - great tip, thanks!

OP posts:

Honeybee85 · 09/11/2019 14:48

We went to the hospital by taxi and also left by taxi, we used a maxi cosi for DS that doubles as a carseat. Taxi driver knew how to secure it in the car.

IceCreamConewithaflake · 09/11/2019 15:15

Ultimately, unless you are not mentally capable of making your own decisions, you can do what you like. Hospitals do not have any power over you - you can refuse treatment that would otherwise save your life as long as you are of sound mind.
A hospital cannot insist on anything unless you are Sectioned.
You can basically do what you like no matter how ill advised it may be.
If you want to go home on public transport that is your decision. Midwives/doctors can advise you what is best for you and your baby - it's your choice whether to follow that advice.
Personally I think it would be much better for you to get a taxi than use public transport.
Is there really no way any family:friends:neighbours could give you a lift? Have you actually asked anyone?

MrBobLobLaw · 09/11/2019 15:52

I had DS at Kings 2 yrs ago. No one insisted on seeing him in a car seat when we left, but then again they discharged about 20 of us all at the same time in one room.

We got an Uber home and had just bought a really cheap stage 0 (I think?) car seat, basically just for this journey, which fitted fine as it just gets strapped with the seatbelt. Wasn't a problem and we didn't 'prewarn' the driver or anything.

I suppose I could've got the 176 home but, unsurprisingly, I didn't quite fancy it

HildaSnibbs · 09/11/2019 16:00

I had both mine at UCLH in London. Both times used a local cab company to get to the hospital . I don't remember anyone asking if we had a car seat to get home! They can't stop you leaving the hospital, it's not a prison The first one we booked a taxi with a baby car seat and the second one DH brought the pram to the hospital and we popped her in, walked out and hailed a black cab.

TorysSuckRevokeArticle50 · 09/11/2019 16:11

I got a taxi as same situation, I drive DH doesn't. We took a car seat with us, then when leaving I strapped DD into it in the ward, carried her out and strapped her into the taxi. No one checked I had used a car seat, no one even held the door open on the way off the maternity ward. I had DD in a car seat slung over one arm and my rolling suitcase in the other with my handbag over my shoulder and had to battle it all through the door.

Had to stay overnight and just wanted out in the morning so didn't want to wait for DH to walk to the hospital to escort us home.

getthroughthisgrrrrr · 09/11/2019 16:14

Put child in car seat, leave. They won't ask. You do not need to have a car seat in a taxi, it's obviously a risk but it's not the law to use/ secure a car seat in a taxi.

Or hire taxi to take DH to the hospital. DH puts car seat into taxi, taxi waits £££££ and then you all go home. I've done this for a trip to the doctors when I didn't have a car.

KateK00 · 09/11/2019 16:20

I got the bus on the way in! Went into labour early and all my family were away so didn’t know what else to do. I thought I might blend into the crowd better on the bus (although it was late at night) rather than have a taxi/Uber driver panicking that I was going to give birth in the back of their car. I remember going to get off the bus and a middle aged lady squeezing my hand and wishing me luck having obviously noticed me trying not to give birth in my seat 🙈 (DD was born 25 minutes later).
For going home my dad collected us with the new car seat on the back but my partner carried DD out and no one ever asked how we were getting home.

OnTheFenceWithMostViews · 09/11/2019 16:23

When I had dd. I lived a 5 min WALK from the hospital. I could see my house from the ward. They wouldn't let us walk with her in her pram.. It had to be a car seat.

So. Dh had to walk home and drive the car 2 roads, pay to park and bring the seat..

Contraceptionismyfriend · 09/11/2019 16:27

@OnTheFenceWithMostViews they really had no right to do that.
Just in case you are in that situation again.

You could've said you were carrying the baby in your arms and you would be able to sign yourselves out.

Original poster

wondering7777 · 09/11/2019 16:32

When I had dd. I lived a 5 min WALK from the hospital. I could see my house from the ward. They wouldn't let us walk with her in her pram.. It had to be a car seat.

God, that is crazy!

OP posts:

OnTheFenceWithMostViews · 09/11/2019 16:36

I know but they said they'd have to make a note of it. They already made a ' note' as I was prescribed codeine for a cracked rib. I had take one tablet as I was scared to. Take the dosage. They said I'd have to stay in incasr the baby had withdrawals.. Wtf. I told them they were ridiculous and I was going home either way.
So felt they would of called SS or something.
Having this one at same hospital but we've moved further so would be driving anyway

Pinkblueberry · 09/11/2019 16:43

You need to leave with your baby in a car seat - how you head home after that is up to you. Even if that was a rule, which I’m quite certain it is not - no one follows you out of the ward to check how you’re getting home

Pinkblueberry · 09/11/2019 16:45

So. DH (darling husband) had to walk home and drive the car 2 roads, pay to park and bring the seat..

Why didn’t he just carry the car seat and walk??

Purpleartichoke · 09/11/2019 16:49

Bring your own car seat!!!’n You should never use a taxi provided car seat. Seats must be destroyed after even minor accidents and have expiration dates. Unless you know the full history of a seat, your child should not use it. This means used from a trusted relative with good safety standards is fine, but used from a random person is not ok.

Pinkblueberry · 09/11/2019 16:49

I think people are just misinterpreting rules here... you need to leave with a child in a car seat - that’s hospital policy. It’s not the law to then get in a car once you leave the hospital how you transport your child home from there on is very much up to you - no one follows you to your car, no one is going to prosecute you for walking across to your house with baby in a car seat if you only live two streets away (shock horror, you could even take them out the car seat at that point and carry them in your arms for all anyone cares). Common sense goes a long way...

Original poster

wondering7777 · 09/11/2019 16:55

I think people are just misinterpreting rules here... you need to leave with a child in a car seat

I’m probably being stupid here, but why do you need to leave with the baby in a car seat if you have no intention of getting a car home? Aren’t there other ways to carry a baby?

OP posts:

Pinkblueberry · 09/11/2019 17:07

I suppose it’s just a health and safety thing OP you don’t need to legally have a baby in a car seat in a taxi so I suppose it’s to keep vulnerable babies safe? I agree it’s a bit silly - if you’re heading home on a bus or walking then having them in a pram in a carry cot is much more ideal.

Pinkblueberry · 09/11/2019 17:10

Although coming to think of it, even if you usually got the bus many might choose to go in a taxi on this occasion so yeah it probably does make it a lot safer for the babies - otherwise you would have a lot of babies going home in taxis not in car seats. So actually not a silly rule on second thought.

originalusernamefail · 09/11/2019 17:22

I walked out of hospital with DS2 in a sling. Nobody said a Dickie bird.

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