Worried about being sent home from hospital before birth as partner doesn’t drive

[Sunshinestar43]

Okay so this is probably a totally pointless worry but I am a worrier and over think literally everything

Basically I can drive, my partner doesn’t. We don’t really have family or friends who live close by with a car to rely on to take us to the hospital when the time comes so we’ll have to get a taxi.

The hospital isn’t too far away but it’s around £20 a trip, I was wondering what happens if I get to the hospital too early and they send me home? Would there be circumstances in which they’d let me stay? Or would I just have to accept it and fork out for the taxi back home and then back to hospital again later? I’m also worried about getting sent home and then not making it back on time

I’m not sure how this works as it’s my first, worth mentioning my OH is learning to drive but there’s no guarantee of him passing before baby is here and I don’t want to put too much pressure on him as obviously it is what it is in regards to whether he passes or not :)

When are you due?

You would just have to accept it. They can't keep you in just because your OH can't drive.

Taxi - when are you due? Have you got time to put money away each week for your taxi fund

Just try to make sure you don’t go in too soon. Time the contractions and don’t go in if they’re ten or more minutes apart. Only go in when you can no longer handle the pain and the contractions are close together. Also explain the situation to the hospital when you arrive, they may be understanding.

They won’t usually let you stay, sorry. I would put a bit of money away each week for a taxi fund.

Well there is a difference between keeping you in and you hanging around the hospital cafe of your own free will as a member of the public. They aren’t going to forcibly stuff you into a cab. But that does rather rely on you actually being in early labour. It isn’t a hotel that you can check into, and you really don’t want to be hanging round there when you could be whiling away the hours at home.
Have a good stash of cab fares built up. DP is going to need a few back and forth trips anyway, whether you are with him or not.

Just be well packed and prepared to spend a few hours sitting in the hospital cafe if needed.

When they say "Go home" they don't actually mean you have to go back to your house. They just mean they're not giving you a bed yet. You can hang around the hospital, in the cafe, waiting area etc for a few hours if you want!

I had similar fears - DH didn't drive at the time (well he could but as a new driver the insurers refused to put him on my car!) and my maternity unit closed mid pregnancy and I was moved to a unit 45 mins away. I was also high risk

It was part of the reason why I requested a c section amongst a number of other things but in the end baby was breach and I had one anyway

If it had come down to it the plan was to book into a local hotel as DH would stay there anyway until I was discharged and parents could come to drive us all home. That way if hospital sent us away it wasn't far to go and actually there was a hotel literally over the road so it worked out logistically

My DH couldn't drive either and I got a taxi to the hospital. Don't forget to put pads, towels and some cash in your bag in case your waters break in the taxi - that was my biggest fear!

I think k you just have to factor in the cost of a taxi.

If he'll be close to passing his test could you not put him on your insurance as a learner. You'll be in the car with him so will be covered. I drove to the hospital for an appointment and didn't realise I was in labour and they gave me a pass for the time I was in hospital (for a small fee). My friend also got taken to a and e my a learner and was unexpectedly kept in and they gave him a pass as well so he wouldn't have loads of tickets.
Although to be honest the taxis would probably be cheaper than all that as realistically you probably won't have that many false starts of labour (if you go in and they tell you to go home they'll tell you to come in when contractions are so far apart or whatever their policy is).

If you are low risk you could just plan for a home birth instead.

If I have a third child that's what I will do. I had a stressful journey with DC2 where they sent us home (30 mins away) and almost as soon as I got home I had to go back again.

I think the transfer rate to hospital for first births is quite high but that's usually after the birth for observations rather than before/during labour.

You need to be saving for travel regardless. You may not be able to drive immediately following the birth and if there are any complications, you may be making many trips back to hospital.

Both hospitals I'd consider local to me make provisions in exceptional circumstances. It isn't uncommon to see labouring women in the canteen or walking the grounds.

If he hasn't passed his test by the time the baby is due, and you do have to return home if you go in too early, your DH can still drive you back (as long as he is insured as a learner on your car) as you will be the qualified driver sitting next to him.

@Tartyflette
I'm not sure that would be covered under the insurance as the qualified driver for legal purposes is deemed to be in control of the car and if you're in early labour the insurers might argue you weren't able to supervise