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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Newborn - Uber to GP?

24 replies

LouiseKira · 13/03/2020 11:17

Sorry, really not sure where to post this but need some advice. I am due in a couple of weeks and me and my partner don't drive. We are fine for the birth as we will pull my partners mom out of work to take us to the hospital and we have the car seat all set up for this.
My worry is the GP appointments after birth. My GP is not walking distance, it's either a train or a cab. I can't expect my partners mom to keep taking time off and I don't really feel comfortable taking a newborn on a train, especially with this coronavirus stuff going on. Would Uber be acceptable? I don't expect to be able to use the car seat, but I've read it's legal to hold her if in a cab.
I'm just panicking about this. Trying to change to a more local GP today but I need photo id and my passport is out of date and I'm trying to apply for a new one but it won't accept my photo and getting super stressed out!! Please help!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

fedupandlookingforchange · 13/03/2020 11:25

If you've got your old passport I think you can renew at certain post offices and they take your photo. They take your photo for new driving licences.

Hannsmum · 13/03/2020 11:26

I took my newborn alone in an uber 2 wks after he was born, though i used a car seat because he was sleeping at the time ..

After that ive always carried him in my hands most of the time so dont think car seat would be an issue.

But note that some drivers might insist on a car seat..dont know why 🤷‍♂️

squee123 · 13/03/2020 11:27

you will need to change gps anyway as otherwise you'll have trouble with the post-birth checks. Could you not get a carseat that can just be strapped in?

squee123 · 13/03/2020 11:28

no way I would take a baby in a cab without a car seat. You holding on to them will be of no use in a proper crash

blablablablablablabla · 13/03/2020 11:30

Without a car seat 😱. It might be legal but it's not right.

Clangus00 · 13/03/2020 11:32

The only GP appointment you have is at 6 weeks and that's just for you. So your DH could mind the baby.
8 weeks appointment with the nurse for immunisations.
Things might have changed advice wise by then and you'd be able to take the baby on the train (use a sling, it's easier).

LittleLittleLittle · 13/03/2020 11:32

@Hannsmum lots of private hire drivers are parents. They wouldn't feel comfortable with their own older children in their car without being in a car seat, so they wouldn't like a newborn who wasn't in one. I know a number of people who have been in private hire vehicles which have been in accidents. Oddly the only ones where people where hurt were in the day.

Elbbob · 13/03/2020 11:37

Use an Uber but definitely use the car seat. Why do you say you don't expect to be able to use it? What do you mean?
It's really unsafe to not use a car seat. Even a fairly minor crash could cause serious harm to your baby if not in a car seat.

Can you go somewhere to get a passport photo done? Will the GP not accept your out of date passport?

Elbbob · 13/03/2020 11:40

@Clangus00 my 6 week GP appointment was for me and the baby. She did a full exam of the baby.

SomeoneElseEntirelyNow · 13/03/2020 11:41

Jesus, don't take the baby in a car without a car seat, what are you thinking!

RhymingRabbit3 · 13/03/2020 11:48

How many GP appointments are you expecting - we had one at 6 weeks and then the jabs at 12, 16 and 20 weeks (or thereabouts). So it's not loads and surely by the time your baby is 3/4 months old you would have been able to switch to the local GP? So maybe you could ask your mother in law to take an hour off work for the 6 week check.

I think I would buy a car seat (or borrow one?) Which is easily belted in into a car and use that to take her in a cab or uber. I definitely would not take a 6 week old baby in a car without a car seat. It might be legal but it is very dangerous.

RhymingRabbit3 · 13/03/2020 11:49

The only GP appointment you have is at 6 weeks and that's just for you. So your DH could mind the baby.
My 6 week appointment was a full check over of the baby - looking at eyes and ears, listening to heart and lungs, checking hips etc.
They asked me some questions but didnt do any examinations of me.

Original poster

LouiseKira · 13/03/2020 11:52

Yes I was thinking that! Really don't want to not use a car seat, just panicking as not sure what else I could do! Mines an isofix one so not sure how likely an uber driver is to be understanding whilst we take god knows how long setting up a car seat in the car to only drive 20 minutes then take it all out again.
My midwife children's centre is only round the corner, maybe I could get the appointments there instead? I don't know what to expect as it's my first child. Do they come to your house?
Yes, I'm gonna have to go out and get a professional photo done for the passport, but it still takes about 3 weeks for renewal to arrive. I feel like such an idiot for not getting this sorted sooner.
If it's only a 6 week appointment just for me that'd be fantastic!

OP posts:

Anyoed · 13/03/2020 11:53

I live in a village in had to take my new.born on buses which then had to fold the pram so put baby in a sling on me then taxing homes with shopping and new born. Obviously I would love to take care seat but it's not possible to carry a car seat and baby on bus and shop I'm also disabled. I've had no problems with taxi allowing me in with baby. I always advise when booking I have a young baby/ now 3 year old. So just ensure u do this..good luck.on your new arrival

Name739017 · 13/03/2020 11:53

Surely most infant carriers can be strapped in, even if you’d plan on using an isofix base for your usual set up? Just strap it in.

Original poster

LouiseKira · 13/03/2020 11:54

I've had all my midwife appointments at the children's centre round the corner but the odd random ones at the gp. I'm guessing it's to spread the caseload?

OP posts:

Shinygoldbauble · 13/03/2020 12:00

My sister has isofix in her car but when I have given her a lift we just put the seat in using the car seat belt. All seats were installed like this when my dc were babies.
The instructions should be on the car seat and you can probably find a YouTube video to see how it works.
It's really quick and much safer than carrying a baby in a car without one.

SwayingInTime · 13/03/2020 12:01

I would change the carseat or learn the strapping in method. I have 3 kids and no car and a carseat plus Quinny Maxx or similar chassis/ frame will be a godsend. A sling means you dn't have to leave them in it for too long but the prams oftem hold them a lot flatter than they are in the carseat (Micralite Fastfold good for this). You're then prepared for unexpected travel too.

maryberryslayers · 13/03/2020 12:15

The midwife comes to you a couple of times the week after birth, the. The health visitor comes once or twice. The only place you take baby is to be weighed, you'll likely do that at the children's centre.

You'll need a 6 week check which is usually done by a GP, however most are now cancelling routine appointments in order to stop the spread of coronavirus, so it's likely you'll not be told to go there anyway.

I wouldn't take a newborn in to a pharmacy or doctors or on public transport.

Please don't ever take a newborn in a car without a car seat, ubers aren't less likely to crash than normal cars.

AccountAntsy · 13/03/2020 12:18

Most of the isofix seats can still be belted into a seat with the seatbelt. I did it with DD a few times when getting lifts with friends and it was very straightforward. Check the manual to make sure it’s not just as simple as that.

Willow4987 · 13/03/2020 12:24

Most newborn car seats have the ability to be strapped into the car using the seat belt if you don’t have the isofix base. My maxi cosi can be done this way as well as the isofix

Which car seat have you got?

Original poster

LouiseKira · 13/03/2020 12:57

I have called the local GP and explained the situation and they are fine to accept me with an out of date passport! I have just signed up and they're gonna fasttrack me so problem has been solved!
I just want to thank everyone for all your responses. I was in such a panic and you guys made me think clearly. Definitely no car trips without the seat!
Feel so much more relaxed now. Now to put my feet up and wait for my little bundle to make her appearance :)

OP posts:

Elbbob · 13/03/2020 13:42

Great news @LouiseKira

Clangus00 · 13/03/2020 14:03

Fantastic

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