Page 3 | Leaving hospital without car-seat....

Dacdevdhi · 2020-12-12T12:08:06+00:00

Hello all I'm currently pregnant with my 3rd, and with the 1st two I took a taxi home, and had them in a car seat. This time round I wish to take the 3rd home in a baby carrier and get train back. As not only will it be quicker, its also a hell of a lot cheaper than a taxi/cab. Would it be possible to do that, as don't want to have to get a car seat I won't be using again, as I don't drive. Will be coming from St Mary's - Paddington Thanks

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mooncakes · 12/12/2020 18:51

@AnneLovesGilbert

I don’t know why people are so sure the hospital can’t stop you taking the baby without a car seat. I saw exactly that when I had mine last year. The other woman being discharged at the same time was stopped trying to leave as she didn’t have a car seat and was carrying her baby in her arms. Not in London or anywhere near public transport, but we were made to show DD strapped into her car seat on the ward and the other couple were not allowed to leave. It’s not a myth because you haven’t seen it happen.

What did they do, grab the woman? Wrestle the baby from her? Lock the doors?

AnneLovesGilbert · 12/12/2020 18:54

No, she wasn’t making a run for it. They just told her they weren’t allowing her to leave with the baby and her partner had to go and buy a car seat. I was desperate to leave after being in there a week and left before it was resolved. I’m not making it up if that’s what you’re suggesting.

mooncakes · 12/12/2020 18:58

@AnneLovesGilbert

No, she wasn’t making a run for it. They just told her they weren’t allowing her to leave with the baby and her partner had to go and buy a car seat. I was desperate to leave after being in there a week and left before it was resolved. I’m not making it up if that’s what you’re suggesting.

They couldn't/wouldn't stop her leaving though.

They told her to go and get a car seat, but if she said no - she's walking home, they couldn't have stopped her.

A hospital might have a policy of asking parents to leave with a car seat, but they can't stop you leaving without one. It isn't a prison.

onlyreadingneverposting8 · 12/12/2020 19:05

I'd definitely have a back up seat available not just because of hospital policy but because you might end up with a c section and I can tell you you WILL NOT want to catch public transport with in a few days of one! I had my 9th baby 4 weeks ago by c section after having had 7 VBACs (1st baby was a emcs and 9 was a cat 3 so not emergency but unplanned). Regards leaving hospital (havering) DH has to pick me up at the back door and I had to them walk back round to the multi-storey car park (24 hrs after the section). Due to covid he wasn't allowed in to pick me up. He met me with the car seat, which fits our pram fortunately!

ivfbeenbusy · 12/12/2020 19:39

@mumsyandtiredzz

Because the hospital has no way of knowing how you are getting home. It's pretty unusual to get public transport home after having a baby so they would naturally assume that you are going to sit in a car or taxi with the baby in a sling....which is illegal

mumsyandtiredzz · 12/12/2020 19:41

@AnneLovesGilbert

I don’t know why people are so sure the hospital can’t stop you taking the baby without a car seat. I saw exactly that when I had mine last year. The other woman being discharged at the same time was stopped trying to leave as she didn’t have a car seat and was carrying her baby in her arms. Not in London or anywhere near public transport, but we were made to show DD strapped into her car seat on the ward and the other couple were not allowed to leave. It’s not a myth because you haven’t seen it happen.

How on earth could they not be ‘allowed’ to leave though? They could just simply go. It’s a bit weird the hospital SAYING they can’t leave when they have no power or authority to enforce that. The parents could just simply leave and are not breaking any laws.

mooncakes · 12/12/2020 19:43

[quote ivfbeenbusy]@mumsyandtiredzz

Because the hospital has no way of knowing how you are getting home. It's pretty unusual to get public transport home after having a baby so they would naturally assume that you are going to sit in a car or taxi with the baby in a sling....which is illegal [/quote]
Actually I don't think taking a baby in a taxi without a car seat is illegal. Only a private car.

mumsyandtiredzz · 12/12/2020 19:44

[quote ivfbeenbusy]@mumsyandtiredzz

Because the hospital has no way of knowing how you are getting home. It's pretty unusual to get public transport home after having a baby so they would naturally assume that you are going to sit in a car or taxi with the baby in a sling....which is illegal [/quote]
I still don’t get how they would have any authority or power to ‘not allow’ parents with their baby in a sling or pram to not go home, even with concerns. Sure, if they saw people getting into a car without a car seat then they could contact the police (just as anybody else could) but they don’t have power beyond that.

AwaAnBileYerHeid · 12/12/2020 20:34

@ivfbeenbusy

Nope - I was told there are new rules in place. Babies are only allowed to leave in a car seat or suitable pram

No carrying or slings allowed

So how would the midwives be preventing you from leaving exactly? Would it be a detention under the mental health act? Or would they invoke AWI? Or would they call the police to have you detained? Because as far as I'm aware, you can't go holding people against their will without something such as one of the above in place..?

ivfbeenbusy · 12/12/2020 20:53

@AwaAnBileYerHeid

Well it would be as simple as saying they have safeguarding concerns....pretty sure no one wants that on their file with a new baby....

You only have to google it to see threads on various sites going back years. These policies have been in place for a long time but clearly some hospitals police it more than others

Some threads I've seen parents were escorted down to waiting cars to ensure suitable seats were being used etc

lucy2204 · 12/12/2020 20:59

I was told I weren't aloud to leave the hospital unless I had a car seat. Wouldn't even let me leave the ward to be able to call my partner (shit signal).

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 12/12/2020 21:02

When I had Dd I walked home with her in her pram, the normal 4 minute journey took about 30 minutes it seemed a good idea at the time.

As you can see hospital's across the country have different guidelines so best you discuss with your midwife.

I understand hospitals may like to see newborns in their car seat to make sure they are secured correctly as it can be dangerous if they are in the wrong position. I can also understand them not wanting newborns carried in arms or in a baby carrier particularly by mum as even if you have an easy uncomplicated labour you could be a bit unsteady, tired etc.

AurorasGingerbreadHouse · 12/12/2020 21:03

Social services can put in an emergency order to stop you taking baby home if their are adequate safety concerns. Even if there aren't, who wants that battle? Who wants a delay and possibly a report done for no reason?

The rules or guidelines are there for a reason anyway. Baby needs to be safe in case mum faints or haemorrhages or gets a clot/PE. Yes these things are rare, but that's why it's not advised to travel home on public transport or without pram/car seat. Because it is a safeguarding concern, tbh.

AurorasGingerbreadHouse · 12/12/2020 21:04

They can't stop you leaving the ward, but they can stop the baby leaving the ward.

AwaAnBileYerHeid · 12/12/2020 21:07

@ivfbeenbusy they can threaten to raise safeguarding concerns all they like, anyone can threaten to raise a safeguarding concern, it will be investigated I assume and disregarded more than likely. Deprivation of liberty however, holding someone against their will, is against the law and it doesn't happen unless you're being held by either the police, mental health act detention or vulnerable adults legislation.

It is strongly recommended that parents buy a car seat to take the baby home, however there are no rules in place.

AurorasGingerbreadHouse · 12/12/2020 21:08

The hospital do have the power to stop you leaving with the baby. They have these powers in case you go against social services or medical advice, or in situations where their are child protection concerns.

AurorasGingerbreadHouse · 12/12/2020 21:09

@AwaAnBileYerHeid

Yes they can't keep an adult (unless on serious grounds as you stated) but that is not the same for newborn infants.

ConfusedcomMum · 12/12/2020 21:10

Oh. I was told all 3 times I wouldn't be discharged unless my DH brought the car seat. Also my midwife said I should not be using a baby carrier for the first few (two?) weeks.

mooncakes · 12/12/2020 21:11

@AurorasGingerbreadHouse

The hospital do have the power to stop you leaving with the baby. They have these powers in case you go against social services or medical advice, or in situations where their are child protection concerns.

A hospital would need to apply to the courts to stop you leaving.

AwaAnBileYerHeid · 12/12/2020 21:17

@AurorasGingerbreadHouse I believe they would need a court order to do this and it is highly unlikely that any midwife is going to put these kinds of steps into place for your average decent parents who simply want to take their baby home. It isn't going to happen.

AurorasGingerbreadHouse · 12/12/2020 21:19

Yes I think it's unlikely but technically they can.

AurorasGingerbreadHouse · 12/12/2020 21:20

But what average decent parent decides to take their baby home in a way that is irresponsible, unsafe, and against hospital recommendations?

mooncakes · 12/12/2020 21:22

@AurorasGingerbreadHouse

Yes I think it's unlikely but technically they can.

Can you imagine it going in front of a judge though? "Well this mother walked her baby home in a pram, so we would like you to remove the baby from the family?"

I mean technically they could apply for a court order because they don't like the brand of baby wipes you're using - doesn't mean it would ever happen.

AwaAnBileYerHeid · 12/12/2020 21:27

Now we're getting pedantic @AurorasGingerbreadHouse. And on to a totally different topic. Your statement was that the hospital had the powers to prevent you from leaving without a car seat. There don't. Casting aspersions on what constitutes a decent parent is a completely different topic. The point is that the hospital would not prevent the average parent from leaving the ward without a car seat, despite your claim.

AurorasGingerbreadHouse · 12/12/2020 21:27

While waiting for an emergency court order they can stop a child leaving the hospital. If a social worker needs to see the family, the police can keep the child on the ward as can hospital security. So it's too simplistic to say "the hospital can't make you stay" They can if they believe the safeguarding threshold is high enough. They can if believe you are vulnerable or mentally ill, or at risk of domestic violence. That's a lot of reasons that instead of putting yourself up to that level of scrutiny and difficulty, instead of starting your child's life with question marks hanging in the air, you would just buy a car seat of suitable pram surely? Or borrow one!

Also it's safer for the baby, means you can get public transport or a lift if you are not up to travelling and baby wearing. You can still baby wear, but have a pram or car seat as back up. Why start fighting the hospital?Their guidelines are their for a reason.

It's like hospital procedures where you are meant to get a lift home. Do you plan to get the bus even though it's against medical advice and you will have to lie on discharge? Or do you trust that maybe your doctors have a good reason for this and actually maybe a few hours after pushing a human being out of you you light not be quite as steady on your feet or medically ready as you think you are?