How to get to hospital when in labour?

[Homeinwales]

I’m wondering if anyone can give me some advice, I’m a first time mum and I’m 35 weeks pregnant. Me and my partner were going to go to the FMU which would take us no longer than 20-30 minutes to get too however my consultant and midwife has encouraged me to go to a hospital. Our local hospital where the FMU is, closed down their maternity units so the closest hospital is about 15 miles or so. Me and my partner don’t drive my parents live hundreds of miles away and the only people who drive in my partners family is his mum and sister. Our relationship with his mum is strained and his sister has a child of her own. How do we get to the hospital when I go into labour? The taxi service here is hit and miss. Sometimes you can’t get a taxi at all and when you do it’s extortionate. Looking at about £30-£40 to get to the hospital that’s not including my partner having to make his way back home after the birth to get the car seat and making his way back to the hospital and then us and the baby getting back home. On public transport it’s about an hour and a half from where we live and again after a certain time all public transport goes off and the timings are spotty sometimes waiting an hour for a bus. I have no idea what to do because In taxi fairs it’s gonna cost us almost £120 and it’s just money we can’t afford to pull out

You can't rely on an ambulance at the moment even if you have a cardiac arrest so I would ignore those posters advising you are able to call an ambulance. Yes you can but it will be another story altogether if it actually arrives.

Exactly this.
My friend’s wife couldn’t breathe because of a pulmonary embolism and was advised an ambulance would be 3 hours.

Op if you go into labour naturally then your only option is a private taxi so start putting money aside for this now. However you may be brought in to be induced also therefore can use public transport.

Otherwise even though you had issues with mil would she not be in a position to help by this stage does she drive.

There will be someone to take you - ask midwives, local churches, schools, facebook etc - make a press release and send it to the local paper if you have to! Put up a small ad in a local cafe, posters on lampposts - use your imagination. You might also find a local family who will give you a lift and let you use their car seat. People are nicer than you think, if you ask they often want to help.

Or call the local taxi company and see if they will be on alert and give you a price in advance that you can save for.

Are you talking about royal glam / prince Charles?

Do you have a local FB group? You could offer to pay someone to be 'on call' in the run up to the baby and who would be willing to drive you there and back. Obviously offer to pay and get to know the person in advance...you might even make some new friends!

Put it this way, if I saw a post like that on a community FB, I'd defo
be happy to help as it's part of supporting my local community.

Bless you, this all sounds so tough on you. First time mum asking for genuine advice and some replies have been awful! I hope this hasn't upset you.

Firstly I can only advise what many have previously; start putting money aside for a taxi to the hospital. I know you mentioned some mixed relationships with DP's family, however, the birth of a baby often brings out the best in people (even if temporary) and you may be offered a lift home. Please don't worry about getting home just yet. The hospital will want your bed once you've been cleared to leave so I can guarantee you they will help you get home if you're at a complete loss.

Secondly, bring your car seat on the first journey, even if you've been advised not to, they will not turn you of the car seat away

Any other health implications post birth that people so kindly told you about, SHOULD you find yourself in this unfortunate situation then the hospital will help you, don't let others make you feel bad or worry because you do not drive yet.

Once you're in labour all this will seem so small, your DP will get you to the hospital somehow

Good luck with the birth of your baby

Some taxi firms will provide a car seat. You could save money on buying one which won't be used if you don't drive.

I would also say try and meet some other mums to be if you can and anyone else to form a support group. Newborn stage can be tough and the more people you have the better it will be.

I’m wondering the same OP, although I have more time to plan as I am 15 weeks! I am the driver in our household, but obviously can’t drive in labour. Last baby, my waters went unexpectedly and my poor mum had to do a 45 minute drive to us, then another 30 mins to the hospital at 1am. None of our planned lifts were available as baby came early. This time we have to factor childcare in as well. I am slightly panicking! We will sort something though.
Take your car seat in. It’s better than forgetting it. I took mine and was in for 6 days in total.
Have a few options. Ask friends, neighbours, community Facebook groups. Ask local taxi firms for their availability.
It’s not bad planning, circumstances change.

I think the advice to reach out into your local community is a good one. You could always ask for someone as a back up so if you are unable to get a taxi to come quickly would help.

Download the Peanut app and join local groups as there may be someone who can help.

Definitely take the car seat. I was told not to take a proper bag for a planed c section - just the bare essentials and go collect the rest once baby was born - lo and behold out of six women that day I was the only one that did this, not one word was said 🙄 secondly, I agree with some of the pp advice that you need to secure a solution because there's no knowing if you will be accepted to the ward on the first trip, for us it was trip FIVE and day 3 of contractions before I could stay in as I was so slow to dilate. Also once baby is born you may need trips to a&e or whatever in the first few months. My ds1 had severe reflux and we were constantly having to take him in due to be weight loss, ds2 had a nasty chest infection at 5days old and similarly had to be taken in.

Ask around locally, on Facebook or similar, as its so close to birth day (to learn to drive) and see who might be willing to help. May also be the right time to patch up with family as you can never tell what support you will need.

Goodluck OP. I appreciate it's worrying but you will find a way to muddle through.

You have 4-5 weeks to make a plan

Taxi i think the only option. Or ask a friend

From the moment you go into labour, you'll probably have several hours before you need to go to hospital

How will you cope without a car going forward

You and/or partner need to learn asap

Don’t you have any neighbours or friends nearby? Failing that, as a one off a taxi is your best option.

hopefully, there's a good Gail force wind and you can get a hot air balloon. otherwise its a bus, taxi, or better yet learning drive.

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Hey folks, the kid will be on solids by now, so please stop posting and blowing up the OP’s notifications.

I need to start checking the date!

One way would be to contact NCT (National Childbirth Trust) and ask if there are any charities or groups that could help with transport. Alternatively, the local authority may know of any such groups. When I was working and DH had to go for hospital treatment then a really nice guy took him every week and DH helped him with his computer.

Would the nhs reimburse you for the taxi receipt as part of the birth costs?

another idea, you could post on a local Facebook group or neighbourhood group and explain your situation, there’s got to be some kind soul who would offer to drive you

Oops, sorry! Just saw that this is a zombie thread

Is this real? You’re having a child but can’t make it to the hospital to give birth. Just wait until they start toddling and you find yourself needing to get to A&E. You need to think how you’re going to do this.

Bit late now. The kid will be pretty much walking itself to where it needs to be.

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