Going on my own to the 38 weeks appointment by taxi? Should I be accompanied by someone?

[lmndlily]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently nearly 37 weeks pregnant and started to think about my hospital appointment at 38 weeks. As I can't drive, I usually use Uber and it takes 25-30 mins (or even longer depending on the traffic) to the hospital. My husband will be working on the day so I was gonna go on my own, but I've just started to think whether I should be accompanied by someone in case my water breaks or I go into labour?🤔 If my water breaks in taxi and if I'm on my own - that thought terrifies me! But at the same time I'm not sure how likely smth like that would happen?

I'm scheduled to be induced around the 39 weeks due to gestational diabetes, but it's possible that I go into labour spontaneously, right?
Please share your thoughts/experiences! x

If you are worried about your waters breaking take a towel.

Not sure how having a friend would help there.

If you go into labour before you get in the taxi they won't take you. So really you are asking what is the chance of going into labour in a specific 30 mins period at 38 weeks. Answer: very low.

You’re not any more likely to go into labour or your waters break on your way to/from your 38 week midwife appointment than you are travelling anywhere else at any other time at that stage of pregnancy so unless you’re saying that at 38 weeks you’re not going to go anywhere at all unaccompanied? I wouldn’t worry about it to be honest! If you want to take somebody with you to your appointment for support then of course that’s up to you, but I wouldn’t say there's any need at all to take someone due to a risk of going into labour specifically on that day for that appointment x

But even if you didn't have your appointment he would be at work if your waters broke so its no different to you just being somewhere else (home, shopping etc). You call him and he gets there when it happens.

Firstly, the chance of your waters breaking suddenly without prior signs you are in labour in fairly low (something like 5% I think). Secondly, the chance of labour starting during the taxi ride is pretty low. Assuming you have no signs of labour, then I would just go myself as planned.

Why would your waters randomly break in an Uber on the way to your 38 week appointment?

In the nicest way, you're overthinking.

I actually was told at both of my 38 week appointments that I needed to come in that day for induction, but I had a few hours to go home, get my stuff, hit Tesco for good snacks, etc.

Do people's waters break before they even start having contractions? I thought that was just something that happens on TV and films.

You’ve been watching too much telly.

You could go into labour at any point now. I’m assuming you’re not going to make yourself housebound?

Even if your water break, it’s unlikely to be such a gush and will still take a while before you give birth. You will probably start having contractions or lose the mucus plug before you need to worry about hospital.

Take your uber as planned but make sure you’ve already packed your bag.

You’ll be fine. Good luck.

Mine did both times!

No you don’t, even if you go into labour or your waters break it’s not dramatic like on tv.

Shhhh, I'm trying to reassure the OP!

I think you'll be fine going on your own.

Happened me twice! My waters literally poured out of me for a full day before I was induced as Labour didn't start by itself, both times!

Oops! It is rare though! 😀

Just to say, if you go into labour before getting in a taxi - some will take you! I had 3 x Uber trips when in labour (incredibly long labour) to go to the hospital (sent home twice). I was having contractions each time, one driver was pretty quiet, but the other two were really excited to help us with the trip and wished us lots of luck etc! I did take puppy pads to sit on, although waters had only finally gone by the third trip.

Why can’t you drive yourself?

I can’t see any reason not to go on your own, and I said that as someone who was admitted at my 36 week appointment. Also to those saying your waters won’t go first, that does happen, happened to me and then contractions started just after it. But it’s unlikely to happen the one time you’re in a taxi, mine was at home in bed.

The chances of you going into labour in that 30 minute period or your waters breaking with no signs are absolutely tiny, but I would also be worried about having my waters break in a taxi and would probably take a towel to sit on just in case.

Thank you for all your responses! 😊🙏🏻

Yeah I think I might have been overthinking. Also, I guess there's a bit of cultural differences too, since people from my country all said you shouldn't go out too far away from home on your own after the 37 weeks.

Anyways, I think I'll just go on my own like I was planning! x

You’re overthinking
I went to almost all appointments by myself, most by bike. Even at 40 weeks.

Mine did.

If you are going to be alone anyway, surely en route to the hospital is a pretty useful place to go into labour.
What are you hoing to do from your house apart from at some point start heading to the hospital anyway.l?

Don’t go too far on your own means don’t take a 4 hour hike by yourself or don’t drive 5 hours on your own to city where you don’t know anyone. A hospital appointment on your own in a taxi is fine.

The Uber driver is human so you aren’t even alone OP

With DD1 i had to take an uber to hospital with my waters actively gushing at 37+6w. I just sat on a waterproof jacket, wearing a couple of maternity pads, and didn't say a word to the driver 😅 DH checked when i stood up and there were no stains on the seat, thank goodness! If you are worried, buy some waterproof bed pads or puppy pads - you can fold them up in your bag and grab one to sit on.

Also, as pp have said, a gushing waters break is actually quite rare - most people are either already having contractions, or it starts as a slow leak so manageable with maternity pads in your knickers.

Given the amount of vomit that taxi drivers will have to deal with, i'm sure they'll have dealt with worse!

I'm 36w at the minute and havent finished work yet. My biggest worry at the minute is waters gushing all over the carpet at work!! 😳

Realistically, most pregnant women are not accompanied at all times in the later stages. Babies usually come between 37-42 weeks, its impossible to pin down. Some women will still be working at 38 weeks.

The worse that will happen is your partner will need to bring your hospital bag to you.

You'll be fine on your own :).

Even if your waters break, it should just be a little bit initially so you'd be fine x