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

I got a bus by myself to the hospital when I was 41+5 for a sweep. That kicked things off pretty quickly so I did get a taxi rather than bus home but still by myself. Generally nothing happens that quickly.

With my first I worked up until 38.5 weeks travelling by train and tube everyday.

I think that you are definitely overthinking it.

My partner came to my 40 week appt (at 39+5) because I was going to have a sweep if offered and I wanted him there as they're meant to be uncomfortable, so wanted him there for a hand hold.

In the end I didn't have it and my waters broke 12 hours into labour. Some people I know never had their waters break. Some others had a fairly normal day when in the early stages of labour.

Best to carry on like normal while you can it might be another 3 weeks before things get moving.

I mean it would really be ideal to have your waters break on your way to your appointment! But as PP have said please don't over think and worry about this! If they break without contractions it will be a trickle, if you're worried about it carry or wear a pad in your last few weeks. Best of luck! X

I had a taxi to the hospital in labour with DC1. DH was with me of course but we didn't own a car then so that was our only realistic option. It was fine, I think I took a puppy pad to sit on but my waters hadn't broken anyway and didn't break. I was more concerned that I might vomit in the taxi as I had vomited a bit at home on and off in my looooong early labour stage.

My waters didn't go until I was about to push in both my labours.

I had absolutely no signs of labour when my waters broke, it was 38 weeks and I was getting ready to go into work that day, some emergency no one else could cope with apparently, but ended up having a baby instead.

I had no signs of labour and my waters broke spontaneously in an enormous TV-worthy gush. However I was over 40w and at home. In fact, out of 6 women in my NCT group, 3 of us had waters breaking as our first sign of labour with no prior signs. I didn't think it was that rare.

You're assuming both that the OP can drive, and has her own car.

I can drive and I would not have been able to do so in this position at 38 weeks, first because we had one car and husband took it to work, and second because my bump was so forward that I was not comfortable driving at that point.

I had to take a taxi to the delivery ward, in active labour, on my own as DH stayed at home with toddler till my friend arrived to babysit. It really isn’t as dramatic for most of us as it is on TV! I remember being able to have a sort of normal conversation with the taxi driver. He was a nice man, and carried my bag into the hospital for me.

It's scary and exciting the first time round, but cool your jets! I worked until due date, including an hours commute without needing to be chaperoned. It's very unlikely that the first sign of baby coming will be your waters spontaneously breaking, and even if that does happen, you'll already be in a taxi on your way to the hospital.

I took a taxi at 40w 2d to my mum’s for dinner rather than taking a bus. She gave me a lift home & I went into labour that night!

In my labours waters go after an a few hours of mild contractions, not suddenly with no warning like in the films! And very little fluid really.

I don’t drive either, through choice, though I’m in London so maybe it’s a bit different. But I got the train to every appointment, by myself, and it hadn’t occurred to me to take my OH, who was self employed — unless for some sort of an emergency eg when I had a bleed. In fact, I always figured I was heading to precisely the right place of anything should happen! Fwiw I’m from a different (Islamic) culture too, but I’m also just me - an independent woman! Good luck OP, we all overthink at times!

I went to all of mine by driving myself. I'm sure you will be fine.

I went into labour at 38 weeks and the waters never came, finally they were broken with a little plastic something by the midwife

I think you'll be fine unless you feel any signs that labour is already starting. I took the bus and my toddler to my 42 week appointment. I'd been intending to have a home birth so I didn't really think about it. It still took 2 days of induction to get the baby out.

So, if they do, you can do what I did...
I felt a push then a pop and immediately shoved my fist (on top of my clothing) between my legs behind my pelvic bone. It stopped the flow, saved my matress and carpet and I was able to waddle to the toilet. Contractions started straight away and I was fully dilated in about 4 hours, so if it was a taxi I could have got where I needed to be.
Wear a pad and sit on an inco pad if you are worried. Good luck!

It's very exciting with your first, OP.

You'll get loads of people tell you they worked up to the minute they went into labour, they had a long commute each way, the baby's head was out and they were still running a 10k.. some people feel the need to be quite competitive about how stoic they were!!!

In reality - no one can say. Babies do come early, and late. Waters do break, and don't.
Some women want reassurance and to worry about possible risks, some are fine with whatever.

I'm sure your drive to your appointment will be fine, but there's no harm in taking a friend with you if you want. Everyone is different and no-ones way is wrong.

Good luck, it's an exciting time 💕

Try not worry. I was still taking the bus to work at 38 weeks and I never thought about it other than to have spare pants and trousers in my locker. I dont know what I would have done if they'd broken on the bus but I think most people would try to be helpful and supportive in that scenario.

In all honesty - stop watching tv /film about pregnancy! You very rarely have your waters break before being in active labour, it can happen but it's rare. Many women, myself included have their waters broken at 7/8cm (it usually accelerates labour in my personal experience).

I took the bus to all my appointments, and had a toddler in the as well for number two, it was just fine.

In the very unlikely event of your waters breaking in that very short period you will need to get the driver to continue to the hospital, call the admissions department, call a friend and apologise profusely to the driver and promise you will add a substantial tip for him/her as soon as possible after the birth. But it's very unlikely and having a friend with you will make no difference to the situation occurring.

My waters have only gone with one of my kids. And I thought I'd wet myself. I was bent over and was pulling up my leggins from having a wee.
Did a huge sneeze and loads of water came out. Called my mum as no more leaked out of me and she said well it's defo wee! As they would still be leaking now. 🙃. When I eventually went up to get checked for something else they asked me how long they'd been gone for as they could see they had burst at some point!. All was fine though. But never happened with the others

My friends waters broke on Tuesday at 2.30 then she started having contractions and the baby was born less than an hour later.

I also thought it was a TV dramatic thing but it happens!

Well that's me tellt, lots of women on here having TV-worthy breaking waters!

I was still working at 38 weeks pregnant with both of mine, you'll be fine 🙈

I had this exact situation at 38 weeks. I had a growth scan in the morning and a separate appointment elsewhere in the afternoon. I had some period-type pain and the scan showed the head was very far down. They advised I should rethink going to the second appointment alone! Turned out I was in early labour and I gave birth early the next morning. (I didn't go to the second appointment.)

I would still say it's fine - if you are in a car on the way to hospital and something happens, then you're heading to the right place - your husband would just need to come with your hospital bag.

If you have another baby you will be doing all sorts with your first child at this stage of pregnancy.