If you just turn up at a hospital you are not booked into, in full blown labour, will they tell you to PISS OFF or let you in? AND is there any way I can persuade hospital to induce me on my due date?

[MamaG]

[decides to ask MN before asking MW!]

Am booked in to hosp 45 min-1 hours drive from home. Have been told third babies can be v quick and DS (2nd) was quick labour once I got going. Was induced both times previously and took aaaaaaaaaaages to get going both times.

There is another hospital on the way to the one I'm booked into (MW led unit) and I'm wondering if I'm in the car, squealing like a stuck pig, will I be able to screech "take me to the nearest one!" rather than keep going to the far away one?

Also - I'm really truly worried about going into labour and not having anybody to take me to hosp (DH doesn't drive) / bring DH home afterwards if its middle of night / take me and baby to nice little MW unit for a few days afterwards / bring DH and the DC to see me.

There is no public transport available, taxis would be horrendously expensive, family all live far away etc etc etc. My Mum is coming to look after kids, but is a shit driver (!) and I wouldn't want her doing long runs with the dc. Her DH MIGHT be able to come up with her, but has a v busy important job - If I can persuade hospital to induce me on due date, I can make arrangemetns in advance.

I am seriously being kept awake at night worrying (yes, am knob, I know).

What do you think?

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(tumbleweed)

hi mamag

not sure about going to the nearest hospital rather than the one you are booked into - could you ring them up and discuss your situation and concerns.
could you get an ambulance from your house to hospital?
when i was in labour with dd started off @ local birthing centre then got transffered by ambulance @ 100mph with sirens
ringing midwife is a good idea to reassure you

I'm seeing her on Friday, but don't wnat her to look at me with a face in case the questions are ridiculous, thought i'd get opinions here first!

Yes, the 100mph thing is a worry, thats why I booked into big hosp, but people keep insisting on telling me third babies are sooo quick

Even MW said if I go into labour this time, it will prob be quick

bumping!

if i can't give birth to DS in the MLU i just hope they Medivac me to the CLU because an ambulance journey would take ages and i don't fancy having contractions whilst being strapped to a gurney flat on my back - OW!

Seems a bit daft that you are booked into the far away one tbh. Can you change now or is it too late?

Whats a medivac? A massive hoover tube that links the hospitals and sucks you into the CLU? poss not.

I suppose I could in theory ask to be bookd into the MLU, but hate the thought of being transferred in an ambulance should I need to go to CLU (far away hosp)

my last labour was pretty quick, too.

my first was only long because the baby's position - back to back and with her hand curled up cupping her head above her ear - made the pain so bad i asked for an epi, things slowed and i wound up with forceps delivery.

I had to do the 100 mph thing in the back of an ambulance in labour with ds2. It was a hideous journey. I sat up the whole way but I felt every single bump in the road and had to cling on for dear life.

it's a helicopter, MamaG.

it's used frequently here because the quickest route to hospital involves crossing a large sea loch.

Are you booked into this far away unit because of complications? I really doubt they would turn you away if you were in labour.

I think you'd have a harder job persuading them to induce you on your EDD though.

bloody hell expat! you're going for all out drama then?!

QM - thats exactly why I didn't book in to nearer one! I'm just worrying about being en route to further one and knowing that the baby is coming NOW iykwim

How far over dates were you induced?

Hmm, I see what you mean mamaG. I think you should ask your MW and don't feel bad about asking. Imagine the whole of MN in the room with you!

oh, it runs a lot of people across, MamaG.

the hospital is right next to the football pitch where it lands.

of course, NHS Highland saved so much money by 'centralising' so much care to Glasgow .

i have a nurse pal who works in Inverness and NHS Highland have cut back services so much the helipad there is in constant use.

No, no complications - I booked into it originally to avoid said ambulance-in-labour journey and because tis likely I'll be induced again - I didn't want to book into MLU only to be told i had to go to CLU for induction (they don't do it at mlu).

I aws 10 and 11 days over with the other two, but they induce at 14 days in this health authority

Is the because you wouldn't want to wait until 14 days?

Tbh if I were you I'd book into the MLU and hang off on induction for as long as possible (but I had my last one in the living room ). Don't be afraid of asking the questions though. It's your baby and your choice.

Fwiw, my 3rd delivery was comparable to my 2nd although he was much bigger.

I'm sure they wouldn't turn you away - in fact I think that if you call an ambulance in labour (or like me, end up in an ambulance because you've given birth at the side of the road) they will automatically take you to the nearest hospital.

Can you get your booking moved to the MLU or are you high risk..

If you are high risk, they'd probably stick you in an ambulance and transfer you.

Here the maternity units are sometimes swamped and have to close for a few hours. If this happens we will be told to go to another hospital in the area so i don't think a hospital would turn you away. MLUs are different as they lack the medical support of a full blown maternity unit.

hmm, in ours the community midwife comes out to yours - it's quicker than an ambulance because there are very limited ambulances covering a huge geographical area here - and either blue lights you to hospital or arranges for hte chopper to meet her at the football pitch.

I was booked into one further away (20 mins on a good day, an hour in rush hour), I'd had regular appointments there, they knew me I'd had DS1 there etc, but it wasn't my nearest hospital.

Was in labour, called up hospital to say I was on my way from where we live (as rush hour wanted to make it in time), they asked why I was coming there, I explained I was booked in there etc, they told me there was no room for me, if I went in I'd probably have to deliver in the waiting room and to go to my local hospital.

Luckily I had booked a HB in with my local MW team, so that kind of made my mind up for me. They did me a favour with hindsight, but I was mightly pissed off at the time.

yes the was having to wait 14 days! I have no prob being induced, just hate waiting.

I have no complications (touch wood) and MLU were happy for me to be bookd in there.

oh fret fret what to do.

At least i don't have to factor in a possible helicopter ride like expat! Although DH did mention he wanted to move to some remote part of scotland last year (near kintyre iirc) so i guess I'm lucky

Bramshott more info please!

Can your mum come and stay for a while? Say from 40+7?

i'd rather be choppered, tbh, than ambulance.

because you have to go in the ferry, even an emergency one, and the crossing takes about 25 minutes.

then the drive down the A8.

chopper's only 10 minutes.

i feel your pain, though.

i'm on my own for this one.

there's no one to look after the girls but DH.