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?

[CarGirl]

MamaG I replied on your other thread about inductions. Do not entertain the thought of being induced on your due date with your third. Really truly after 36 hours of pain from the gel and no sleep they did a ARM that was excrutiating and told me that at that point I was 50/50 c-section. Hence why I waited to term+14 for the next one (when 10 days is normal here, one consultant agreed to it and then the rookie was difficult about it!)

Why don't you book for a homebirth? At least the midwives will come to you and in an emergency you can use the amublance.

[Ceolas]

Do you want to stay in hospital? Assuming all goes well you could be discharged quickly, eliminating the visiting issues. Is domino care an option?

[Ohforfoxsake]

which is kind of the opposite of what you were asking so not particularly relevant

[expatinscotland]

good point, Ceolas.

it's 24 hours max in hospital here for uncomplicated vag birth even in the CLU here.

[MamaG]

Excellent point cargirl - I'll forget about asking for the induction early, but will ask if I can go to MLU if i feel things are happening quickly.

expat - yes, in your circs I'd rather go in the heli. Are you ok about having it on your own? (don't suppose you have a choice really)

Def don't want a home birth - lovely for those who do, but I'd feel too far away from medical help, if I needed it (we are v rural) - plus I live in a terraced house and wouldn't want to be screeching to the neighbours

[expatinscotland]

'Are you ok about having it on your own? (don't suppose you have a choice really)'

Not really, but don't have a choice.

NO WAY I want a homebirth for hte reasons you outlined, too.

Plus, can't have penthidine at home AND don't want to frighten the girls.

AND very very far from help.

[TheCrackFox]

No idea about the OP. But isn't it crazy that in Scotland they shut down so many maternity hospitals/units etc. and assured us all that this was because the birth rate was plummeting. Naturally we are now in the middle of a baby boom. Who are these twats that make all these crap decisions and why do they never get sacked or at the very least a kicking?

[Ceolas]

Ah, my next door neighbour is 93 and a bit deaf so no worries there!

Chat to your mw who will be more au fait with local issues. But don't be pushed into anything without posting on here first!

[CantSleepWontSleep]

Surely a homebirth would be the best option for you MamaG.

Doubt they'd induce early unless there was a medical reason for it. Could you manage to develop gestational diabetes or high BP between now and then?!

[MamaG]

TBH I've been mulling over staying in hosp. MW and DH think I should have 2-3 days at the MLU, just to have time with baby and get bf established etc, rather than rushing home to be "mum of 3" iykwim.

MLU are more than happy with the arrangment (tis common here) even though its my third.

I do quite like the idea of quiet time with baby, I know that once I'm home i'll start rushing around and tiring myself out (did with DS) and being a farking martyr!

Oh and NO WAY to my Mum moving in at 40+7 : I love her, but I'd kill her. And so would DH.

[CantSleepWontSleep]

Ah - x post re homebirth.

[MamaG]

Yes. HB def out for me. I'm not very quiet in labour and wouldn't want to scare the DC - plus I hate gas & air and having given birht to DS with no pain relief, I'm in no hurry to do it again!!

CSWS maybe I need to up my BP before every appt.

[Ceolas]

OK, wasn't sure!

[ShowOfHands]

DH didn't drive when I had dd and had to walk home at 2am. It was an 8 mile trek. Likewise, no public transport and he didn't have any money anyway.

I transferred to hospital in an ambulance. Had the strapped to a trolley experience that expat wants to avoid. Lots of speedbumps and country lanes. It wasn't pleasant.

I don't think the MLU would turn you away.

Don't feel silly for asking the mw about induction.

[expatinscotland]

I'd love to stay in hospital for 2-3 days after DS is born .

[CarGirl]

I guess if your waters unexpectedly break then phone for an ambulance pronto because they will get you somewhere the quickest. How long did it take to get labout established when you were induced with the first 2 because if it took quite a while I can see you making it to 14 days easily! What day of the week does 14 days fall on, if it's a weekend (or not) try and negotiate for a couple of days earlier as that is the only way you can get to the hospital as your dh doesn't drive.

I would still book for a homebirth so all the equpiment is in your house just in case, you can still go to the hospital but the labout may be too quick to get there?

[Bramshott]

MamaG - I had a very quick labour with DD2 (less than 2 hours from realising it was happening to DD2 popping out) and the hospital was 20 miles or so away so she arrived in the car at the side of the road, with only me, DH and a postman there (on phone, calling ambulance) plus a gaggle of schoolkids on their way to school . A paramedic arrived fairly quickly after the event, and then an ambulance to take us on to hospital - they did ask where we were originally heading to, but that was once DD2 was there.

[expatinscotland]

Some people are really, really uncomfortable with the idea of a homebirth and even booking one makes them anxious or panicky.

It certainly does me.

[CarGirl]

Actually I meant book it without the intention of having one, it would just mean that you would have some of the equipment there ready just in case. I think the ambulance crews do not routinely carry what is in the birth pack.

[expatinscotland]

yeah, but that might not be very cool if there are already limited resources to provide homebirths, though, when you don't really want to go through with one.

probably better jsut to talk to the MW on your visit, MamaG.

i've got a laundry list of questions myself and have been booked for an entire hour appointment.

my main issue is that G&A makes me sick so i know what you mean! like you, i had DD2 with no pain relief and really didn't relish that experience.

[MamaG]

Sorry had to log off before and only quickly read replies - will reply properly sooner but wanted to say CFUCKING HELL EXPAT I told my MW that I hated G&A as it made me sick and do you know what she said? "there is nothing in G&A to make you sick, you were prob sick becuase you were scared and panicky"

b
o
l
l
o
c
k
s

it was the fucking G&A, I knew it!!

[dan39]

Right that's it, I am moving to scotland. I want a helicopter involved in my delivery!!

Don't feel bad about discussing all of this with your mw, its what she is there for anf tbh they sound like very reasonable concerns to me.

Now where do I sign up for the chopper??

[expatinscotland]

i threw up, Mama. and if i encountered someone who didn't believe that, i'd be happy to demonstrate it to them long before delivery.

in fact, years ago, i once used it at a dentist's with the same result.

it makes me sick as hell.

and it doesn't kill pain at all, just changes your awareness of it.

well, i want to be somewhere where i can get something stronger than that.

dana, you only get the chopper IF you are deemed to be at such a risk your life or hte baby's is in peril, such as when a complication arises.

it's not something i'd really care to sign up for, tbh. i know someone it happened to, FWIW. she had a csection scheduled for footling breech and was due to check into hospital across the water at 37 weeks to wait it out till 39 weeks, but she went into preterm labour at 36 weeks and had a history of fast labours.

otherwise they do try the ambulance/ferry route.

[rainbowdays]

MamaG - On my first pregnancy I was working in a hospital 45mins away from the hospital I was booked into for delivery. At 33weeks I started having contractions at work and when they got to 5 mins apart, at the advice of my collegues, walked across to the maternity unit. The doctor examined me and told me to go to my own hospital!!!!! I was totally at the idea of being told to drive myself miles and miles to my hospital. I always believed that driving yourself in labour was a big no-no! I did end up getting my dh to come and pick me up and drive to the other hospital where I was admitted to try to stop the labour. So whilst I think they would not be able to turn you away for totally impending labour, if you want to attend the MLU, I would get booked in to make sure there is less stress.

I had my third baby 6 months ago. I now live an hour from the nearest hospital, and was worried about getting there. Anyway I rang for ambulance as soon as I realised that the contractions started (took me half an hour to realise that it was happening for real!), the baby arrived an hour later - ambulance arrived too late to transfer me, were there just to witness the delivery, fortunately a midwife turned up before they did. I love gas and air, but the midwife had runout and the ambulance crews supply did not work.... so I know what you mean about having no pain relief is not great.

My suggestion would be to have everything on hand for a home birth just in case, and ring for an ambulance at first twinge. Also book into the MLU if that is your choice if you don't have to be induced. But if you were induced with the last two, it may happen again, in which case you will know in advance and be able to make preparations surely? Also I was warned that third labours are not always quick, so you may be lucky? or not?.

Anyway I hope it all goes well for you whatever happens.

[FAQ]

no advice on the OP - however - I was due to be induced with DS1 (waters had broken - nothing else happening) - but ended up with a CS (in hindsight a totally unnecessary one

DS2 - waters went - was induced 3 days later.

DS3 - had him about 4hrs after I decided perhaps I should go up to the hospital to see if these pains were "it" (no waters breaking, no induction)