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?

[Peachy]

Well, when I was having ds3 it got quick and the MW told me on the phone to pull into the MLU if needed rather than deliver on the road

I didnt need to but just made it

I think if its the onl;y place you can get to in time you'll be seen; if not they'll send you on

[jangly]

MamaG - tell all of these worries to the midwife. Let them sort it out for you. They will want to as they know worrying isn't good for you. I'm sure they'll make it all ok.

[dinny]

Expat, someone where I'm from gave birth on the Sea King when being taken over to mainland in labour!

[expatinscotland]

oh, dinny, i'm sure it happens from time to time!

i'm hoping for MLU with no complications.

the ILs will be here 17-19 October and it would be so fab if i went into labour then because then DH could come with.

but who knows when DS will decide to make an appearance!

[MamaG]

Yeah def need to discus with MW on friday!

bramshott - wow!

expat- I feel like that about booking a HB too, evn though I wuoldn't "use" it so to speak unless i had to, I'd feel anxious and panicky

btw MW told me they won't give pethidine for third baby (?) - haven't had it before, but don't want an epi unlessI have to. Bring on the meptid!

[MamaG]

expat you could well go into labour then - you were early with the others weren't you?

I'll send some labour vibes up north for you!

[expatinscotland]

why no pethidine for 3rd baby?!

[MamaG]

God knows. NEver had it with others so wasn't too fussed about not having it again. She said they'll give me meptid and (evil) G&A. Just het meptid for me...shge said it makes you feel like you've had 3 G&Ts (wonder if they'll just let me have 3 G&Ts!)

[lou33]

i had dd2 in dublin by mistake, and she was due to be born in bedfordshire

they didnt refuse me

mind you i was pushing her out into my tights when i got here

[NotAnOtter]

g and a sucks and does make you vom

for personal reasons i asked to be induced on due date mamag and i WAS

it was fab

i was bricking it for the journey like you but instead rocked up on due date had epidural sited- in went drip baby born 5 hours later

[lou33]

i love g&a, but i only got it for number 4 for about 5 mins

i think it should be supplied as stress relief every week alongside child benefit

[MamaG]

ooh really NAO? Did it have to be a GOOD reason for induction on due date? think I'll be told to piss off!

[Bramshott]

Rainbowdays - I am at your story! I can't believe that you were turned away from your nearest hospital with a threatened prem labour. DD1 was born early, and there were several other babies in SCBU with her who had ended up at the "wrong" hospital because of an early labour, while their mothers were at work for example.

[NotAnOtter]

it was a very 'personal' reason ie totally non medical....

sounds cryptic but for my own personal reasons i did not want my baby born near certain dates..

the mw were all fantastic

[MamaG]

Well I went today - MW confirmed that MLU won't turn me away if I turn up in labour

I didn't ask about being induced on due date. I feel a bit silly, think I'm panicking unecessarily. Mum and her DH are coming over on Sunday for lunch, I'll talk it over with them then, tell tehm how anxious I am and look pleadingly at Mum's DH hoping he'll say "of course I'll be able to leave work"

[MamaG]

NAO - glad the MWs were fab. I thought that asking to be induced on a certain date just so DH cold have a lift home would be a bit cheeky...!

[carmenelectra]

Mama g, How come you didnt book at the hospital closer?

Hospitals wont turn you away once you are there but obviously its better if you ring in advance as they can make sure a room ready etc. Also if they are really busy they can divert you to another unit.

I wouldnt ask to be induced on your due date other than for medical reasons. You dont want to be induced unless you really have to.

By the way, absolute bollocks about gas and air not making you sick!! Happens to loads of people(thankfully not me though!)and whoever's midwife said that you couldnt have pethidine with third baby, eh??what an odd thing to say

[MamaG]

I booked into further one for following reasons

1. I didn't wnat to risk being transferred, in labour, by ambulance should any complications arise. I'd feel more comfortable being right there should I need to be.

1. You can't be induced at nearer one - I was induced with both other DC and prob will need to be again according to MWs and I didn't want to set my heart on near one only to change at last minute (control freak, me?!)

1. You can't have epidural at nearer one - not htat i necessarily want one, I just don't want my choices taken away.

good point though about ringing. I'm sure I'm worrying unecessarily and I'll laugh bitterly at this thread when I'm 2 weeks overdue

[carmenelectra]

How many wks are you now and why were you induced previously?post dates?

[MamaG]

Im 36+1 and was induced boht times as went over due - 10 and 11 days respectively. No complications and straightforward deliveries for both, so no real reason for them to induce me early this time is there

[carmenelectra]

No there is no reason!lol. I wouldnt ever entertain the idea of being induced other than a good medical reason. How long does your hospital let you go over? Ours is term plus 10 but so many want it done earlier and they dont realise the risk of intervention or failure.Everyone has there own good reason to have their baby before t+10 Happy stories too obviously sometimes!

[MamaG]

This hospital lets you got 14 days over () but they do a sweep at 7 so I'm hoping htat will get tihngs going!

[carmenelectra]

I was meant to be induced with ds2 but a sweep did the trick. It will work if youre ready

[Bubbaluv]

I'm in the same position - hospital I'm booked into is an hour away, but nearest is about 15 mins. My consultant said that if I suddenly go into labour and things happen quickly then I should just take my notes and go to the nearest hospital. Would they actually let you give birth in the corridor?
Surely you could sue the bejesus out of them if they turned you away and something went wrong?

[carmenelectra]

Midwives dont want you to give birth in the corridors, but sometimes it does happen. I work in a really busy unit and it is often full and all the midwives and doctors are runing around like loonies. Then we may close our delivery suite and if women ring up they may be diverted, but then ladies often just turn up in established labour with us physically having no bed to put them in. We try and move women to the wards if they have deliverered or send early labourers there and rush to clean rooms etc. but sometimes women cant hang on and they deliver in corridors or whatever.

These are the stories that go to the papers and make us look shit when we cant help it. Sometimes its not possible to deal with the sheer volume of labourers.Sure it wont happen to any of you though