So what's the deal with taxis when you're in labour?

[lastboxoftampons]

I've heard that cabs may not take you if you're in labour as it's a liability. Does anyone have any experience? If that's true, then what's a girl without a car to do? The hospital isn't far, but I wouldn't want to walk and/or take the bus while in labour!

Thanks!

I thought it was illegal not to help a woman in labour?

Hormonesnomore, no, it isn't illegal. Nobody is obliged to help anyone in distress unless you're either already involved or you are a rescuer/medical professional.

Basically if you get involved, e.g. you pick up a pregnant woman in your cab, you're then obliged to help. So you can't pick them up and then boot them out onto the pavement in case they mess up your cab.

As for that ambulance driver who decided to knock off early, well...

Excellent revision for my tort law exam tomorrow, ta

I took a black cab from my home in Ealing to the birth centre at the Queen Charlotte - and I was well into active labour. No problems at all. I did grab a small mattress protector to sit on on the way out of the door, which was vital . DP had checked with a couple of the cabbies on the rank a couple of weeks before, the general impression was "we'd be delighted".
The cabbie was a star. Nice and easy over the speedbumps; brought my mobile phone, which I'd dropped, to the hospital the next day. We sought him out a few weeks later to show him our DS, and tell him that DS's middle name was the same as his (not entirely for that reason, but still, we thought he'd like to know). We also wrote to the carriage office to say how much we appreciated his help, and they gave him some sort of commendation. Good luck!

Thanks for all of the replies everyone

Mrsbabookaloo - ours will be mutts too DH is British, I'm American (from New York) check out this site for some cute Expat themed baby gros!

Ilovemydog - yes, I knew that there would be a long wait. I think we might actually have a name, do you think it's too risky to make an appointment before he's actually here?

We have to catch a taxi to the hospital as we don't own a car. I bought some special disposable mattress protectors from Boots to sit on while in the taxi. They cost a couple of pounds.