Transport to hospitals in London when in labour?

[BusyMissIzzy]

I'm booked in at a hospital in N. London which has no parking, and DH doesn't drive anyway. I don't fancy the tube or bus much, obviously, but am worried a taxi driver would refuse to take me if he turns up and it's obvious I'm in labour. What do people normally do in this situation?

I used Addisson Lee; didn't tell them I was in labour (although was obvious when they turned up and they were fine).

I would call taxi and as precaution cover seat in something like a pampers bed mat.

If you are in very advanced labour you can call ambulance but an ambulance will take you to nearest hospital not necessarily the one you are booked in at.

Friends and relatives here. I was lucky my Mum was willing to come and get me and drive us to the hospital (she was a birth partner as well though) If for some reason she hadn't have been able to get there (she lives about an hour away) then DH would have been ringing everyone we know with a car!

I took an Addison Lee car to one of my scans and ended up chatting to the driver about whether a driver could actually refuse to take you if you were in labour. He said it absolutely shouldn't be a problem, but suggested that I give them a ring about a month before I'm due and just ask them to make a note on my account to say that I may need a cab while in labour, so to send someone super-quickly (and to make sure they were aware that it was a woman in labour). This way the job can also be re-assigned if the first driver they contact is a wimp ;)

It's really easy to have a cash account with them - just give them a bell on 020 7387 8888 and open an account (all they need is your full name and number, there's no charges attached). I find they often cost less than our local cab companies.

My DP persuaded me to take the tube - all the way from SE23 to Edgeware - said it would get things moving!! I did get some sympathetic looks ( i think - had my eyes shut most of the time, breathing thru the contractions!!)

Needless to say , we took a taxi back (it was too early despite regular contractions) and taxis subsequently.

Local cab company took me to the Whittington (quite a long drive, actually). No problem at all - I think they quite like the drama of taking a pregant lady to the hospital. He didn't even object to me kicking his passenger seat viciously during contractions.

But if you're worried, do as others have suggested and just call your local cab firm a few weeks before you're due and ask them if they're happy to take you when you're in labour. I'm sure it will set your mind at rest.

One thing I would advise is to decide in advance with your DH at what point you're going to call the cab (contractions five minutes apart or whatever).

I found that my labour was actually slowing down because we were fretting about when we should ring, would it come right away, will it get us there in time if we hung on for a bit etc. As soon as we called it things sped up again because I could concentrate on the excrutiating pain contractions.

Good luck!

MudAndRoses - Oh my dear bloody God! You got the tube?

I don't know whether to be in awe of your stoicism or to ask you if you're mental.

When I e-mailed addison lee about this this was there reply :"Unfortunately, we are unable to help you on this occasion as our divers are not medically trained to transport women in labour." I would suggest you don't tell them. Has anyone else been told this by them or are they just refusing me!!

I assume they meant 'drivers'!!

Well I had to laugh yesterday when I rang the local cab company to take me to the Whittington for a scan and was met with 'haven't you had the baby yet' I hadn't even given my name or adress they must keep your number on file! It was because a few weeks back we had to do the dash to hospital with bags after a horrific odd pain and reduced movements. So don't think my cab company are bothered! So shall be using them again in labour- downside I realised yesterday is actually it's a blinking long way and I was bloody uncomfy in car whilst not in labour so imagine it will be worse on the day- yikes. Think dh and I have agreed 6 mins apart contractions to factor this in. Good luck!

notanumber a bit of both i think! Actually I'd just read Spiritual Midwifery and was inspired by all the tales of women going off to plough the fields while in early stages of labour before popping back home at lunch time to have it. So it made a sort of sense to take the tube, at the time.

I know better now.

I've had friend who had babies at UCH and they used addison lee for 2 babies and they were fine.
alternatiovely if you have a helpful friend my dh has done a labour run to the uch before now for a friend.

Another friend who was a t the chelsea and wesminster hailed a black cab and she was in advanced labour.

with both of mine I have got the tube but thats because I was booked in for day assesment and waters broke spontaneously and then a planned induction the second time

buzzymissizzy

can I ask are you talking about The Whittington? If yes I may be in same situation so v interested in this thread.

My husbands sugestion has been what about the Bus? No. 41 goes right from my house to the whittington in under 20 mins!