Travelling to hospital when in labour - taxi or ambulance?

[shaniecesmummy]

hi all

i am due to give birth next month and just wondering how your meant to get to hospital if you dont have a car?

the midwifes all say about going in yourself by car and maybe going home again and coming back later if your not in full labour blah blah blah so i was wondering what can i do?

neither me or my partner drive, and i dont have anyone nearby to give me a lift to hospital so do i need to go in myself by mini cab or do i ring an ambulance?

surely i cant be the only person without a car - anyone had this problem and what did you do?

thank you x

Taxi, definatly. Unless you feel you need the paramedics/baby is coming quick etc.

Def taxi unless the babies arrival is imminent!

i dont mind getting a cab i was just concerned about if my waters broke in the car or the baby started to come out or something like that lol

Ring round the taxi companies now, just to check they're happy with labouring women- they will be! Take a towel to sit on. And have cash in an envelope somewhere safe for the day.

If the head's coming out, 999.

My Mum walked the 5 miles in labour. Both times. But then she also sneezed her babies out and ran a marathon before the placenta was out. Something like that.

taxi. Unless it is a medical emergency, ie there is a problem that you feel needs urgent attention, or the baby is going to arrive sooner than you can get to hospital, or you have a medical condition (you or baby) and have been advised by hosp to call an ambulance when in labour.

If your waters have broken, you can wear heavy pads (doubled if needed) for the journey, and if not broken, sit on some black plastic bags, just in case.

I am sure that if you explain to the hospital your lack of transport, they will only send you home if you really would be better at home, and do their best to keep you in if you are reluctant to go home (unless it is a false start)

Only an ambulance if it's an emergency - otherwise get a taxi.

You'll probably have to wait longer for an ambulance than a taxi anyway, as they'll put you on the lowest priority.

just to reassure you, if you feel the baby is coming sooner than you can get to hospital, it is definitely ok to call an ambulance. But likely you will have plenty of time. Good luck!

Local taxi firm told me that if you might want them in labour, tell them in advance and then when you call up they will prioritise you as much as possible. I used lots of cabs when pregnant and however much I said I wasn't in labour they still always turned up within 10 minutes!

ok thanks ladies for all for the info x

one concern is i do have group b strep so i was told i need to get to the hospital asap as i will need to be given treatment 2 hours before the baby is born (not sure how im meant to time this though if im meant to stay home as long as possible?) very confusing -

i do have 37 week appointment soon (meant to be 36 but i cant meke it due to daughter has hospital the same day and its very important we attend so had to make it 37 weeks instead) so will go over all this but its getting so late now so am trying to get a head start and dont find all the midwifes i see all that helpful to be honest, tend to either be in a rush, dont give definate answers or just try to fob me off and say we'll discuss it next time blah blah which is very annoying so often find internet a better source of info tbh!

I would definitely ask the question at your 37wk appt, they will advise on what to do re getting to hosp asap, they will probably advise that you just head up to the hospital earlier than otherwise, rather than get an ambulance. But...if you go into labour before your appt, ask for advise on the labour ward, as you should call them when you are in labour anyway and they can advise on what to do.

I think the answer there is don't stay at home as long as you can. I did that last time and found myself pushing during the 10 minute journey to hospital. If I wasn't a dud who is, apparently, incapable of vaginal birth I am sure the baby would have come in fairly short order.

I would head in when contractions are coming reliably every 3-5 minutes. With both of my births that was when I was in established labour, although of course there are no hard and fast rules so you may well be different!

yep i will deffo be asking at the next appt and of course when i phone the delivery suite on the day!

this is my 2nd baby but last time round it was all planned out, an induction for medical reasons (baby needing surgery) at 39 weeks - it was all very quick and intense, i went in at 6pm had the pessary inserted about 9pm, then next morning at 9am had my waters broken,and serious contractions started about 12pm then baby was out by 2pm so it was very quick and intense for me - so all the waiting and build up ie the early labour part and recognising the signs are all new to me as last time i didnt have any of that to think of!

I'm also planning to go to hospital by taxi, and MW said some drivers may not want to take a labouring woman in their car, so we should check beforehand with the company.

I was a bit surprised as I imagined that refusing to take a woman to hospital in this condition sounds like against the law... Have you ever heard of that?

Taxi - when I was in labour I heard a lady getting a real telling off for calling an ambulance. You might be in labour for hours!

I have group b strep and I was told to go in as soon as my contractions got regular