Would you call an Ambulance?

[beccas]

Just discovered the hospital has NO parking anywhere near delivery suite, nor can you drive up to it at all. The car park is a 10 minute walk to delivery suite - as if you want to walk through the hospital whilst having contractions!
So thinking of calling an ambulance to get to hospital, sending DH in car!

All thoughts please - every single one.....

Ask your midwife how other ladies manage when in labour?

Surely there is some sort of drop off place? (sometimes it is not obvious if you just drive and look yourself, someone might be able to advise further).

If your mw doesn't know, ring and ask the ward.

Personally I wouldn't ring an ambulance unless it was an emergency.

I am sure that if you arrive at reception having strong contraction, you would be offered (or could request) a wheelchair to take you on the 10 minute walk.

I imagine they will put you on a trolley or in a chair from wherever is nearest the carpark to the delivery suite.

You won't have to walk if you are having big contractions.

Saying this I walked through the hospital having them, due to arriving at the wrong bit it was OK

They must have some kind of parking near the delivery suite because presumably that is where the ambulances drop off.

At my hospital you could park in the ambulance bay to get booked in. Then once you were settled your partner had to go move the car.

Who has told you there is no parking?

they won't send you an ambulance even if you ring one
so no, i wouldn't. you'll be in labour, not dying!

i would get your dh to drop you off in the nearest point (main entrance?) and then go and park the car

A mum friend who has had her baby at this hosp says there is NO parking, you can't even drive up to delivery. Also the car park is rammed and always a queue! Eek. Add in the £1 per hour parking!
Good idea about calling ward - will do this.

Unless you are alone when you go into labour I think you will be totally unreasonable to use an ambulance to get to hospital. Plenty of women walk through hospital when having contractions and it really isn't a problem. You sound rather precious tbh.

No, I wouldn't call an ambulance. They are for emergencies only.

Agree - find out what others do.

If you go in an ambulance and there is no way anyone can drive up to the delivery suite, then you are no better off are you?

I have seen lots of hospitals and I am sure that whilst there is probably no actual parking near the door, there will be some sort of pick up/drop off point. Otherwise how would ambulances drop people off, taxis etc. Some people of course have disabilities and would be physically unable of making a 10 minute walk.

If you are worried about not being able to park near the delivery suite why can't you get a taxi? Can't see why you would need an ambulance - you are having a baby you aren't ill!

My local hospital DOES have parking very close, but at the hospital tour we were told that in an emergency/rush that we could be dropped off where the ambulances usually park.
I did in fact have a very fast labour, DH didnt get there in time and MIL rushed me to hospital and parked in the ambulance bay. She helped me to the reception desk where they took over and then went and parked the car properly.
I expect you will be able to do that if necessary.

Although if you do turn up when contractions are 5mins apart as they recommend then you should be ok to walk and just stop once or twice for the contraction on the way from the car.

Are you sure it's ten minutes walk away? It takes me ten minutes to walk to the end of my street! Must be a big hospital! Or do you mean 10 minutes walking-while-having-contraction-speed?

I cant believe for one minute you can nnot pull up outside.

Our local has parking near, but also runs a 20min park on the double yellows outside. They ask that no one leaves their car unattended in the ambulance bay, but apart from that park anywhere (as long as not blocking ambulance entrance or exit) and move after 20 minutes.

I personally wouldn't phone an ambulance unless it is an emergency and not being able to park isn't really an emergency imo.

why don't you say which hospital it is? some of the MNetters may have delivered there and be able to advise?

As others have said, would be super unusual not to have at least somewhere to abandon a vehicle if needed just to get you in? Our hospital only has staff parking round the delivery entrance but there is room to leave your car and then move it to the main car park (ten min walk away) which suits most people.

Of course you don't call an ambulance if you are in labour! For goodness sake. Phone the delivery suite and ask them where you can be dropped off. Go in a taxi if necessary. Am amazed you would even ask this question tbh.

you must find out from the midwives. where i am , there is emergecny parking at the door nearest delivery, you sitll hvae to get to the 4th floor, but there is an intercom so you can request help and someone can be sent with a wheelchair to get you to the lift

find out before you even consider calling an ambulance

if parking is £££ you oucld consider a taxi/lift to hospital anyway

Ambulances are for sick people. Paramedics call it "maternataxi" when they have to waste time shipping pregnant people into hospital.

I think you should ask the midwife. They will have wheelchairs available or your DP can always drop you off before he parks.

Seriously 10 minute walk from the hosp entrance to delivery! And 5 min walk from CAR PARK to entrance, UP HILL! And thats if you can get in the closest car park.
God forbid labour starts during working hospital hours, you can't get a space for antenatal or scans etc...

Plus I have spd and walk like a snail already.
Like taxi idea, but can't afford it!

Mmmm, seems I am in the minority!

adding, don't phone an ambulance!! unless there is some sort of emergency, you wouldn't believe how much wasted ambulance calls cost the NHS! and taking an ambulance from someone who may genuinely need it so that a labouring woman can get dropped off at the door would be frowned upon me thinks!

Its Darenth, Kent - any help appreciated!

Yes you are in the minority. Will you phone the hospital and ask what other people do? Its the obvious thing to do. Say they deliver 15 babies per day at that unit. What would happen if all 15 labouring mothers call out an ambulance?

Get your DH to dump you at the door/nearest point. He won't get any less close than an ambulance or taxi. Or get another person to go ahead and get you a wheelchair. I was make to walk the corridors anyway during labour. I went shopping when in labour! Walking is the best thing.

what you're saying is perfectly right Beccas, no one would want to walk for 10mins up hill in labour etc etc BUT there has to be a more logical solution, I know a lot of hospitals are very ill equipped when it comes to parking but even the rammed central London ones have somewhere you can literally abandon a car so that you can get into the hospital? once at a main door, like others have said you can get assistance from someone or a midwife will come down to meet you?

I was walking the corridors until I was 6cm dilated- WALKING IS GOOD IN LABOUR! You should be grateful, your baby will be born more quickly, stop complaining!