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Pregnancy

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Original poster

Would you call an Ambulance?

109 replies

beccas · 15/05/2010 19:49

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.....

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

thisisyesterday · 15/05/2010 20:14

OP, once you are IN the hospital they can send a wheelchair or something for you

though, as someone else has already said, if you go in when contractions are 5 miins apart you;d only have to stop once or twice....

when i was in labour with ds3 (planned homebirth) the del suite said to call an ambulance if i needed to push before the midwives arrived as they were going to be about an hour.
I DID need to push and dp duly called the ambulance, he had a hell of a job persuading them that he had been told to do it, that I was having the baby NOW, and that they should come out

they will NOT send you an ambulance just because you don't want to walk through a hospital
even if you have an ambulance you'll still have to walk through the hospital surely????

thisisyesterday · 15/05/2010 20:15

agree with debka too, walking and being upright are v.good in labour. my midwives always encouraged it

MadamDeathstare · 15/05/2010 20:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FabIsGoingToGetFit · 15/05/2010 20:17

If you can'[t afford a taxi then you need to start saving up.

zandy · 15/05/2010 20:18

Travel/Transport/Parking Darent Valley Hospital is situated within easy reach of the A2, M25 and Dartford Crossing and ample parking is provided for visitors. In addition, the hospital is well serviced by Public Transport with many direct bus services to/from local areas (Bexleyheath, Dartford, Erith, Swanley, Gravesend, etc.). Note: Dartford & Greenhithe railway stations are located a short taxi drive away (or Bus from Dartford).

This page has been written for BirthChoiceUK by Darent Valley Hospital.
[http://www.birthchoiceuk.com/BirthChoiceUKFrame.htm?www.birthchoiceuk.com/Info/H114.htm]

lal123 · 15/05/2010 20:20

ehmmmm you won't be the first woman to deliver in this hospital I assume? If its a normal first baby then likliehood is you'll be able to manage the way every other woman has. If you can't afford a taxi can't you start saving for one?

Original poster

beccas · 15/05/2010 20:20

I should add to help put this in context, my first labour was back to back, you don't get any breaks between contractions, not a single one. I couldn't sit down - at all, and could hardly get off my hand/knees.
Of course, I am being positive about this labour but there is no way I could make the walk if my 2nd labour is like the first and the wheelchair thing, well, I couldn't have sat in it.
An ambulance took me to hosp last time, I attempted a home birth! Hence my lack of knowledge, and this is a diff hosp.
hope that helps put in context my 'preciousness'

OP posts:

Original poster

beccas · 15/05/2010 20:21

zandy - thanks, I too have read that - but the real world is the long walk described!

OP posts:

SilveryMoon · 15/05/2010 20:22

No I wouldn't call an ambulance unless there was something wrong or the baby's head was out.
My mw told me if I was at home alone and went into labour I needed to call an ambulance because I had Group B Strep.

If there's no drop off point by the entrance, how will the ambulance get there?
I'd call the ward and ask them, I'm sure it would not be a problem for your dp to dump the car at the entrance, walk you to the ward and then get downstairs and move his car.

With ds1 I was at home having contractions for 2 days. On and off.

My dp loves to park as far away from an entrance as possible so I had to walk through the carpark, through the hospital and just stop every now and again to bend over and scream.

Lulumaam · 15/05/2010 20:23

try another homebirth?

start saving for a taxi

ask a friend/relative to be on standby and if necessary, lie on the back seats if you can't sit when in labour

thisisyesterday · 15/05/2010 20:23

well, if we look at this map of the hospital we can see that the delivery suite is in the yellow block on the right

it isn't far from the main entrance, there are car parks right outside, and it wouold appear that you can drive up to it

VoulezVouzCrochezAvecJACK · 15/05/2010 20:24

There is no parking at our hospital but DH pulled into ambualnce bay, dropped me off and then went to park.
Are you saying the ward is 10 minutes walk from any road? because I don't think that can be right!

OhExpletive · 15/05/2010 20:24

Look, I don't mean to be unsympathetic as you've obviously had a rough experience in the past, but you will not be the first pregnant and labouring woman to arrive at the hospital in pain. If you really can't walk they will send a trolley or something, they won't leave an immobile woman in great pain lying in their car park or doorway.

Why don't you just tell your MW that it's concerning you? She'll know the ropes.

GeekOfTheWeek · 15/05/2010 20:25

Don't ring an ambulance. That is a ridiculous idea.

Unless you have a precipitate labour you will be more than capable of walking. It may even be beneficial.

Original poster

beccas · 15/05/2010 20:26

yep right map - no entrance at yellow bit! only the main entrance - thats the up hill bit from the huge car park and then there is a 10 minute walk down the corridor.

this is a new hosp - bet it was designed by a man!

OP posts:

OhExpletive · 15/05/2010 20:26

Looking at this is yesterday's map, you'll have much further to go if the ambulance dumps you at A&E than you would if your DP dropped you off at the main entrance

ASecretLemonadeDrinker · 15/05/2010 20:27

First sign of contractions go in then. They will more than likely not give you one anyway, and if they did I'd imagine it costs a hell of a lot to the NHS and there is one less ambulance out there doing it's job. DH has dropped DS and I off at the A & E entrance before and parked the car. You will still be in pain in an ambulance and still have to walk from door to delivery suite. I'd really imagine DH could pull up where the ambulances pull up.

thisisyesterday · 15/05/2010 20:28

so, if there is no entrance at the yellow bit.... where would the ambulance drop youi?

at hte main entrance i presume?

how you get there makes no difference if it's the internal distance that is 10 minutes surely??

i am confused

Chandra · 15/05/2010 20:29

Save for a taxi. Or are you also expecting an ambulance to drive you back home when you come out of the hospital?

I can't believe you are considering ringing an ambulance just to avoid walking.

thisisyesterday · 15/05/2010 20:29

also, if you call an ambulance and they decide you didn't really need one they can charge you for it

nunnie · 15/05/2010 20:29

Speak to the midwives they will advice you on what everyone else does.

nunnie · 15/05/2010 20:30

Advise not advice sorry.

Lulumaam · 15/05/2010 20:31

as you;re obviously concerned, why not call the delivery suite or AN ward now and find out what the procedure and advice is

Trillian42 · 15/05/2010 20:31

Is this a wind up?

thisisyesterday · 15/05/2010 20:32

have you been for a tour of the hospital? most hospitals do these for women planning to give birth at them
you could ask them then and see how it all works in reality?

or have a homebirth

or choose a different hospital

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