Hospital, getting there and chemo...

[modified]

This might seem silly but it just came to mind and I'm kinda worried... how do you get to hospital when in labour if you can't drive and have no one to drive you? There's every chance my mum - who I live with - will be too sick from chemo to drive and I don't. Should I put money aside for a taxi?

Speaking of chemo - does this affect her being my birthing partner? Even if she's too sick to do anything but sit in a chair, we both desperately want her there. Other than the baby, she's all I have and without her, I'll be doing it alone..

 

[sophxx]

You'll have to get a taxi or bus depending on how you are. If you ring round before or ask on here if people live near you,you should be able to find a taxi firm who take people in labour.

Not sure about the chemo but sorry your mums so poorly. X

 

[modified]

Thank you! My brother is a taxi driver. He can't be relied on to keep breathing in and out, nevermind anything else though so I'll just ask if his firm will take me - if not, I'll call around and see who will!

 

[alex_22]

So sorry to hear about your mam being poorly, if you phone hospital when your in labour I'm sure they'll be able to send an ambulance out for you if not a taxi is your best bet, I can't imagine why they wouldn't allow your ma in the room with you maybe bring it up at your next midwife appointment though it'll put both your minds at rest as I'm sure it is a huge worry thinking she may not be able to x

 

[the why bird]

Yes you should probably put money aside for a taxi (and have a nice thick old towel to sit on in the taxi in case your waters have gone, otherwise you will be charged a cleaning fee). Though ambulances might come out for you, they're not really there for normal birth. If you had heavy bleeding or went so fast that you were pushing at home they would come but normal labour isn't really an emergency.

As for your mum - I think it's something she needs to talk about with her doctor. I can't imagine the maternity ward would have any issues with her being there, but obviously her immune system will be low so her own doctor might have some advice about it. I hope it all goes smoothly for you and she's well enough to drive you and stay with you and see her new grandbaby being born.

 

[sophxx]

So sorry to hear about your mam being poorly, if you phone hospital when your in labour I'm sure they'll be able to send an ambulance out for you if not a taxi is your best bet, I can't imagine why they wouldn't allow your ma in the room with you maybe bring it up at your next midwife appointment though it'll put both your minds at rest as I'm sure it is a huge worry thinking she may not be able to x

Why would they send a ambulance she's having a baby not ill or injured the hospital don't have one just sitting around waiting it's taking a ambulance from some one who's seriously ill or injured and they can actually charge you quite a lot for wasting time. The only time they should be rang is if you are delivering the baby.

 

[alex_22]

I'm sure they'll have been sent out for something far far less serious before like drunken idiots fighting ect, when I was younger I jammed my finger in a door and chopped the tip off my mam was in on her own dad at work with the car she phoned hospital and they sent one out for us to be took to hospital just to have to be sent home and brought back to get it stitched the next day, my partner had a doctor come out because he didn't feel well and he ended up being drove to hospital in the ambulance because he wasn't fit to drive but his father who could drive was there and wasn't expected to take him, I'd think if your in labour and have no other means of getting there (a taxi firm can't be very reliable there's nights I can't get a taxi for hours on end) and buses only run certain hours if she can get a taxi great but if she can't I'm pretty sure they wouldn't mind sending one out for her x

 

[Teri7489]

Yeah put money aside for the taxi. My husband doesn't drive so we phoned our usual taxi company a few days before my due date for a rough estimate and also if they were ok to take me while in labour. They just asked that i took a blanket or something to avoid getting a charge for getting the taxi wet lol and also so they could try keep someone near me. When i phoned they had a taxi at my door within five minutes and went great.

I'm not sure if your mum will be allowed. Chemo is toxic so there is a chance they may not allow her in to the department as babies are vulnerable. She should speak to her GP or the staff when she next has chemo xxx

 

[tristansmum]

I'm sure they'll have been sent out for something far far less serious before like drunken idiots fighting ect, when I was younger I jammed my finger in a door and chopped the tip off my mam was in on her own dad at work with the car she phoned hospital and they sent one out for us to be took to hospital just to have to be sent home and brought back to get it stitched the next day, my partner had a doctor come out because he didn't feel well and he ended up being drove to hospital in the ambulance because he wasn't fit to drive but his father who could drive was there and wasn't expected to take him, I'd think if your in labour and have no other means of getting there (a taxi firm can't be very reliable there's nights I can't get a taxi for hours on end) and buses only run certain hours if she can get a taxi great but if she can't I'm pretty sure they wouldn't mind sending one out for her x

If a lady rang in Labour they probably would send one but that doesn't mean it's right. If you are caught out in Labour or have bleeding etc and it's am emergency fine but planning an ambulance as your way to hospital is not! I work in the nhs as a nurse and funds are so stretched. I'm sick of people assuming an ambulance trip in or out is their right! It costs alot to send an ambulance out ( I don't know exact figures and each trust is different but we are taking hundreds of pounds) plus it takes one away. To original poster my rant is not aimed at you. I'd advise keeping some cash available at all times for the taxi. Have a big old towel and water proof sheet ready for the car and a few taxi numbers in your phone. As for your mum I'm sure they will be happy to have her there. She needs to check with her doctor if it's ok as her immune system is low and going into a hospital will increase her risk of picking things up. I hope all goes well x

 

[alex_22]

Did I noty state in that post that you've quoted 'if you have no other means of getting there out of bus hours and no available taxis' I never once told her scrap the idea of a taxi and just use an ambulance, being in labour and trying every other means of getting into the hospital with no luck seems like an emergency in my eyes!

 

[mara16jade]

You just can't be around your Mom if she's had chemo within 48 hours. My mil is going through treatment too. I'm so sorry to hear your Mom is sick.

 

[sophxx]

Did I noty state in that post that you've quoted 'if you have no other means of getting there out of bus hours and no available taxis' I never once told her scrap the idea of a taxi and just use an ambulance, being in labour and trying every other means of getting into the hospital with no luck seems like an emergency in my eyes!

It's not though unless the baby us being delivered that is the only emergency other than that your taking a ambulance from someone's mum dad grandma brother uncle granddad or child who is seriously ill or injured.

 

[tristansmum]

Did I noty state in that post that you've quoted 'if you have no other means of getting there out of bus hours and no available taxis' I never once told her scrap the idea of a taxi and just use an ambulance, being in labour and trying every other means of getting into the hospital with no luck seems like an emergency in my eyes!

It's not though unless the baby us being delivered that is the only emergency other than that your taking a ambulance from someone's mum dad grandma brother uncle granddad or child who is seriously ill or injured.

Exactly. The early stage of labour is not an emergency. If you are pushing then yes call an ambulance but not when you are 3-4cm. I know people do and yes they will send one but it's not right. Taxi will take women in labour just take waterproof sheet or ask a friend or neighbour. I'm not singling you out and sorry if it felt that way but working on the wards so many people see transport as their "right".

 

[alex_22]

Hospital wouldn't even tell you to go in until your in established labour anyway, I see that my first post may have sounded like I ment just get an ambulance but that's why I explained in my second post that if there is no taxi available no buses her mum is too sick to drive then surely if she phoned hospital and explained this they would be able to arrange something, worrying about how your going to get to hospital while in labour can be really daunting I imagine I was just trying to let her know worst case scenario there is transport available given you've tried all other means of getting there yourself

 

[BunnyN]

I see the point that it's not right to assume an ambulance can take you without making other plans but I think it's perfectly reasonable to call an ambulance if you get stuck. I've lived places where you can't always get a taxi on short notice. It might not exactly be an emergency but it could turn into one if you can't get to hospital. Most mums don't really know how may cm they are at before they get to hospital so even if it turns out you had more time than you thought I don't think it's something you should stress over too much.

Have you considered a home birth? It might not be for you but it would be more comfortable for your mum and the MWs go to you so you don't need to worry about transport.

 

[sethsmummy]

Taxi will take women in labour just take waterproof sheet or ask a friend or neighbour. .

This is not specifically true... not all companies will take a woman in labour. If some know you are in labour they will refuse to take you as they are not medically trained for that kind of thing.. and yes those are the exact words some women have been told.

I would phone around hun and see if any of the local taxi companies will take you and how much it will be. have a few towels and a waterproof sheet or toilet training pads to make sure you dont incur a charge for soiling the taxi. If you cant get a taxi and there is nobody close by who can take you to the hospital then try your local out of hours service at the hospital. Where i am if you need to see a doctor out of gp hours and you have no transport they will provide hospital taxi.. you do not get charged for this. I have been provided with this means of transport twice when my children needed to be seen at night time. xx

 

[moose31]

You just can't be around your Mom if she's had chemo within 48 hours. My mil is going through treatment too. I'm so sorry to hear your Mom is sick.

I know this thread is older inactive .came across when searching for something else... but wanted to point out that this is not accurate...I get chemo every 2 weeks and take care of my newborn same day .(gotchemo since 24 weeks pregnant for breast cancer) you don't need to avoid people going through treatment

 

[modified]

My mum has been finished chemo for a while now but she's been a key part in my daughters life, even through treatment

 

[alex_22]

I'm glad to hear her chemo is over, hope she's recovering well x