GTKY Distance from Hospital

bacorrea

As of now I am delivering at a hospital that is good 45 minutes drive from my house without traffic. This is my second kid and with DD I had to be induced due to pre-e so I have no idea about "fast or slow labor" times to compare.

How far are you away from your hospital? I remember talking about this about my last BMB and some people were about a hour from their preferred hospital. Are you concerned you won't make it to the hospital in time? 

emilyalso

My OB's office is associated with two hospitals - the BIG one down in Atlanta and a smaller one much closer to home. They don't staff the closer one full time, and they were very upfront saying that if we delivered there it could be with a Dr from another practice. Even knowing that, I was unwilling to chance traffic to get to the hospital where I knew I would know my Dr. For me, an unfamiliar face was SO MUCH LESS frightening that the possibility of delivering my baby on the side of the interstate (a big dramatic, but you can't be too careful!). It's less than 10 miles and easily under 20 minutes for our hospital. 

mdlorenz

I'll be 10-15 min away. It's tough to be a STM and try to figure out just when is the right time to go in. I'd err on the side of too early if you have >30 min drive so that the drive itself is less uncomfortable. Though for FTM, I'm a huge advocate of staying home until that idea doesn't sound physically or emotionally appealing anymore (or any red flags arise). 

psherman42wwsa

Mine is pretty close by , 2 miles. First kid I labored at home for a few hours and then went in, luckily I was already 5cm and ready for my epidural. This time around I'm more nervous about going to labor in the middle of the night and waiting for someone to come over to watch my son. 

ShadeofGreen816

Luckily I'm about 15 minutes away (less if it's the middle of the night and there's no traffic). Theres actually a women's hospital about 3-5 minutes away from our home, but my doctor doesn't deliver there, plus it's associated with the hospital where I work. That would mean that there is a high chance of a resident I know and work with would have to check me and/or deliver my baby. Which wouldn't be the END of the world, but seems awkward, at best. 

MrsFox2008

My hospital is 35 mins away without traffic but really the traffic where I live is always crappy. So it turns into a 45-55 min drive. I had a c section because DD was breech so I was able to plan when to leave to get there on time. But with going for a VBAC I have no idea when to leave. I am also worried I won't leave in time to make it. 

hp_momma

5 mins max. Which has eased my anxiety! DD1s labor was 8 hours and DD2 was 4 hours. So the trend isn't in my favor for a long drive to the hospital! 

pshaortao

I was about 15-20 mins away with my first. I labored at home for a bit while I let DH sleep for a bit. My water had broken at 5am and I think we headed out by 10am when the contractions started to get stronger. 

I will be about 15 minutes away again this time. I'm more panicked about our game plan this time. What if DH is busy at work when labor starts (his work is 15 mins away)? Will we find someone fast enough to come watch DD? Will it be much faster this time around like it was for my mom? Will I end up delivering alone because DH might end up having to watch DD? As you can see, distance is not my concern, its everything else! 

chocolatelemons

My hospital is about 40 min away but I'm chancing it because it's much better than the one closer to me. I also love my OB so I don't want to switch. She doesn't seem to think it will be a problem at all but I'm a bit nervous.

BeachMommy2B

I have 1 hospital that is 5 min away normal labor and delivery and NICU, and another that is about 15 min away. The one that is 15 min away has Labor and Delivery Suites so everything is done in one room and you get to stay there during your whole stay (unless a c-section with would be in OR) but the best is they have  a new NICU that has individual rooms! so if for any reason at all baby has to go to NICU they have their own room and parents can be with their baby ALL DAY has a pull out sofa and private bathroom with shower for parents. Only 1 can stay the night, but still way better than a normal NICU. Needless to say we'll be going the 15 minutes just in case. 

schnitz9

Mine is about 35-45 mins without traffic.  During rush hour about an hour and a half.  Last time I went into labor in the morning and was able to do errands all day and go out to dinner with family.  Later that night it started to progress a little further and in the middle of the night they told me I could come to the hospital.  Took about a half hour or so to get there.  Wasn't the best car ride I've had but I survived and my son wasn't born til the following night anyway.  All in all my contractions started around 1am or so fri morning and my son wasn't born til 5:30pm on sat!

onebadmotha

I had the choice of 2 hospitals the first time around, both of which were about 30 minutes from my house. Although one was right next to my work, I went with the other because of the rave reviews of friends who delivered there- and holy cow, were they right. It was awesome. I'll be going there again.

I was planning on working until I went into labor with my first, but got too nervous about it happening at work. Turns out, I had to be induced and was in labor for 36 hours, so no need to worry there...haha. According to my doc, second babies are "slip n' slide babies," so this one should come out easier *fingers crossed.* 

chickyclg

We are only 15-20 minutes away.  We have a hospital that is 5 minutes away but I refuse to deliver there.

MrsCPALeslie

When I move to my new home next month, I will be about 5 to 8 minutes away from the hospital. Fortunately for me and my current location, there are three major hospitals near me. One is 2 minutes away, 10 mins and 20 minutes.

bubsalicious

Our hospital is 6-10 blocks away, so less than 5 minutes. Obviously I am not worried about arriving on time, but my husband on the other hand is concerned with how long I will want to labor at home 

chailife34

Our birth center is about 15 minutes from home, and there's two small hospitals in case of emergency about the same distance. The larger hospital with NICU is about 45 minutes. I was nervous with my first because we were 50 minutes for the birth center from our old house and my labor was quick so I was definitely concerned about a car baby, but arrived in the nick of time. 

bacorrea

@BeachMommy2B that hospital sounds so fancy! I would definitely be going there! 

WombThereItIs

I'm about 20-30 minutes away depending on which gates are open and gate traffic. I also was induced for BP last time so I'm not worried about it. Worst comes to worst husband does some OT work and delivers his own kid at home. But in all seriousness I'm pretty sure I'm going to end up with a c section again so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

psherman42wwsa

@beachmommy2b that hospital does sound great! My mom is a NICU nurse and keeps trying to talk me out of delivering at my current hospital choice because there is not a NICU.

The hospital I am delivering at is known as a "5 star hotel" in our community. They used to have these plush bath robes and soft blankets on each bed... that is until everyone stole them... ( I used to work there also)... several hundred people per week from the community come there just to eat. They don't have any business in the hospital they just come to eat! lol.

BeachMommy2B

@lrwardrop  I actually delivered DD at this same hospital in 2013 and they didnt not have a NICU yet. I worked for the hospital so I didn't have the option to deliver anywhere else. DD had a very traumatic delivery and probably needed the NICU for breathing trouble but there wasn't one. But since her case was "mild" they were not going to fly her an hour away to the NICU... so I actually "kind of" agree with your mom. We would not be delivering at this hospital again if they had not added a NICU. You hope to god you don't need it, but when you do and they don't have one it makes for such a stressful time! 

Louise_Belcher

Work for both my husband and me is 35 minutes from the hospital and home is 25 minutes away. Traffic usually isn't too much of an issue. My parents are 4 blocks from my house and I will probably have my mom on stand by around my due date. My MIL is 15 minutes away and will probably be my second to watch DS, unless I decide to have my mom in the room. Last time I went in for a scheduled induction (although I didn't end up needing it) and was in labor for 8 hours. I am not too worried about making it. 

achays11

My hospital is about 10 minutes away, depending on how many lights we hit. With DD we lived 25 minutes away with no traffic, an hour with. I think we'll make it just fine this time. 

NotAPlaya-JustCrushAlot

I'm about 15 mins from hospital.  Last time I was induced because I was late and had GD.  I went in without any progress.  That said, the "end" of DD's birth went very quick so I'm worried about how quickly an un-induced birth might go.  I'm also worried about how quickly we can get someone over here to watch DD as all of our parents live across the country.

I wouldn't deliver at a hospital without a NICU.  DD had meconium in her fluid so the NICU team was present for her birth and evaluated her immediately after.  She also had the cord around her neck, which caused her heart rate to drop whenever I laid on my left side and almost led to a c-section.  I don't know where those things fall in the scheme of "needing NICU" presence, but for peace of mind I wouldn't go somewhere without one.

L1C4gal

I'm lucky to be only about 3 miles away. I usually take the bus there so I'll have to think about driving directions (after 7.5 years, I still don't fully understand the roads around me...fail). My biggest worry is that H works about 45 minutes away. But I do have a good friend about a block away from me, and depending on the timing, my family might be in town. So hopefully all will go smoothly!

PghMom412

My preferred hospital is about 25 minutes away. There are plenty of other hospitals along the way, but we have a wonderful health insurance war going on here so most of those would be out of network and extremely expensive for delivery/postpartum care/nursery. 

Kipperoo

I'm 4 miles from the hospital, so like 10-15 minutes depending on traffic. But now that I will be likely induced 4 weeks early, they may want me to go to the bigger hospital in Boston, which would be fine too (it's like 10 miles away). I delivered in Boston last time and had a good experience, but I'll just go where they tell me to. :-) 

KMD1106

We are about 10 minutes away. DD was breech, so I'm not sure what to expect if this one is not. My parents are 45 minutes away and will be with DD, so that time is more concerning for me. 

vrj0522

With my DS the hospital was about 15 min away and I had a long pre labor so I had time to get ready for everything. Once labor started, I went in to the doctor's office to get checked and they sent us straight to the hospital but I could tell baby wasn't coming that fast so we went home, had lunch, DH packed his bag and then we headed over with plenty of time to spare.

We moved right before I got pregnant with DD so the hospital where I'd delivered DS was about 40 min away by then so I ended up switching to a different hospital which was about a mile away from where we lived. It was so nice to get there in 5 minutes! I was GBS positive and as soon as I got to the hospital I told them this so they put me on antibiotics and I barely had time to get the second antibiotic dose before I started pushing so it was good to be that close.  

We bought our house after that and the hospital where I delivered DD is 30 minutes away now so we are going to one that is 15 minutes away where the ob practice that delivered her also works out of. So we are moving hospitals but not practices this time. I loved them so much though that I would drive the 30 minutes if they didn't also deliver at the closer hospital. 

SKZW

Same boat as @L1C4gal: hubbs' work is 50 mins (ha, like that ever happens) to 2.5 hrs away, depending on traffic. I'm more worried about (1) what to do if he's not here and (2) what to do with my current little guy, or a combo of those both!

Still time to figure it out...

rebecca517-2

My hospital is about 10 minutes from my house. It's a bit further if i'm at work. That concerns me more. 

inomniaparatus2

Luckily there are a few good hospitals around me. The one I'm going to is 2 miles away so 5-10 mins. It has a NICU and is a pretty progressive hospital so they have most modern amenities. 

My hometown is pretty remote so a quite a few friends and family I know are driving an hour and a half to the bigger hospital. My cousin is due the beginning of February and is driving down. Hope there isn't A snow storm as she's in michigan. 

MoshiMoshi7

There are two hospitals within 5 minutes of me, but of course, my OB doesn't deliver there. I love her, so we will be headed to the one that's about 25 minutes without traffic, 40 minutes with. I'm more worried about the logistics of DH coming home from work in time and what to do with DS than I am about the drive. 

nda_roxybabe

I LOVE my Dr. and her and the hospital are nearer my work, not home. It's about 10-15 min from work and 30-50 minutes from home.

arels483

Thankfully my hospital is close, only about 15 minutes away from my house and about the same from work.

starphish18

My OBGYN has two locations, both 20 minutes from our house. Plus, they're on opposite sides of town, so we'd definitely be close to one or the other anywhere we'd normally be. I do need to check into if there are any differences at the two locations. Also, no kids to plan around yet, but I will have to make plans for a friend to come take care of the pets.

newmamaro

Our hospital is also about 10-15 minutes from home and work. DH works around the corner from my work, so that's helpful. My plan is to work until I go into labor. Luckily DS will be with one of the grandmas if I go into labor at work so I won't have to worry about that. My concern is if I go into labor at home and have to get my mom here for DS. She lives about 25-30 minutes away. If anything DS will come to the hospital and my mom can meet us there. I've also been told that baby 2 comes faster so that's my only concern. 

mspacman34

My hospital/doctor's office is 50 minutes away with normal traffic. It works out great for appointments while I am in school, however, I will be done with the semester two weeks before my due date. There are now two hospitals in route to mine about 15 minutes away.

I'm a bit concerned about the distance, especially since the women in my family have quick births. My sister said her first lasted 4 hours from first pain to baby and last was 1 hour. Not that that means it will happen to me, but it is in the back of my mind. Also, DH works an hour away from home (same city as hospital). Now that I am thinking about this, I'm not sure what I will do if he is at work when I need to go to the hospital. 

lulubemadness

I'm basically within 30 mins of either hospital for delivery. Main one which is best for labor & delivery is literally like 10mins away by car. 
When I was first pregnant I was really scared I wouldn't make it and my son would pop out in the bathroom! But in reality I went thru so many contractions so much pain before I was like...ok time to go to the hospital. Even then u was only dilated to 2 but jumped to 5 in no time since contractions were constant. 
 My point....Every labor is different u never know when ur body will be like..."I'm gonna slowly dilate then be like BAM  I'm gonna jump to 9! Lol

heath313

30 ish mins depending on Providence traffic.

RedInLove

7 miles, about 18 minutes by car. It was much quicker when I went by ambulance in labor with my first. Because of my history of precipitous labor, my MFM and OB will consider inducing me after 39 weeks if my condition is favorable, so that I won't almost deliver in the ambulance again. Or on the dining room floor. Or on the toilet. So hopefully the distance won't matter.

CherryBananas

10 minutes if I don't hit every light on he way there. My midwives can deliver for me anywhere in the city I choose, but the hospital closest to our house is definitely the best out of all my options.