What's your game plan if you go into labor during a snowstorm?

hamson17

I'm approaching my due date and we just got through an 18'' storm on Saturday, now we have another 18-24'' coming on Wednesday.  I'm only 15 minutes from the hospital, but it still worries me.  Do you have an emergency plan if you go into labor during a snowstorm? 

React's Girl

I am a little worried considering my EDD was yesterday. I have an appt today and I am going to ask them what I should do!

jacodi

Take the suburban instead of the jetta.  

Julia-Henry

My plan is to start moving much sooner. If I even think it might be labor, I'm calling our friends, dropping off #1, and heading over to the hospital right away. I think if the weather is bad and something might be happening, they'll keep you around until they know what's going on. I'd rather spend an extra few hours at the hospital than give birth in the car in the snow!

PurpleK26

I have an hour drive, and we're supposed to get it hard over the next few days... we're just planning on driving really freakin slowly!

littledub

I live less than 4 blocks from the hospital, so we'll walk if we have to.

TDM

Take the Jeep instead of the Volvo (though DH will have to switch cars before we go home b/c of car seats).

I think we'd be OK getting to the hospital (DH drives pretty good in bad weather) - just would suck b/c family wouldn't make it.

So sick of this snow...UGH...

buckeyeki

Plan ahead!  Will probably call much sooner if I'm having regular contractions and take into account how much extra time.  If it's a lot of snow and it would be dangerous to drive, call 911 for an escort or ambulance.  The year before I was born there was a really bad blizzard where I grew up and one of the guys in the class before me was born during the blizzard.  I guess it took most of the volunteer emergency squad, including a snow plow escort, to get her to the hospital!

cdc1982

DH seems to think he'll deliver the baby if I were to go into early labor & we were snowed in!  I told him no way, that he better be on the phone looking to have my butt airlifted outta here, lol!!  I asked him "What happens if I hemorrhage?  What about the baby?, If they're early they need immediate care by a doctor to see if they're ok or not." 

I'm just keeping fingers crossed that the baby waits until the end of April to come!  I'd rather deal with rain than snow!!

get_over_yourself

I am so paranoid about this! in perfectly clear weather we have about a 30 minute drive to the hospital on just about all back windy roads. The only way to even get to a major road that can take us to the hospital involves very windy, very hilly roads. I am in the Philly area too and I held my breath all day Saturday just praying she would not decide to show early now I have to go through it again! ahhh. Not to mention dd#1- I don't know how my parents would get to our house to be with her so she would be headed to the hospital with us

Linzyxo

We have offers from a few neighbors to borrow their 4-wheel drive cars however if it's bad enough I'm inclined to call 911 and ask for an escort or a bus to come take us. 

Crossing my fingers LO stays put for at least another week or so and continues to behave....can't tell you how stressing it is to not feel LO for the entire day and be snowed in with no way to get to L&D for monitoring....

FemmeNat01

I am hoping since we haven't gotten much snow so far (thank God) that we will not be getting any snowstorm's this season. If we do, well it would have to be more than 25 CMs to actually affect us since we are used to it. Then, I would probably call EMS. The hospital is pretty close so that's a good thing!

Kie310

I don't have one! I'm freaking out! I'm giving birth at Abington, I live in Newtown --- it's 25 minutes on a good day! And I have 5 different appts this week for things because I'm high risk (GD & I may be pre-e, they are monitoring so close)... but it's not bad enough (yet) for them to induce. I'm freaking about this new storm coming!

 

I know, this wasn't helpful  

archna

We will definitely take the jeep if there's a snowstorm- DH will switch to the car with the carseat installed later, when I'm in recovery. Do you know anyone with 4WD who would be willing to drive you in that case?

SweetSpikette

I'm only about 15 mins from you and in the same situation.  I don't really have a plan other than leave a little earlier than normal, take the volvo instead of the jetta, and pray hard.  I also have an appt this afternoon and plan to ask what they want to do, since I'm due this week.

UrbanLe1

If we can, we'll take the CR-V through the snow.  We only live 2 blocks away, so it might work fine.  Right now, however, it's still stuck on an unplowed street under 2 feet of snow.

Or else we'll walk.  Or DH will drag me in a sled (seriously--we have talked about this option).

If the very worst happens, DH will deliver me at home.  He's a doctor (urologist, but at least he knows what's going on--kinda), so we should be perfectly safe--if all goes well.  But you better believe that if it comes to that, EMS will be on their way too.

Seriously, ladies--make a plan.  Move faster than you think you might need to--the middle of a snowstorm is not the time to be following the 3-1-1 rule!  And, almost all baby books have sections on how to deliver at home in an emergency (I know "What to Expect" does).  Read it, and make DH read it.  I desperately hope none of us have to use it, but it's better to be prepared. 

hamson17

Thanks everyone.  We do have 4-wheel drive on both cars, but 4-wheel drive isn't helpful against sliding into a ditch.  We also have a 2-yr-old that needs supervision.  AGGHHHH!  I guess if worst comes to worst, calling 911 or the police would be the best bet.  I cannot fathom delivering at home!

Hip2Bsquare

Um, to drive slower and be safe?

ABAMom

jacodi:

Take the suburban instead of the jetta.  

This. Take the Durango instead of the Mercedes.

snicksnack

We got 30 inches on Sat. and I am due Wed.    My doc said to ignore the 5 11 rule and come in as soon as I think I am starting to contract.  If my body is ready (dialiated and effaced) she will start giving me meds to get the process going and keep me there.  She said it was better to be safe than sorry.  I have an appointment tomorrow and if I am showing any signs that labor is on the way (same as above) she is admitting me and starting the process since we are suppose to get more snow tomorrow night and Wed.

goldenjes

We'll take the Audi instead of the Minivan (which kinda sucks in snow) and my parents will come here instead of us dropping the boys off to them.

NeishaRuth

This is a great question! We live 10 min from the hospital and only have a civic! I guess we will just have to start driving well before we get to the 4-1-1 mark! I'd rather be safe than sorry. There was a baby born on the side of the freeway just 3 min from my house about a week ago on their way to the hospital! I really don't want that to be me!!!

pandagirl15

I'm in a similar situation!  On Sat. when DH went out to shovel the 18" of snow in the drive, he said, "Don't go into labor!"  We have another 10" predicted for Tue. into Wed.  Luckily we are only about 5 minutes from our hospital on a normal day.  I guess he'll just have to shovel us out.  The problem is, our street never gets plowed!  The fire station/ambulance is right down the road from us, so we'll just have to call them if we have to.  My family also has a small store, so they own a little snow mover.  They'll have to plow a path for our car if not!  THe main road is always plowed, so as long as we can get off our street, we'll be ok!  I hope! 

blissfully_caffeinated

My suv can make it to the hospital even if there's a bad snow storm. I'm not sure what I'd do if I didn't have it though. Probably call for an ambulance ?