Drive to the hospital *Police*

caymarks

This is a way too early thought, but I am pregnant with my second and just a short birth story from my first.

Around 4:00pm I was sitting on our bed with my husband watching tv and I got up to go to the bathroom, but felt a leak. It was completely different than the "I just peed myself feeling" I called the L&D and they said that if I really thought it was my water that I should come in. I went in to find that while it was my water it was only the fore sac that many women have (an additional small bag of fluid) and not the actual amniotic sac. So I was right it was amnioctic fluid, but not my actual water breaking. Long story short if I hadn't come to the hospital or noticed it I probably wouldn't have gone into labor for another day or two since they ended up having to break my water and get things going.

Moving on....I want to labor more at home this time and I only live about 20 minutes away from the hospital. What happens if I wait too long and my husband is crazy driving and a cop pulls up behind us? Do we legally have to stop or can we keep driving to the hospital and explain there?

DChunt09

 I would imagine you would want to stop. Sure, you could keep driving, but they'll more than likely get more cops on you and it would be a bigger deal. 

 I think if you stopped and explained urgently, it would be apparent, and the cop would escort you to get you there faster.

Thats just my guess... 

Edit: To say we're due date buds.  

whirlygirl00

I would stop but instead of waiting for the officer to make his way over to you I'd go talk to them about the urgency and they'll probably help lead you to the hospital.

ScottsdaleMama

DChunt09:

nbsp;I would imagine you would want to stop. Sure, you could keep driving, but they'll more than likely get more cops on you and it would be a bigger deal.

Yeah, if you don't stop they will call in for more cop cars. Also, I don't really understand why your husband would have to be breaking traffic laws and possibly endangering you and others? I plan on laboring at home for as long as possible too, but I expect my husband to drive to the hospital in a normal fashion. The last thing I want to be worried about is being in an accident or pulled over.

caymarks

Nice to meet you! It looks like there are several of us on May 9th

Yeah that makes sense! Maybe we can just hang a sign from our back window that says "Pregnant, & Heading to the hospital" ...that was a joke. Kind of.

bumpuser5125333

On some cops like show I saw an episode where a couple was rushing to the hospital because the wife's mother was minutes from passing. They ran a red light and got pulled over in the hospital parking lot. The cop was a being a douche and wouldn't let them go. The woman ended up just leaving but the man was not able to say goodbye to his MIL.

All that to say... You don't know how much trouble it could cause. They don't appreciate you endangering others for your own emergency. My friend is a state trooper and he has said that is what ambulances are for and they get mad when they see this.

blush64

whirlygirl00:

I would stop but instead of waiting for the officer to make his way over to you I'd go talk to them about the urgency and they'll probably help lead you to the hospital.

I would stop and stay in the car.

You aren't supposed to get out of the car when stopped. If you want to cause a problem don't stop or stop and get out to go to the police officer's car.

EDIT I think the best option is not to speed, to obey traffic laws and arrive safely.

EDIT Bolded because it's important. Don't crazy drive, you put yourselves, your baby and everyone else at risk. And yes, legally if a police officer tries to pull you over you have to pull over.

MommaG123

First of all 20 minutes is not that far.  I doubt there will be a need for your husband to be breaking traffic laws and endangering your life, your unborn child's life, and the lives of strangers on the road by driving like a maniac.

That said I would stop if a cop signaled you and I wouldn't get out of the car because MH got a gun pulled on him by a cop once for for just opening his door when he was broke down on the side of the road and a cop pulled up behind him. He couldn't roll down the window because it didn't work and the cop freaked when he opened the door.

jerseygirl81

whirlygirl00:

I would stop but instead of waiting for the officer to make his way over to you I'd go talk to them about the urgency and they'll probably help lead you to the hospital.

I probably wouldn't do this, you really don't want to do anything other than sit in your car until instructed otherwise by the officer. Getting out of your car is perceived as a threat.

caymarks

Thanks for your comments ladies!

caymarks

I'm not going to say I don't speed or that it won't happen when I'm in labor. That being said I guess I've just heard so many stories about people speeding to get to the hospital that I didn't think much about it. Sorry if this post upset some of you ladies. Not my intention. I guess its a good thing I did ask about it early.

MommaG123

Your post didn't upset anyone.  We're just offering you advice. 

trevinosnm

I remember seeing a similar situation on the news one year.  The cop gave the husband a ticket after they got to the hospital because he refused to pull over.  While it was a geniune emergency for some reason their were complications or something and by his getting his wife there so quickly literally saved her life/baby's life.  There was a lot of controversy because many people didn't believe he should have gotten a ticket (he may have even been arrested since it was over a certain speed limit but I don't remember all the details).  It just goes to say speeding to a hospital whether emergency or not there are always consequences even if it may be justified.

MisN

This happend to a friend of mine.  They got pulled over by a police officer for speeding but when they explained the situation (which was pretty clear!) they ended up with a police escort to the hospital (and no ticket)!

MAdams728

whirlygirl00:

I would stop but instead of waiting for the officer to make his way over to you I'd go talk to them about the urgency and they'll probably help lead you to the hospital.

Oh, no! Dont ever get out of your car to approach the police vehicle.  That's a great way to get a gun pulled on you, and end up on your stomach on the ground.  Acting out of the ordinary, such as getting out of a car at routine stop, will make things much more complicated.   They usually approach your window pretty quickly, and once you've explained you will likely get more help that way. 

highlights

whirlygirl00:

I would stop but instead of waiting for the officer to make his way over to you I'd go talk to them about the urgency and they'll probably help lead you to the hospital.

highlights

whirlygirl00:

I would stop but instead of waiting for the officer to make his way over to you I'd go talk to them about the urgency and they'll probably help lead you to the hospital.

kgs0505

blush64:

whirlygirl00:

I would stop but instead of waiting for the officer to make his way over to you I'd go talk to them about the urgency and they'll probably help lead you to the hospital.

I would stop and stay in the car.

You aren't supposed to get out of the car when stopped. If you want to cause a problem don't stop or stop and get out to go to the police officer's car.

EDIT I think the best option is not to speed, to obey traffic laws and arrive safely.

EDIT Bolded because it's important. Don't crazy drive, you put yourselves, your baby and everyone else at risk. And yes, legally if a police officer tries to pull you over you have to pull over.

Ditto - NEVER get out of the car to go talk to the cop.  It's a good way to get yourself shot.  The cop doesn't know what's going on and can feel threatened.  It's a bad way to escalate a situation that would on;ly take a few minutes to clear up.  Also, do not reach into the glove comparment or your pocket or anything else.  Just stay there with hands on the wheel and wait.

breztobe

I'd have to agree with most of the other posters that it is highly unlikely that you would need to speed to the hospital or break any traffic laws, but with said, I have several people in law enforcement in my fam and so I've always been told if there's ever any reason why I don't feel I can pull over for a police officer that is signaling (usually this would be because you might be questioning if it is truly a cop), that you should call 911 and inform the dispatcher where you and that there is someone trying to pull you over and why you are not able to pull over.  They should be able to contact the officer following you to let them know.  HTH and try not to stress about not getting to the hosp. in time.  

 

kaco414

MommaG123:

First of all 20 minutes is not that far.  I doubt there will be a need for your husband to be breaking traffic laws and endangering your life, your unborn child's life, and the lives of strangers on the road by driving like a maniac.

That said I would stop if a cop signaled you and I wouldn't get out of the car because MH got a gun pulled on him by a cop once for for just opening his door when he was broke down on the side of the road and a cop pulled up behind him. He couldn't roll down the window because it didn't work and the cop freaked when he opened the door.

 This. I'm a cop and we don't take kindly to people opening their doors when pulled over, it signals BIG trouble too often to not take it as a serious threat. Also, all cops are trained as at least first responders so they'd most likely keep you pulled over and call for an ambulance and if need be, deliver you on the side of the road. I did it once in a hospital parking lot (I happened to be pulling out when they flew in blaring their horn) because the couple waited too long and trust me, trained or not you'd MUCH rather have your baby in a hospital and not have a cop deliver it in the backseat of your car!

MommaG123

kaco414:

MommaG123:

First of all 20 minutes is not that far.  I doubt there will be a need for your husband to be breaking traffic laws and endangering your life, your unborn child's life, and the lives of strangers on the road by driving like a maniac.

That said I would stop if a cop signaled you and I wouldn't get out of the car because MH got a gun pulled on him by a cop once for for just opening his door when he was broke down on the side of the road and a cop pulled up behind him. He couldn't roll down the window because it didn't work and the cop freaked when he opened the door.

 This. I'm a cop and we don't take kindly to people opening their doors when pulled over, it signals BIG trouble too often to not take it as a serious threat. Also, all cops are trained as at least first responders so they'd most likely keep you pulled over and call for an ambulance and if need be, deliver you on the side of the road. I did it once in a hospital parking lot (I happened to be pulling out when they flew in blaring their horn) because the couple waited too long and trust me, trained or not you'd MUCH rather have your baby in a hospital and not have a cop deliver it in the backseat of your car!

Yeah but he wasn't even pulled over.  He was broke down waiting on his dad to bring him a car part. 

kaco414

True, but my point was don't get out of your car if pulled over or any other time when they aren't expecting it.