Can you drive yourself to the hospital?

huahualove · January 2012

I'm sure this is such a FTM question, but I just started thinking how with traffic, depending on what time it is, it may take me an hour or more to get to the hospital I'm delivering at from work. Then if there is snow that can slow it down more. I don't know if it makes sense for my DH to drive 20 miles to my work to pick me up then drive me back 20 miles to the hospital cause that could be 2 hours or more. If I first start getting contractions, I was hoping I would be able to just leave work and drive. What are you ladies planning on doing or did with your other LO's?

AZ_Erica · January 2012

I would not try to. I was working while pregnant with DS and had several good friends at work offer to drive me if needed. I would find someone you are close with and ask if you get in that situation if they would drive you.

xraychick07 · January 2012

Just lurking because I'm bored to death...

You can drive yourself to the hospital (depending on the situation) but you can't drive yourself back from the hospital. You aren't supposed to drive 2 weeks postpartum. Otherwise, I don't see why not... my water broke and I took a shower put on makeup and everything before heading to the hospital with DH. I could have easily driven myself.

[Deleted User] · January 2012

If you can drive yourself, you're going in too early.

hollyg1920 · January 2012

with DD I did drive my DH and I to the hospital. DH ruptured his achilles (drivers foot) 5 days earlier and had a boot on and could not drive. I was only in early labor and went to LD because of bleeding. I was induced after we arrived.

with DS I did not drive and was in labor, having contractions every 3-4 minutes) I arrived at LD and was 4cm and gave birth 2 hours later. I could not have driven myself with those contractions.

I would not recommend driving if you are having regular contractions...if it happens at work could you have a coworker drive you halfway to meet your DH? could you take a cab?

anne14marie · January 2012

i think each person is different. if i would have had to drive myself to the hospital i would have, it was an hour away at the time. if i had to drive this time around i would drop our son off at SIL's or daycare and then go to the hospital and meet hubby there...it's only 10 min. i think in any situation if you HAD to, you would.

Shawnee11507 · January 2012

My DH is working out-of-state until I go into labor, so I had to go to the birthing classes alone. Just because I was there alone, the nurse told me several times "DO NOT try to drive yourself to the hospital".

I wouldn't do it anyway (and I am home 90% of the time and live 7 minutes from the hospital). FTM, but what if the contractions are really painful and you got one while driving and froze up/got distracted and crashed?

greengirl0909 · January 2012

overture:
If you can drive yourself, you're going in too early.

Eh, matter of opinion. My friend drove in and delivered 30 minutes later.

I would have been able to drive myself, but I don't have far to go.

speckledfrog · January 2012

I'm pretty sure you can't drive yourself because by the time you need to go in your contractions are quite strong. You shouldn't be able to walk or talk through them, so you probably shouldn't drive an hour through them!

[Deleted User] · January 2012

xraychick07:
You aren't supposed to drive 2 weeks postpartum.

This only applies to c-sections, and I'm not sure it applies all the time even then,

To answer your question more thoroughly, If you start getting contractions at work, most likely someone will pick you up, or drive you home, and you'll be waiting many more hours before going to the hospital. If you went in while you were still able to drive yourself, they will probably send you home because you're not in active labor.

If your labor is super quick and you don't have hours ahead of you, chances are you'll know, and you'll know that there's no way you could drive. Have someone else drive you in that case.

hollyg1920 · January 2012

xraychick07:
Just lurking because I'm bored to death...
You can drive yourself to the hospital (depending on the situation) but you can't drive yourself back from the hospital. You aren't supposed to drive 2 weeks postpartum. Otherwise, I don't see why not... my water broke and I took a shower put on makeup and everything before heading to the hospital with DH. I could have easily driven myself.

while this is mostly true....I did drive DH, myself and DD home from the hospital since he was in a boot and could not drive. I did have to convince the nurse but since delivery was easy and i had no tears or swelling she gave me the okay.

huahualove · January 2012

I was need to talk to my dr on this. I hear for FTM's you have a lot longer so maybe if I start having contractions I can drive home then DH can come and take me to the hospital when they are closer together.... There are just so many what-if's.

DevonPow · January 2012

I would have a back up plan, like a coworker who can drive you. My labor was very rapid - my contractions started at 3-5 minutes apart and a minute long. There is no way I could have driven myself...and I only live a mile from the hospital.

xraychick07 · January 2012

overture:
xraychick07:
You aren't supposed to drive 2 weeks postpartum.
This only applies to c-sections, and I'm not sure it applies all the time even then,
To answer your question more thoroughly, If you start getting contractions at work, most likely someone will pick you up, or drive you home, and you'll be waiting many more hours before going to the hospital. If you went in while you were still able to drive yourself, they will probably send you home because you're not in active labor.
If your labor is super quick and you don't have hours ahead of you, chances are you'll know, and you'll know that there's no way you could drive. Have someone else drive you in that case.

Not true. I had a vaginal birth and was told to not drive for two weeks. It is due to your equilibrium being "off". Did I feel fine to drive? Yes, and I actually did against doctors orders.

FormerlyKrista555 · January 2012

Only if you left pretty early on in labor. And that defeats the purpose because they could send you back home.

NewzieMom · January 2012

greengirl0909:
overture:
If you can drive yourself, you're going in too early.
Eh, matter of opinion. My friend drove in and delivered 30 minutes later.
I would have been able to drive myself, but I don't have far to go.

I was going to say the same thing. I could have drove myself and when I got to the hospital I was 7cm.

shouldbworkin · January 2012

I did drive home from work while I was in early labor. It was NBD at all. But, when my contrax were down to 5-1-1 ... there was NO way I could drive. In fact, I was cursing my DH for having his summer performance tires on his cars with every transaction b/c the bumps in the road were unbearable. But, that was 12 hours after I drove home from work and 16 hours after my contrax started. So, if you are at work when labor starts, chances are very good that you will be able to get home and you will be there for awhile.

MNgirl326 · January 2012

My water broke at home and hard contractions started 15 minutes later. There is no way in hell I could have driven myself. I could barely even ride in the car.

[Deleted User] · January 2012

xraychick07:
Not true. I had a vaginal birth and was told to not drive for two weeks. It is due to your equilibrium being "off". Did I feel fine to drive? Yes, and I actually did against doctors orders.

Pretty sure that's not standard practice...I've never heard of any other mom who delivered vaginally having that restriction.

shannm · January 2012

DH will likely be able to drive me.

I was a buddy for a pregnant coworker and she knew that if she needed a ride to the hospital from work or along her train route, that she could call me and I would drop everything to get her there.

shannm · January 2012

overture:
If you can drive yourself, you're going in too early.

Well that is making a lot of assumptions.

Lesleyjking · January 2012

I live 3 miles away so if hubs is at work I don't think I'll have a choice unless my bf is around. A cab would take too long

MesmrEwe · January 2012

I drove myself to the hospital, but then again, I had an induction both times...

The thing is, plan to have someone drive you... At the point when they'll likely put you in a room you won't be wanting to drive yourself!! And likely before that you won't want to be at work...

Mrs.Wifey318 · January 2012

With my first there was no way I could have driven myself to the hospital. My water broke and my contractions were super intense and about 2 minutes apart. If you go into labor can you have a coworker take you to the hospital? That is my plan as my DH works about 30 minutes from me and then it is about 30 minutes in the opposite direction.

Penguinb83 · January 2012

Luckily I work down the street from the Hospital and I have several ladies in my office who would drive me... I would not recomend driving yourself.

Texas77again · January 2012

CAN you or SHOULD you? i'm sure you CAN do anything you want, but you SHOULD not plan to drive yourself to the hosp in labor. call 911 for an ambulance if all else fails.

[Deleted User] · January 2012

shannm:
Well that is making a lot of assumptions.

I guess my assumption is that she's probably going to have a similar labor to the vast majority of women.

Seriously, this is like the least controversial thing I've ever said on TB, and people keep quoting it. Okay.

Not every special snowflake needs mentioning.

tartaruga · January 2012

It's possible that you might be OK to drive but it should NOT be your plan because there's a very good chance you will be in no condition to drive.

EMOmamma · January 2012

Camskate:
overture:
xraychick07:

Not true. I had a vaginal birth and was told to not drive for two weeks. It is due to your equilibrium being "off". Did I feel fine to drive? Yes, and I actually did against doctors orders.

Pretty sure that's not standard practice...I've never heard of any other mom who delivered vaginally having that restriction.

My MW ordered me to refrain from driving also. I thought it was standard practice. Hmm? Now I'm curious why some say no, some yes.

I drove myself home from the hospital. DS was in the NICU and only 1 parent could stay the night in his room. Since I was swollen and uncomfortable I went home the first night I was discharged. No one at the hospital said anything.

annabelle.27 · January 2012

No way. Don't even consider it.

princessb44@hotmail.com · January 2012

I did and was fine

PhysChic7685 · January 2012

I'm a little concerned about this issue myself. I spend half my day working from home and, if I go into labor (and need to go to the hospital) there's no one around. I'm not really close friends with anyone (newish to the area) and my husband is an hour away (with the hospital between us). I was planning to drive myself (because I could have last time) until my mom made me promise that I wouldn't do that.

Does anyone happen to know if insurance would cover an ambulance ride if I had to call them to get me there?

sunnyday016 · January 2012

overture:
xraychick07:
Not true. I had a vaginal birth and was told to not drive for two weeks. It is due to your equilibrium being "off". Did I feel fine to drive? Yes, and I actually did against doctors orders.
Pretty sure that's not standard practice...I've never heard of any other mom who delivered vaginally having that restriction.

I had this restriction and I had a vaginal birth. I felt fine though and did drive during that time.

tartaruga · January 2012

PhysChic7685:
I'm a little concerned about this issue myself. I spend half my day working from home and, if I go into labor (and need to go to the hospital) there's no one around. I'm not really close friends with anyone (newish to the area) and my husband is an hour away (with the hospital between us). I was planning to drive myself (because I could have last time) until my mom made me promise that I wouldn't do that.
Does anyone happen to know if insurance would cover an ambulance ride if I had to call them to get me there?

Insurance would most likely cover it but they would take you to the nearest hospital, which may not necessarily be the one you want to go to.

eklanger · January 2012

overture:
If you can drive yourself, you're going in too early.

This, but I would totally leave work and drive myself home if I knew I was starting labor.

metzy144 · January 2012

There is no way I could have driven myself to the hospital. My dr told us to wait until the contractions were five minutes apart and then leave our house. Our hospital is 50 miles away. I remember gritting my teeth and being super uncomfortable the whole way there. Every little bump in the road killed. With this one, I could because it is a repeat c/s. I wouldn't want to take the chance of driving to the hospital in labor though.

skibunny59 · January 2012

overture:
If you can drive yourself, you're going in too early.

Exactly what I was thinking! Unless there is a medical reason you need to get to the hospital in early labor. (ie. your water breaks and you are GBS positive therefore you need antibiotics) it's really not beneficial to go in so early.

hillbillysunshine · January 2012

I drove myself to the hospital last time b/c BF was throwing-up in a bucket in the passenger seat with food poisoning...so even in labor, I was FAR better off than he was! BUT, if I didn't have to, I probably wouldn't have chosen to do so.

lawmom2be · January 2012

overture:
If you can drive yourself, you're going in too early.

Ditto this.

Ivana_Stolichnaya · January 2012

I had back labor last time...there was NO way I could have driven myself, I could barely see straight I was in so much pain let alone operate a vehicle.

ZoeyMarie · January 2012

xraychick07:

Just lurking because I'm bored to death...

You can drive yourself to the hospital (depending on the situation) but you can't drive yourself back from the hospital. You aren't supposed to drive 2 weeks postpartum. Otherwise, I don't see why not... my water broke and I took a shower put on makeup and everything before heading to the hospital with DH. I could have easily driven myself.

My Dr. never said anything about not driving after G was born. I drove us home. Maybe it's what your Dr. prefers?

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