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3rd Trimester
acia
member
Would you take public transport to the hospital during labor?
acia
member
Because apparently that's what DH wants me to do.
We live just about 20 minutes outside of a major city, so since our hospital is right in the middle of the city, the drive will take about 20 minutes (in good traffic). During morning rush hour, it can take about 45 minutes. Parking is kind of a pain any time of day (and hospital parking is ridiculously expensive), except the middle of the night I guess.
So DH wants me/us to take the train to the hospital to save the hassle of driving. It is a 25 minutes train ride, plus a 5-10 minute bus ride. He also claims it would be more "comfortable" for me.
Granted, laboring in a car is extremely uncomfortable (I was about ready to jump out in the middle of traffic when I had my first, and that drive was only 10 minutes). But I'm having a hard time imagining being in labor on a train and bus, with people all around, enduring contractions in public etc. It seems like it would be awkward and embarrassing!
What would you do? Is this a normal thing that you've heard of people doing? Or is it weird that my DH is even suggesting it?
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Re: Would you take public transport to the hospital during labor?
I would be against it. I'm sorry, but the idea of being in labor in any kind of public transportation seems gross to me due to infection risks and also if you go into labor you don't know what kind of communicable diseases they might have. (I'm diabetic and a germaphobe anyways) Not to mention I highly doubt a bus or train is going to be a more comfortable ride than in a car.
I live in a city almost just as busy, but it's 15 minutes to the hospital for us when it's not heavy traffic. In heavy traffic it's like 30 minutes. I would much rather make sure I have everything I need too, like the car seat in place and all my things with me for me and baby.
I just can't believe the hospital charges for parking... I have never heard of that, but then again, I live in South Dakota.
No way. In addition to all the other reasons PPs mentioned, in my experience public transport has some sort of major issue every three months or so. Can you imagine if you got stuck during labor? Ugh! I also can't help but wonder if you'll get hassled trying to board a train or bus in active labor-I can certainly imagine a conductor or driver not wanting to take you because of legitimate concerns that you'll start having the baby.
If DH won't drive (and we would be having serious words about that), take a cab.
Married DH 7/30/11
CSC arrived 5/7/12
CHC arrived 6/2/14
This was my thought! My DH would be left at home while I called someone else to drive me if he ever suggested this. What if the bus is late or your miss the train? How can the stress of public transportation (will there be seats, is it on time, will I be jam packed shoulder to shoulder with strangers ) be more comfortable? And if he even mentioned the money to park, I would be livid!
Eh....from someone in NYC there is no way in H*ll I would take the subway to the hospital. He thinks being on a train and walking to and from a BUS would be more comfortable for you? I'd have a hard time not punching him in the nose.
My husband said your husband is nuts ( no offense)....he also said in his 36 years living in NYC and 17 years in the NYPD he has never seen a woman be in labor on the subway voluntarily and would not recommend such a thing from a safety perspective.
Sorry, but as someone who lives in NYC this got a huge eye roll from me. Pregnant women take public transporation here ( and every other major metropolitan area across the globe) every day and do not get contagious diseases. You can get person-to-person transmitted airborne diseases from ANYWHERE, unless you live in a bubble....that's why you wash your hands.
I agree it's pretty ridiculous - which is what I told him when he suggested it. But he keeps bringing it up like I'm the one being unreasonable, so that's why I thought I'd run it by you ladies. I'm hoping to get some good reasons to give him because apparently the ones I've brought up aren't convincing enough....
Obviously he'll let me make the final call (he won't have a choice lol), but he genuinely thinks we would be better off taking the metro.
Perhaps he's repressed my last 26 hour labor, and has forgotten how much screaming, swearing, and doubling-over-with-pain I was doing by the time I was ready to get to the hospital.
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The only reason the possible infection thing would bother me is if my water had already broken (which it very well may for some women).
I really don't care. If we lived in NYC/Boston/another metropolis, I'd probably take the subway/T/whathaveyou. WAY faster than driving and finding a parking spot unless you're leaving for the hospital at 3AM.
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LOL I would personally be more worried about the diseases I could catch giving birth at the hospital than on public transportation. ;b
DS #1 born 05/25/2012
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DS #2 born 4/08/2014
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Good grief NO. I'm in NYC too and ride our disease ridden (eye roll) subways twice a day. One of the, umm, highlights, of this pregnancy was having morning sickness on the subway around other passengers just as the train got stopped between stations . . .
I cannot IMAGINE thinking it would be a good idea to hang out on public transportation while in labor.
Hmm, maybe you should suggest getting a "My husband thought this was a good idea" or "The father of my child was too cheap to get a cab to take me to the hospital" t-shirt to wear for the ride in. That way, all the people who would be otherwise staring at you like YOU were nuts or making scene will know where to direct their attention!
I also live in NYC and have had a number of people tell me of their subway ride to the hospital, but they are almost inevitably speaking of experiences 15+ years ago.
We don't have a car, but if (in the next 3 days, before my scheduled induction) I went into labor, we would definitely take a cab. My parents will be here before the induction and drive us, but they will then bring their car back for free parking and using the subway to get back and forth.
To the pp who commented about a hospital having you pay for parking. I guess you wouldn't need to do that in South Dakota, but here in NYC my hospital charges $7/hour, except for the 2hours before you are discharged. How dare they charge half of what real parking garages charge in the city for a secure place to park! ;-P (sorry I definitely am in the beotchy stage)
Anyways, to echo what pps have said I think your hubby is not thinking quite straight here. Especially considering you have to change from a train to a bus. That definitely does not seem like a more comfortable or reliable option. I'm sure his intentions are good (save parking, trains tend to not have the traffic issues that cars do, etc), but it just doesn't work quite out in your scenario.
Unless those people on the subway are checking you for dilation or you plan on going commando , there is really no risk from your waters being broken either.
Um, heck no. Not only is that completely unsanitary but who in the world wants strangers watching you in pain?
Either spend the money on a cab or deal with the traffic. Having to get off the train & on a bus or vice versa is asking a lot of a woman who feels like her guts are about to fall out her butt. Besides, you may go into labor in the middle of the night. I highly doubt traffic is that bad at night.
I can see your hubby's argument about being concerned that traffic might lengthen your trip to the hospital ... but his transit proposal sounds like it would save at most 10-15 minutes. He would have to carry all of your stuff, but at least if he weren't driving he could focus on you during the trip in.
That said, what about another option -- can you get a hotel room close to the hospital sometime between when your cervix starts to dilate/early labor? I know it's not as nice as being at home, but at least it would ease the concern of traveling when it's time to check in to the hospital.
ETA: I've also lived in big cities with lots of transit, and we have a similar situation where our hospital is a 10-15 minute drive if traffic is good but the time could triple during rush hour. We don't have a good option for transit to our hospital, at least in terms of saving time. I would only do it if it were a direct, one-stop deal and if we were heading to the hospital at a time when trains were running frequently. For example, my sister works at B&W in Boston, there is a train that goes right there. And she lives a block off of the train line. So in that situation I might consider taking the train, depending on the time of day.
And you got a huge eye roll from me.
I'm talking about she could end up delivering on the public transportation system. Like you want someone with RSV coughing all over you. Obviously your immune system is better than mine, but seriously...if she delivered on a train...I would be freaking out. I'm a nursing student and I sure as heck wouldn't recommend it to anyone!
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I take the T everyday too....Orange line. I must say that people are just rude, if I were to do that I would have to stand because god forbid anyone lets you sit down. Plus its just gross. If I am in work when I go into Labor I would take a cab or try to walk over getting on a train.
Is this your first child or do you have a history of quick labor? Are you planning on laboring at home until the very last minute or are you headed to the hospital as soon as there is a chance of something happening? How you answer these questions will affect if public transportation is a reasonable choice or just crazy.