How are ya getting to the hospital?!

spanx21 · September 2013

At just about 36 weeks, I figured its time to start thinking about how in the heck I'm going to get to the hospital if my water breaks at home. I work from home, DH works 2 hours away. All of our family is at least 2 hours away as well. We have a few close friends here that have offered to drive me to the hospital if my water would break while DH is at work, but they have jobs too. So if my water breaks, and heaven-forbid all of our friends are busy, should I wait for DH to get home and drive me to the hospital or call an ambulance or just see how fast things progress once my water does break? I threw around the option of just driving myself there, but that's probably not the smartest thing. I'll call my doctor as soon as my water breaks too and i'm sure they'll say come in right away. Anyone else in a similar situation? What are your plans?!

Lilpoppy · September 2013

My doctor told me that if my water breaks it's okay to wait a couple hours before coming in - as long as the fluid is clear - and to come in when contractions are 2 to 5 mins apart for 1 to 2 hours. My plan is to try to stay home as long as possible (up until that point) when labor starts. I don't think an ambulance is likely necessary and would be very expensive - what about having a plan to call a cab for worst case scenario? Are they readily available in your city? I wouldn't drive.

sfshorter · September 2013

As long as you don't have any complications or reason to believe your baby is going to slip and slide out, you will probably be fine to wait for your husband.

lbethke99 · September 2013

Knowing me- I would just drive myself since contractions dont start right away after water breaks. I dont think it would be that big of deal to wait for your dh to get home- you could have a bit to eat and take a shower and whatever else you need to do & go.

There is no real need to get to the hospital asap after your water breaks.

spanx21 · September 2013

I want to stay at home as long as possible too! Cabs are readily available around here, and I guess is a more affordable option than an ambulance as a last resort!

BrittanyCupcakes · September 2013

I'm more concerned about being sent to the hospital during one of my many weekly doctor visits. I try to make DH come with me now that we're getting closer, especially on days that I'm having a lot of contractions. We share one car, and he'd have no way of getting to me if I have it!

CousinVicki · September 2013

lbethke99 said:

Knowing me- I would just drive myself since contractions dont start right away after water breaks.

not true, mine started pretty intensely within a half hour. i COULD have driven myself, but it would have been pretty uncomfortable. how far is the hospital from you?

spanx21 · September 2013

CousinVicki said:

lbethke99 said:

Knowing me- I would just drive myself since contractions dont start right away after water breaks.

not true, mine started pretty intensely within a half hour. i COULD have driven myself, but it would have been pretty uncomfortable. how far is the hospital from you?

I've hear this too. Some people ya talk to, it doesn't start right away, but others it gets intense real fast! The hospital is 20 minutes...

spanx21 · September 2013

BrittanyCupcakes said:

I'm more concerned about being sent to the hospital during one of my many weekly doctor visits. I try to make DH come with me now that we're getting closer, especially on days that I'm having a lot of contractions. We share one car, and he'd have no way of getting to me if I have it!

I've had a feeling all along that I was going to go in for my weekly appt and they were going to tell me to go straight to Labor and Delivery, but in your case I hope that doesn't happen....DH needs to be there! I'm sure you'll be fine!

Mmhodges07 · September 2013

CousinVicki said:

lbethke99 said:

Knowing me- I would just drive myself since contractions dont start right away after water breaks.

not true, mine started pretty intensely within a half hour. i COULD have driven myself, but it would have been pretty uncomfortable. how far is the hospital from you?

@cousinvicki agreed. You can be in labor, having contractions all the way through labor. There are even rare cases, where the baby is born in the bag of waters.

For OP, you should be fine. Although every labor is different. Just remember "TACO". Time, appearance, color, odor, when it comes your waters breaking.

CousinVicki · September 2013

spanx21 said:

CousinVicki said:

lbethke99 said:

Knowing me- I would just drive myself since contractions dont start right away after water breaks.

not true, mine started pretty intensely within a half hour. i COULD have driven myself, but it would have been pretty uncomfortable. how far is the hospital from you?

I've hear this too. Some people ya talk to, it doesn't start right away, but others it gets intense real fast! The hospital is 20 minutes...

i am guessing your friends will come through for you, if they are close by! otherwise, you can try to wait it out, but if it gets painful it will suck.

CousinVicki · September 2013

BrittanyCupcakes said:

I'm more concerned about being sent to the hospital during one of my many weekly doctor visits. I try to make DH come with me now that we're getting closer, especially on days that I'm having a lot of contractions. We share one car, and he'd have no way of getting to me if I have it!

what! what about friends/family/ your mom???

bkeane619 · September 2013

If I can't get anyone once my water breaks and my DH is at work 2 hours away I will call a cab. I will not be waiting because I had MAJOR contractions with my son when my water broke and he was born shortly after. I don't buy the whole you have time after your water breaks....maybe some people, but with me last time that was not the case. I will NOT be taking a shower before going to the hospital. I am getting my butt over there ASAP. I almost didn't get my epi last time and I am not taking that chance again.

Edit: I can call a cab because there is a train station within a mile of my house and the hospital is about a mile and a half away.

CousinVicki · September 2013

lbethke99 said:

There is no real need to get to the hospital asap after your water breaks.

to be young and naive! lolzzzz

ClaireOtoms · September 2013

CousinVicki said:

lbethke99 said:

There is no real need to get to the hospital asap after your water breaks.

to be young and naive! lolzzzz

Not really naive; it can work to your detriment to show up at the hospital immediately if you have no other signs of labor. It's better to wait at home for a while and see if labor will start up where you are most comfortable.

But for heaven's sake, don't call an ambulance just because your water broke. Call a friend, wait for your husband, drive yourself, take a cab...Ambulances are for life and death emergencies.

CousinVicki · September 2013

ClaireOtoms said:

CousinVicki said:

lbethke99 said:

There is no real need to get to the hospital asap after your water breaks.

to be young and naive! lolzzzz

Not really naive; it can work to your detriment to show up at the hospital immediately if you have no other signs of labor. It's better to wait at home for a while and see if labor will start up where you are most comfortable.

firstly , water breaking is indeed a sure sign of labor. and if you are a FTM, you don't know how slow or fast your labor will move. I went from 2 cm to 10 in 4 hours immediately after water breaking. i almost barely made the cutoff for an epidural.

BrittanyCupcakes · September 2013

CousinVicki said:

BrittanyCupcakes said:

I'm more concerned about being sent to the hospital during one of my many weekly doctor visits. I try to make DH come with me now that we're getting closer, especially on days that I'm having a lot of contractions. We share one car, and he'd have no way of getting to me if I have it!

what! what about friends/family/ your mom???

There are possibilities, but nobody we can count on 100% to be available to drive him to the hospital if I have the car. Most of our friends live pretty far and have pretty busy schedules, so he'd have to do a lot of calling around, nothing can be arranged in advance. I'm the type of person who likes to have a plan in place, and this is just one of those situations where that isn't going to work. It's probably better if I just drag him around with me when I can.

WhenInRome11 · September 2013

I am kind of hoping to go into labor at work (a small children's retail boutique). My friend that I have lined up to drive me to the hospital lives closer to the store where I work than my home. DH is in residency at a different hospital from the one where I am delivering. His hospital is just a few subway stops away from mine so he can just meet me there. My boss has offered to drive my car home for me.

My big fear is that I will go into labor when DH is on a 24 hour call and can't leave his hospital until the back up person shows up. On a regular day he can just reschedule his patients and head right over.

CousinVicki · September 2013

BrittanyCupcakes said:

CousinVicki said:

BrittanyCupcakes said:

I'm more concerned about being sent to the hospital during one of my many weekly doctor visits. I try to make DH come with me now that we're getting closer, especially on days that I'm having a lot of contractions. We share one car, and he'd have no way of getting to me if I have it!

what! what about friends/family/ your mom???

There are possibilities, but nobody we can count on 100% to be available to drive him to the hospital if I have the car. Most of our friends live pretty far and have pretty busy schedules, so he'd have to do a lot of calling around, nothing can be arranged in advance. I'm the type of person who likes to have a plan in place, and this is just one of those situations where that isn't going to work. It's probably better if I just drag him around with me when I can.

you can't get a contingency plan in place with a friend? why is your life so complicated!

bkeane619 · September 2013

CousinVicki said:

ClaireOtoms said:

CousinVicki said:

lbethke99 said:

There is no real need to get to the hospital asap after your water breaks.

to be young and naive! lolzzzz

Not really naive; it can work to your detriment to show up at the hospital immediately if you have no other signs of labor. It's better to wait at home for a while and see if labor will start up where you are most comfortable.

firstly , water breaking is indeed a sure sign of labor. and if you are a FTM, you don't know how slow or fast your labor will move. I went from 2 cm to 10 in 4 hours immediately after water breaking. i almost barely made the cutoff for an epidural.

This is the exact same scenario that I had.

ClaireOtoms · September 2013

CousinVicki said:

firstly , water breaking is indeed a sure sign of labor. and if you are a FTM, you don't know how slow or fast your labor will move. I went from 2 cm to 10 in 4 hours immediately after water breaking. i almost barely made the cutoff for an epidural.

This is very, very true. You had a super fast experience, but other moms don't start having contractions for hours (or longer) after their water breaks. Being at home where you are comfortable will help you set a pattern of labor before going in to the hospital if the latter is the case. When you go to the hospital the first thing they will do is a vaginal exam, which opens the door for infection and starts the 24-hours-to-C-section clock.

kdjudd · September 2013

Unless your contractions get pretty intense right away, there is no reason to rush to the hospital. Being at home is so much more comfortable than being in the sterile hospital. I made the mistake last time of going in too early. It was so boring and I would have much rather been at home getting a few last minute things done. I would just wait for someone to drive you. I don't see a need for an ambulance unless you are giving birth on your floor.

CousinVicki · September 2013

ClaireOtoms said:

This is very, very true. You had a super fast experience, but other moms don't start having contractions for hours (or longer) after their water breaks. Being at home where you are comfortable will help you set a pattern of labor before going in to the hospital if the latter is the case. When you go to the hospital the first thing they will do is a vaginal exam, which opens the door for infection and starts the 24-hours-to-C-section clock.

i thought clock started when your water actually broke?

gearla · September 2013

Hmmmm... I'm a FTM and planned on waiting for DH to drive home from work and then make the 1 & 1/2 hour drive to the hospital. If there's traffic, that could add an hour to our commute (we live in So Cal), which would put travel time at closer to 3 & 1/2 hours..

CV's story worries me, since I am planning to get the epidural.

CousinVicki · September 2013

gearla said:

Hmmmm... I'm a FTM and planned on waiting for DH to drive home from work and then make the 1 & 1/2 hour drive to the hospital. If there's traffic, that could add an hour to our commute (we live in So Cal), which would put travel time at closer to 3 & 1/2 hours.. CV's story worries me, since I am planning to get the epidural.

:-SS

sleepy33 · September 2013

CousinVicki said:

ClaireOtoms said:

This is very, very true. You had a super fast experience, but other moms don't start having contractions for hours (or longer) after their water breaks. Being at home where you are comfortable will help you set a pattern of labor before going in to the hospital if the latter is the case. When you go to the hospital the first thing they will do is a vaginal exam, which opens the door for infection and starts the 24-hours-to-C-section clock.

i thought clock started when your water actually broke?

Isn't there also a risk (granted, probably small) of cord prolapse after your water breaks? I would want to be heading in pretty quick just to be safe.

babygiantquest · September 2013

CousinVicki said:
i thought clock started when your water actually broke?

That's what I thought, and what my OB told me, as well. You risk infection as soon as the water breaks, and that only increases with time.

lbethke99 · September 2013

CousinVicki said:

lbethke99 said:

Knowing me- I would just drive myself since contractions dont start right away after water breaks.

not true, mine started pretty intensely within a half hour. i COULD have driven myself, but it would have been pretty uncomfortable. how far is the hospital from you?

We live 10miles away, if that. But I really dont have to worry about it since my dh only works 10 miles from the house. I know if my water were to break that contractions COULD start right away or not. Like it's always said here "Everyones different".

BrittanyCupcakes · September 2013

CousinVicki said:

BrittanyCupcakes said:

CousinVicki said:

BrittanyCupcakes said:

I'm more concerned about being sent to the hospital during one of my many weekly doctor visits. I try to make DH come with me now that we're getting closer, especially on days that I'm having a lot of contractions. We share one car, and he'd have no way of getting to me if I have it!

what! what about friends/family/ your mom???

There are possibilities, but nobody we can count on 100% to be available to drive him to the hospital if I have the car. Most of our friends live pretty far and have pretty busy schedules, so he'd have to do a lot of calling around, nothing can be arranged in advance. I'm the type of person who likes to have a plan in place, and this is just one of those situations where that isn't going to work. It's probably better if I just drag him around with me when I can.

you can't get a contingency plan in place with a friend? why is your life so complicated!

My friends work, go to school, and/or live far away. I can't think of a single person who could drop everything and pick up DH to take him to the hospital on short notice. If it comes down to it, he's just going to have to call around when the time comes and see who's free. I don't like it not being planned more than that, but it's the way it is.

babygiantquest · September 2013

As far as how I'm getting to the hospital, we have four plans in place.

1. The ideal: My husband drives me.

2. The back-up: My husband is at work and can't get away immediately, so my mom or sister drive me.

3. The super back-up: Our child's godfather drives me.

4. The "holy shit, why did the other plans not work?!" plan: Our neighbor downstairs has offered to drive me if everything else falls through.

losersaidwhat · September 2013

With my first my water breaking was the first sign of labor for me and I want to the hospital right away (for the most part) - they sent me home anyway and I came back 7 hours later when the contractions were actually getting painful.

Second time I would have driven myself had I not locked my keys in the car... Yeah that happened. I was driving myself and DH around from my doctor's office to breakfast to the mall etc all while having contractions 5-10 minutes apart but they were by no means painful or distracting and the hospital was 5-10 minutes away from where we were so I wasn't concerned.

This time I don't even have a car but my mom is more or less on standby to leave work and come get me and the older two when the time comes, but I still intend to labor at home for a while so she's got time to get herself sorted anyway - but this is my third so I know what the real deal is like for me and feel more comfortable pushing it with how long I can wait.

OP: Is there a reason that your DH can't take a cab himself if you have the car?

CousinVicki · September 2013

BrittanyCupcakes said:

CousinVicki said:

BrittanyCupcakes said:

CousinVicki said:

BrittanyCupcakes said:

I'm more concerned about being sent to the hospital during one of my many weekly doctor visits. I try to make DH come with me now that we're getting closer, especially on days that I'm having a lot of contractions. We share one car, and he'd have no way of getting to me if I have it!

what! what about friends/family/ your mom???

There are possibilities, but nobody we can count on 100% to be available to drive him to the hospital if I have the car. Most of our friends live pretty far and have pretty busy schedules, so he'd have to do a lot of calling around, nothing can be arranged in advance. I'm the type of person who likes to have a plan in place, and this is just one of those situations where that isn't going to work. It's probably better if I just drag him around with me when I can.

you can't get a contingency plan in place with a friend? why is your life so complicated!

My friends work, go to school, and/or live far away. I can't think of a single person who could drop everything and pick up DH to take him to the hospital on short notice. If it comes down to it, he's just going to have to call around when the time comes and see who's free. I don't like it not being planned more than that, but it's the way it is.

still confused about where your mom/ step dad would be?? Or your in-laws (are they around?) worst case, a taxi???

tashad18 · September 2013

DH will be driving me unless he is out in the field (then it will take him 2-3 hours to get here). If not, I will just drive myself. We live 3 minutes from the hospital so I'm not too worried about the drive. If I feel like I can't, I will call friends!

Roseallen112 · September 2013

When my water broke with my first I drove to my moms house then drove us to the hospital ( yeah I totally left my husband at home whoops) this time it's a bit more difficult with the little guy. Just playing it by ear and hoping DH is not at work.

ClaireOtoms · September 2013

CousinVicki said:

i thought clock started when your water actually broke?

It depends on your hospital and care provider. Some places start the clock for C-section at 24 hours after water breaking, other places recommend you come in for pit at 24 hours after water breaking. The risk of infection increases from the time your water breaks, but other factors can make that risk greater (vaginal exams/sex/inserting anything into the vagina). Even an exam with a sterile glove can introduce outside bacteria from the exam table, your pants, underwear, or outer labia.

sleepy33 - yes, there is a tiny risk of cord prolapse, but if you are at term and your baby is head down and engaged in the pelvis and your water has broken spontaneously then that risk is almost zero. That's what I was told by both of my care providers from each of my pregnancies, anyway.

ClaireOtoms · September 2013

@losersaidwhat I barely recognized your straight-haired avatar. I had to click it bigger to make sure it was really you and not an imposter!

BrittanyCupcakes · September 2013

CousinVicki said:

BrittanyCupcakes said:

CousinVicki said:

BrittanyCupcakes said:

CousinVicki said:

BrittanyCupcakes said:

I'm more concerned about being sent to the hospital during one of my many weekly doctor visits. I try to make DH come with me now that we're getting closer, especially on days that I'm having a lot of contractions. We share one car, and he'd have no way of getting to me if I have it!

what! what about friends/family/ your mom???

There are possibilities, but nobody we can count on 100% to be available to drive him to the hospital if I have the car. Most of our friends live pretty far and have pretty busy schedules, so he'd have to do a lot of calling around, nothing can be arranged in advance. I'm the type of person who likes to have a plan in place, and this is just one of those situations where that isn't going to work. It's probably better if I just drag him around with me when I can.

you can't get a contingency plan in place with a friend? why is your life so complicated!

My friends work, go to school, and/or live far away. I can't think of a single person who could drop everything and pick up DH to take him to the hospital on short notice. If it comes down to it, he's just going to have to call around when the time comes and see who's free. I don't like it not being planned more than that, but it's the way it is.

still confused about where your mom/ step dad would be?? Or your in-laws (are they around?) worst case, a taxi???

Taxis! I forgot those exist!

Mom is not reliable. She's flaky, at best. She'll agree to something and then change her mind at the last minute. I don't want her at the hospital when I'm in labor, as she just stresses me out, although she's welcome to visit after the baby is born. Knowing her history, she'll probably just wait until I come home with the baby, though.

Chances are, I'll go into labor when I'm at home, and chances are, DH will be home with me. Even if he's out, he isn't going too far, and we'll be able to drive to the hospital together. I can't really plan for every little "what if".

citygirl17 · September 2013

We have a couple scenarios:

I live 30 minutes from the hospital I'm delivering at but work only 10 minutes away. If I go in to labor at work, I'll either stay here and wait for DH or if I think they're getting too close / painful before he can get here I will just drive the 10 minutes myself.

If I go in to labor by myself at home, DH will drive 15 minutes from work to our house, then drive me down to the hospital.

kimbo1216 · September 2013

Eh. No need to call your doc right away IMO. If your water breaks and contractions aren't super closer or anything, just try and wait for YH. But if you are having close, timeable contractions that are getting stronger, then go ahead and call an ambulance or taxi or something.

When my water broke, I finished my massage (I've mentioned before it broke on the table while getting a prenatal massage). Then I drove home, took a shower, cleaned up the house a little, and once we were finally on our way, I had DH stop at Which Wich for dinner since I knew I wouldn't be aloud to eat at the hospital. I'm sure it was at least two hours from my water breaking to finally arriving at the hospital. I didn't even call my doc. I just went to the hospital and let them handle it. Lol

sleepy33 · September 2013

ClaireOtoms said:

sleepy33 - yes, there is a tiny risk of cord prolapse, but if you are at term and your baby is head down and engaged in the pelvis and your water has broken spontaneously then that risk is almost zero. That's what I was told by both of my care providers from each of my pregnancies, anyway.

Yeah, I think you are right based on my understanding, too. I just don't have enough faith that my baby is head down/engaged and will stay that way 100% from now until delivery.

But I'm also 45 min away from my hospital, so I'm not going to dawdle. (ps I had to look at that word 100 times to make sure I spelled it right, it still looks weird).

kimbo1216 · September 2013

Mmhodges07 said:
There are even rare cases, where the baby is born in the bag of water

This is often considered a blessing and when it happens, people will even save the fluid (they press it in paper or something).

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