How far away is your hospital?

CMDD · April 2015

since my dh is a resident we have 100% coverage for anything without copays but... We live 45min (no traffic) to 2 hours (in traffic) away from the hospital. There's traffic at all times a day here but my husband says 1hour is a reasonable time we could probably get there.
This makes for really annoying OB appointments because they take up half my day.
Anyone else looking at a long commute to the hospital while in labor?

chelseymmcghee · April 2015

About 30-45 minutes here too. But unlike you, we have ZERO traffic. Perks of living in small town Kansas. Good luck!

ToneGirl · April 2015

Yeah that can get annoying. Luckily my OB and hospital is literally 2 minutes from my house...I could walk there, it's only 2 blocks away.

laura6006 · April 2015

We are also about 35-45 minutes away, but I work only about 10 minutes away from the hospital. I get appointments during work and just make up the time.

Shilah78 · April 2015

Yep mines an hour away, without traffic. I'm actually pretty nervous because I tend to accidentally wait a long time to go in when I'm in labor. Last time I made it there 3 hours before giving birth and it was very chaotic and rushed. That was when we were only 15 minutes away.

But I really like my dr so I don't want to switch to someone closer...

yl1m32015 · April 2015

My OB is 5 min from my house, the hospital is about 15-20. Having a far commute would definitely be a concern for me, but if you and your DH are comfortable with that, then great.

caseybeth1213 · April 2015

We are about an hour away from out hospital

Thats if traffic is flowing smoothly which it never really is because they are always doing construction.

CMDD · April 2015

@Embuzz247 no I'm def not comfortable with it, but it's the only option.
Glad to hear I'm not the only one!! Since we are on the opposite side of the country from fam and my dh works at the hospital 90 hours a week I am trying to come up with a backup plan of how to get there while in labor if he's there already

4puddleducks · April 2015

@ToneGirl I'm also like 2 minutes away from the hospital and my OB's office is next to the hospital.

During my first pregnancy, we lived about 20 minutes from the hospital and it was a halfway point from my husband's work.

domsmom52714 · April 2015

20-60 minutes depending on traffic but last time we made it in about 20 minutes but no bad weather

redfallon · April 2015

20 minutes and right next door to my pedi office and OB's office

yl1m32015 · April 2015

CMDD said:
@Embuzz247 no I'm def not comfortable with it, but it's the only option.
Glad to hear I'm not the only one!! Since we are on the opposite side of the country from fam and my dh works at the hospital 90 hours a week I am trying to come up with a backup plan of how to get there while in labor if he's there already

That definitely is a concern! Are there taxi companies in your area? I know it would be expensive, but better than driving while in labor. Or is there a hotel close to the hospital? If you start thinking you're in labor in the beginning stages you could go there and wait it out. None of that really sounds comfortable, but I sympathize that you need to figure out a plan B.

NJPita22 · April 2015

Typically youre in labor for hours and can plan accordingly. If there is a neighbor or someone close that could drive you... My labors are extremely fast, my second child's labor was maybe 2 hours total? Maybe? After the first contraction I called my parents to come watch my oldest (they live 5-7 min away) the second they got there we got in the car and went (I live 8 min away from hospital) I arrived at the hospital at 345am and she was out by 513am. I think if your labor is that quick that would be a reason for concern if you were an hour or 2 away but otherwise you'll be just fine trust me

just know the info in advance and plan accordingly. This time my ob thinks my labor will be 20 minutes - 45 minutes so... I could be having this baby at home thankfully my husband is a fireman and has delivered a baby before!!!!

flsmallsmommy · April 2015

Mine is 45 mins to an hour on good days. Hopefully baby does not try to come during a football game.... Go Gators... lol. Traffic around that time will take anywhere from 3 to 5 hours.

Marchmellow2 · April 2015

20 - 40 minutes depending on traffic. Luckily there are new toll roads that would take us straight there. I love the OB and hospital I chose! I wouldn't change a thing.

kaylamerry · April 2015

I live 1 hr & 45 minutes from my OB and the hospital. I love the doctor and hospital that I chose, so I don't regret it.

jashworth633 · May 2015

This is something I have been struggling with. We have a hospital close by here in the smallish town I live in but I am from Houston with one of the best hospitals a girl could ask for if something went wrong 2 hrs away. My family lives in Houston and the hospital is better there but that is awfully far away to have to drive when I go into labor and when I take baby home for the first time. Right now I'm leaning toward going with the small town hospital, but I would love to hear other people's thoughts who have actually gone through labor and delivery before...

amw2133 · May 2015

I live right next to a great women's and children's hospital but my ob only works at the hospital on the other side of the island which is about 45 minutes away with no traffic. Luckily as long as there's not an accident there is usually very little traffic. I still feel silly driving all that way when there is one literally three blocks away but I think I would be more comfortable at the one on the other side.
@jashworth633 I would say choose which ever one you will be more comfortable with. I feel like this is one of those times where your opinion reigns supreme over everyone else's.

CMDD · May 2015

It helps to hear other mamas understanding the struggle. I'm sure it'll all work out well in the end

arichlife · May 2015

We live about a 3-5 min drive from the hospital, thank goodness because with DD I had no early labor, my water broke, and 2.5 hrs later I was pushing. I'm nervous I'll have this baby in the car if we are out somewhere farther than our house from the hospital when I go into labor.

AMT1107 · May 2015

We have about hour + without traffic and up to about 2 hours with traffic.

CMDD · May 2015

@AMT1107 will you be heading out at first signs of labor or renting a hotel room closer to the hospital? Or are you not worried about the drive?

AMT1107 · May 2015

@CMDD With DS1, we had planned to stay with my MIL (not ideal but close), she's about 10 minutes from the hospital. DS had other plans and was stubborn so I was induced and we didn't have to worry about the drive.

I did discuss my concerns with my obgyn in the beginning and she felt with my first, an hour would be more than enough time. Definitely express your concerns to your doctor, I felt more at ease talking to the doctor and nurses about delivery and the hour drive to the hospital.

TeacherWifeMom · May 2015

My she is a resident too

Graduating in June and we are moving so for the last 2 trimester I will be almost 2 hours from my doctors and hospital but I'm choosing to do that because I love the small practice and that my doctor will be delivering.

CMDD · May 2015

DH delivers about 6 babies a day and likes to joke that he will just deliver ours if I don't make it there in time

vmatt850 · May 2015

We have a hospital 6 blocks from our house in the event of a crazy emergency but the hospital/woman's center where my OB is is about 20 minutes away. My mom delivered my brother an hour away from home and everything was totally fine. Then again, she basically had a text book pregnancy.

Magnolia+Mama · May 2015

25 minutes here. With DD I went ito labor around 2am ~ my water broke at 3pm and I delivered her at 1:30am the next day. We had plenty of time to go to the hospital, only to be turned away because we had not progressed enough to be admitted. We decided to grab a late lunch leaving the hospital and my water broke right after we ordered.

Lihnlee · May 2015

We're only about 15-20 minutes away.

CMDD · May 2015

@lihnlee lucky

ceteichm · May 2015

Without traffic I'm 35-40 min. away but for appointments I usually allow myself about an 1 hr and a half. Between construction, traffic, and parking that will usually put me there about 15 min early. I had a very long labor last time so the drive time doesn't bother me and if something goes really wrong there's another hospital a mile away that's pretty good.

enigmaanjel · May 2015

About 45 mins.

rachael2784 · May 2015

My hospital is 35 mins. away. It always makes me a little nervous because baby #1 labor from start to finish was only 6 hours. We just made it! If subsequent births get shorter, and this is baby #3, I need to be very careful unless I want to deliver in my car....which I don't.

susiaustin · May 2015

I am about 35 minutes without traffic so as long as LO decides to not be born in the morning, as a first time delivering mom I think I'm OK... My mom said she waited with me because the hospital said she wasn't ready and she walked and it was the best birthing experience she had. I know I say this now, and a lot of other moms won't agree but I refuse to be induced unless medically necessary, if I go 3-4 weeks past my date than I go 3-4 weeks past my date, as long as LO has enough room and fluid they just not done cooking. My sister had preeclampsia and was induced. Due to the Human Growth Hormone deficiency she can't give birth vaginally but what they know about the form of dwarfism she has is limited. I believe I might have a slight case of having lower HGH in my system, but I'm not going for the testing till after I'm done being pregnant as trying to put me into shock while pregnant is NOT something I'll let a doctor do. So chances are I might not be given a choice I might be "attempted" to be induced to have a c-section

krick43 · May 2015

We are 20 mins away but I also work there so there's a chance I would just be a floor away

LauraSmarterSpam · May 2015

When I was pregnant with DS we lived almost an hour away from the Women's Hospital in Houston, but now we live 10 minutes away.

It was funny, we were going in because I had some bleeding and cramping all night long. We got there, and we're like, at least we know where to go when the time comes since our hospital tour was the following weekend. Well Dom ended up being born the next day. O_o

CMDD · May 2015

@susiaustin 4 weeks after your due date? Sorry but that's not possible. The placenta can't last that long and the baby would begin to suffer and need to be born to survive

susiaustin · May 2015

CMDD said:
@susiaustin 4 weeks after your due date? Sorry but that's not possible. The placenta can't last that long and the baby would begin to suffer and need to be born to survive

I'm a 44 week baby so yes IT IS FULLY possible. I didn't suffer one bit. I was due last week in May, born last week in June and no mom didn't mess up on dates OB measured me at 44 weeks.. Drs want to induce a week after due date now.

jenEP · May 2015

@susiaustin it can happen safely, but it increases the risk of stillbirth drastically. That's why most doctors now won't let women go more than 1 weeks past.

CMDD · May 2015

Thanks @jenEP I was too exhausted to answer

susiaustin · May 2015

jenEP said:
@susiaustin it can happen safely, but it increases the risk of stillbirth drastically. That's why most doctors now won't let women go more than 1 weeks past.

That's why I said medically necessary if everything OK I will let it go. But if the doctor thinks there is an issue ill probably let them know to just schedule a C section, because with family history the chances of the drip working on me, slim to none

enigmaanjel · May 2015

I had my first at 43 weeks. Had tons of ultrasounds done and the dates were right. They induced me at 43w2d. It is very possible. Yes the placenta does start to slow down but the drs monitor that. Now the rest of my kids have been 1-2 weeks early without being induced. Also when i was a midwife apprentice, we had many moms go close to 43 weks and the mw would send them for stress tests and u/s then sweep the membranes and usually labor would start within 48 hrs. A few had to be turned over to the dr for induction. But unless you have lived it or seen it...it is hard to believe because what you may read on the internet.

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