GTKY: Distance from the Hospital?

HgPa · January 2017

I saw this thread in May and thought it was a fun discussion.

I'm 2 miles away from the mega-hospital (it's basically the major industry in our tourist town at this point). Should take about 5-10 minutes to get there.

Work is a little farther, but I could still get there in less than half an hour. Yay for small towns and no traffic! Plus, I work on a floor full of nurses, so going into labor at work would be NBD.

So tell me about your upcoming trips to birth centers and hospitals! Is anyone delivering at home? Also, I'm gonna take a second to be happy we're having summer babies and avoiding snow-mageddon travel.

Stankonia2014 · January 2017

I live and work about 5 miles from the hospital I will deliver at.

I've never gone into labor spontaneously, and I'll likely be induced due to GD, so I'm not too worried about making it there in time, but it's comforting to know it's just up the road just in case.

mirdamae03 · January 2017

I live about 35-40 minutes from the hospital I deliver at, and my work is about 10-15 minutes from the hospital.

delujm0 · January 2017

I work about 5 minutes from the hospital. I live somewhere in the 35-45 minute area, depending on whether it is rush hour or not. it was fine when I had DD...I actually kept going to the office every day because I figured "why work from home when the office is so much closer to the hospital" but of course I went into labor spontaneously at home on a Sunday morning.

I am SLIGHTLY nervous about this being #2 and her coming faster this time though. With DD I got to the hospital at 2pm with contractions 2-3 minutes apart and she was born at 11:55pm (after they had to give me drugs to slow labor down due to DD's heart rate, and then also it took 2.5 hours to push her out because she was sunny-side-up, thank the good lord for epidurals). My doctor was all "if your next one is face down it will fall right out of you!" and that sounded great at the time but now it's a little scary haha. There is a closer hospital but it's not as nice, so I didn't want to switch to an OBGYN that delivered there when we moved here. That one would still take 15-20 minutes to get to anyway.

Basically as soon as contractions start up I'm heading in this time around. My friend lives a block from the hospital so if they won't admit me i'll hang in her living room until they will. We'll just have to line up child care for DD first. I have an irrational fear that I won't make it there in time for the epidural, and I really want that epidural. I'm kind of hoping my time-able contractions start up on a weekday morning, so we can drop DD at daycare and head to the hospital, knowing that my in-laws will be here in time to pick DD up (it's an 8 hour drive, but they literally had their bags packed and in the car last time and left the minute we called, so I'm not worried about them). If I have to head in overnight, we'll ask a neighbor to stay in the house until my in-laws arrive I guess. it's hard not having family living anywhere close to you, and my closest friend that does live here is due 5 days before me so she will not be an option for child care. In a pinch, I could bring DD to my friend's house who lives right by the hospital too and she would watch her until my in-laws got here. Lots to think about.

mombod · January 2017

I live and work about 15 mins from the birth center. Last pregnancy it was about 45 minutes. I had a relatively short labor (6 hrs of contractions) and got there when I was 9 cms and DS was born about 2 hrs later. Transition in the car wasnt ideal but at least it was a major distraction (Is the baby going to come out right now?! Will I throw up all over the car?! Nobody knows!).

Elyse1384 · January 2017

I live about 40 minutes from the hospital, but 1.5 hours during rush hour (ahhhh Masshole drivers how I adore thee). I was pretty worried about #2 coming faster and getting stuck in rush hour, but I ended up being induced due to low amniotic fluid which worked out great from a commuting perspective.

I'm a little uneasy about distance for this LO (#3) as my backup care for my kids (my folks) are 2 hours away from my house. Given the distance, we'll probably have to take the kids with us if it is the middle of the night because I'm not waiting 2 hours and then driving another 40 minutes with #3 making his/her way through! With DD, I went from 4cm to fully dilated in less than about 1.5 hours (I had started labor at 2cm).

halfthetree · January 2017

I'm planning to have the twins at home, but if we need to transfer, we are close enough that I feel safe with our distance.

We live about a 5-7 minute drive from the hospital, it's a straight road with maybe 4-5 sets of lights.

That said, our last child was born at home and we were about 45-60 minutes from the nearest hospital then.

mkrel · January 2017

I'm about 25 minutes from the hospital. I would like to be a little closer, but there is never traffic on the route we take to get there so it shouldn't be an issue.

c1tym0m22 · January 2017

The hospital is literally across the street from me - so we'll be walking there when the time comes.

I delivered DD at a different hospital about 20 minutes away. My water had broken, so it was quite the trip!

n0soup4u · January 2017

We live about 10-15 minutes from the hospital. I was induced with DD so we weren't in a rush. With this baby, I will be having a c-section. Hoping I don't go into labor before the scheduled date

alm52386 · January 2017

I'm about 25 mins from the hospital. My 2 main jobs are like 15 mins from the hospital. The other job is much farther! Closer to 45 mins though. Since these are all PT jobs I might stop working a week or 2 before my due date.

awoodruff27 · January 2017

I'm about 15 min away depending on traffic. I have to go on a military post. So if I happen to go into labor when gate traffic is crazy it will add another 10ish minutes to that. But not so bad. With my first I had a 45 min drive without traffic, 2 hours with. My second I was 30 min, but I waited longer then I should. Hard labor in the car was not fun!

kfry22 · January 2017

I live 35-45 minutes from the hospital depending on if I drive or my slow driving husband. Sometimes I work from home, but I also work from the field and our headquarters. HQ is two hours from my house and 2.5 hours from the hospital. Last pregnancy my OB said not travel more than 2 hours away for me after 36 weeks becuase I'm also high risk. When I went into labor with my son, I stayed at home as long as possible and I got to the hospital at 9cm. I would like to arrive before then this time becuase it really freaked out my husband and mom.

jc_twomamas · January 2017

We're about 15-20 minutes from the hospital. For work, one day per week I am 10-15 minutes away and one day per week I am 30 minutes away. If I make it to 37-38 weeks (fingers crossed!) I will probably take that time off of work and just be home. I have to get up to the hospital fairly early into labor as I am going for a VBAC...no time to dilly dally at home!

JAGinMI · January 2017

I am 40 minutes away when I am home, and 15ish minutes when I am at work. Since my last labor went VERY quickly, I am quite nervous about the distance from home. DS was born less than an hour after we arrived at the hospital and it is not because I purposely waited that long to go to the hospital!

danij0 · January 2017

I live 2.5 miles from the hospital I plan to deliver at so it takes 5-10 minutes depending on red lights. DH's work is also 2.5 miles so about 5-10 minutes away. My work is about 20 minutes from the hospital, but if some emergency popped up at work there is another branch of the same hospital right across the street and another hospital on the drive that way. I'm not too worried.

All our family is 1+ hour away so it will be harder for them, but they aren't as important in the situation.

@HgPa I am also really happy about it being a summer baby. I would probably panic with a Cleveland winter baby.

kmd0501 · January 2017

I'm 15 miles/ 35 minutes from our hospital but that's totally by choice. We actually pass 2-3 other hospitals on the way but our hospital has a fantastic NICU (if needed) that filters right into the Children Hospital of Philadelphia (which is where I work). I just felt more comfortable with that choice than going with the closest available hospital plus it's where my OB delivers. Fortunately I live in an area with several hospital systems and I'm only 20 minutes outside Philly so on top of the suburbs I have access to all the university hospital systems too. Should I go into labor at work I may have to deliver at a city hospital but fingers crossed I can get to my hospital in time...which is still only maybe 30-40 minutes from my work.

mrt · January 2017

I'm less than 15 minutes from the hospital when I'm home, and less than 20 minutes when I'm at work. Not quite as convenient as last time when I worked half a mile from the hospital (and drove myself there while in labor!)

noellehm · January 2017

Despite living down the road from a hospital, we are 45 minutes away from the hospital where I will deliver. I work in research at the university associated with our hospital, and it's essentially free for me to have a baby there, which is why we went with this option. It's been great for prenatal care (I just walk across the street from my lab), but I was worried about the distance for when I actually go into labor. Hearing from all you STMs who were similar distances from the hospital for your first makes me feel a lot better! Also, my in-laws happen to live really close to where I work/ the hospital, so we could always stay with them as my due date approaches. Not sure my mental health would survive that though

...........

MrsCaliRN · January 2017

Fortunately, I live in the SF Bay Area, which is a huge metropolitan area with hospitals EVERYWHERE. I made the choice to deliver my son at a hospital that is ~25-30 minute drive from my house because the ones closer to me that accept my insurance (Kaiser) are baby-factories and I liked the fact that the hospital I delivered at just re-did their L&D department. I was one of two women that delivered the night my son was born in the whole hospital which was awesome, except the nurse I had was kind of on the annoying side and hung around a little too much while I was in the throes of active labor.

neludelu · January 2017

I work across the street from the hospital it will be a brisk waddle. I live about 45-60 mins from the hospital though.

Kylieslip24 · January 2017

I might be having this baby at home. We're discussing it. We have 4 hospitals 30 min away. One is across county lines so won't take our insurance, that's where dd was born and it was fantastic. The other 3 are not very good, so...
we were 25 min away with dd and labor with dd did not hurt at all so we didn't go in until my water broke. I transitioned in the car which was not very fun. Especially since dh called to warn them we were coming in while driving and they said they were full!! Lol so as we were walking into the other hospital (across the st from the first) they called back and said they made room. So by the time we checked in and were in our room I was at 9.5 luckily she was presenting a little crooked or she probably would have been born in the parking lot. Lol
Im really hoping I'll be healthy enough to stay home this time.

MrsW524 · January 2017

I work 1.5 miles from the hospital, so it's about a 5 minute drive, depending on lights. I live about 45 minutes away though. The nice thing is it's all highway, so unless there's an accident or something, it isn't a bad drive. I keep thinking that going into labor at work would be embarrassing, but super convenient. I'll keep working as long as I can (our last day for 10 month faculty is 6/12 and I'm due 6/2) and see what happens.

HgPa · January 2017

@halfthetree That's awesome that you are doing twins at home! I'm glad you are closer the the hospital this time - good peace of mind

@c1tym0m22 I'm jealous!

@neludelu 'Brisk waddle' is killing me

I love hearing from STMs in the thread - super reassuring to read your stories. I have too much on my mind to be stressed about labor yet, but I know I'll be getting antsy and nervous soon enough.

ellie111227 · January 2017

I'm 35 minutes away with minimal traffic. I'm a little nervous because last time it was only 10 minutes drive, but I had a long labor with dd, so even if it is half the time this time around I still should have ample time to get my mom over for childcare and get to the hospital.

NarrowHouses · January 2017

Work and home are both about 20-30 minutes away for me. I'm on a 10 month contract at work so I will not be on contract when I'm due so I will (likely) go into labor at home.

This is the same hospital I delivered DD at and the ride wasn't nearly as bad as I'd thought. I vomited intermittently throughout labor and was TERRIFIED I would throw up in the car, but luckily did not! When I go into labor this time my sister will watch DD, she lives in our neighborhood and volunteered to watch her before we even asked.

OP mentioned being glad its not winter and I'm grateful for that too in some ways. Although where I live it will be hot AF come June and when I had DD in December I put on a coat and walked outside at the beginning of labor, that probably won't happen this time, unless I want to be a sweaty laboring puddle on the sidewalk!

JessyKV · January 2017

I am about 20 minutes from our hospital. I'm more worried about being 2-3 hours away from family this time and having to take the kids with us. I need to get to know my neighbors better lol. I do have one cousin in town that I can drop my kiddos off at but she is due 5 weeks before me and will most likely have a newborn and 2 kids at home too! I miss being 5 min away from our family.

I was a schedule c section with my first and scheduled to be induced with my second so child care was easy. I walked in at a 6 not knowing I was really having contractions then went fairly quickly so im a little afraid of going into labor on my own and not knowing until late in the game. Having this baby at home unassisted would scar my husband for life lol. He's a baby when it comes to this stuff. But I'm sure it will all work out.

michaela0704 · January 2017

I'm delivering at a different hospital than I did with my twins... I'm opting for the baby factory this time, which I think has the most births/babies in the Southeast.

We'll drive past one and in the opposite direction from another (where the twins were born) that are less than 10 minutes from our home.

The baby factory is about 15 minutes from our house without traffic... otherwise maybe 25, assuming no major issues on surface streets or the highway that would turn it into a 40 minute ride.

awillis13 · January 2017

I'm the same as @Elyse1384, about 45 from the hospital but MA traffic could make that as long as 1.5 hours (sometimes more). I love my hospital though, so I'll deal with it and hope for the best.

Elyse, which hospital are you delivering at? I think it's interesting that some of us could end up delivering at the same hospitals (and potentially be there at the same time).

Elyse1384 · January 2017

@awillis13 - BI in Boston. I love it there! Had both kids there previously and "enjoyed" my stay. You?

rmarble23 · January 2017

I work at the hospital unfortunately L&D is at the other campus like 2 miles down the road so that won't be a huge issue except DH works like 90 min away with out traffic and home is 45 on a good day.

OP mentioned snowmageddon, I have a friend that went into labor in the middle of the one we had here in Mass exactly two years ago. She got stuck on the on ramp to the highway and needed the ambulance to come get her while her hubby got towed outta the snow since there was a travel ban in place so nothing had been plowed at the time. Quite the story for the little one.

Heliumgirl717 · January 2017

I live 45 minutes away from the hospital I'll deliver at. I also work and additional 30-60 minutes (60 if I have to stop and get DD from daycare) from where I live. I had GD last time and was induced, so I'm hoping for that again.

swanbrooner · January 2017

The hospital is just a few miles away and a 5 minute drive from my house. But, I live in a small town, so everything is about 5 minutes away!

Moore2love2014 · January 2017

I live about 20-25 min away from the hospital I will be delivering at and work about 5 min away.
Hopeing to do some laboring at home before we head In so hopefully this baby doesn't decide to come too fast!

flyingncmama · January 2017

I'm less than 20 minutes from the hospital. And I work there so if something happens at work, I'll be in good hands.

FSUNole31 · January 2017

The hospital is about 30-40 minutes from my house. It is funny because I live literally less than 5 minutes from a different one, but it isn't as good and not affiliated with my practice.

mtvkv5 · January 2017

I live about 10 mins away and work 15 away, so I'm not worried. My mother in law works at that hospital, which could be nice or could be annoying... we'll see.

dolphinkates11 · January 2017

I live 20ish minutes from either hospital. If I go premature I have to go to the bigger hospital but the plan is to deliver at the hospital I work at and work up til the week before my due date. If I go into labor at work, even better.

awillis13 · January 2017

@Elyse1384 I'll deliver at Newton Wellesley. I dread driving into Newton (I live off 495) in rush hour traffic. If I have to go from work, I work near Worcester so I would have to take the Pike the whole way.

BellaO21 · January 2017

I live and work within a 10 minute drive from the hospital that I will be delivering at.. so there isn't a big worry of me not making it in time lol.
Childcare is a little different, since we have my SS 50% of the time we have to have both bases covered... he goes to a summer program which will watch him from as early as 7am to as late as 6pm... so hopefully I go into labor when he gets dropped off and we will have my MIL stay with him until need be.
If I go into labor in the middle of the night while we have him, he will either have to come with us to the hospital until his summer program opens (it's also within 10minutes from the hospital) or he can stay with MIL.
Or we will get lucky and he will be with his BM

Elyse1384 · January 2017

awillis13 said:

@Elyse1384 I'll deliver at Newton Wellesley. I dread driving into Newton (I live off 495) in rush hour traffic. If I have to go from work, I work near Worcester so I would have to take the Pike the whole way.

My SIL delivered there and loved it. My friend worked there (NP) for a while and had great things to say too. I live west of the city and commute an hour east to Waltham in the morning for work. Traffic is the worst! My mileage isn't bad, but there is just no good route to get there! It's a cluster f in the morning. That horrible 90/95 section

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