Ambulance for emergency in labour?

[belle75]

4 weeks to go till bub is here (yay!) and feeling really worried now. My hospital is 40min-1.5hrs away (depending on traffic). DH works an hr away from home and I have no one else who I can call to take me to hospital/help me at home during early labour. What happens if something goes wrong or I'm in too much pain, bleeding etc.? Am I able to call an ambulance to take me to hospital? Would they take me to my hospital or the nearest one available? I'm a private patient in a private hospital (St V's) and live in the eastern suburbs. Help guys!

[feeb]

Yes you can call an ambulance (free if you have cover) but chances are they will take you to closest public hospital that has birthing services.

[belle75]

Thanks feeb. I was afraid hey would do that.

[misty]

try not to worry to much, chances are you will have more then enough time - it is one area where the duration of labour will work in your favour. - You could aways try calling a taxi rather then an ambulance and then meet your DH at the hospital.

[lilima]

OK my DH is a paramedic. He said that they will enevour to take you to the one that you are booked in to, but if delivery is iminent, they will take you to the closest hospital. They do not like being caught out on the road, as there are risks involved in deleving amongst traffic.
Good lick!

[Cassius2]

yeah, if it were a true emergency the ambos would just take you to the nearest public hossy equipped for neo-natals.

however, i was in a similar position where my DH was a 3 hour drive from home when my waters broke, it was a totally normal thing and not an emergency, but it threw me into a mild panic i must say LOL!. If anything can be learned from my experience i would just recommend to have a back-up plan in place (ie. a friend to drive you in or to call a taxi). if labour does start and you are on your own, call a friend that could be supportive or get on the phone to hossy and let the delivery midwives talk you through the first few moments where you get your head around the fact that the baby is on his/her way...i did this and it really helped to ground me.

[belle75]

Thanks guys for all your replies. It might have to be a taxi I guess. Most of my friends have babies or are working so will not be able to come and help I also don't have any family close by, so im in a bit of a pickle.

[christy]

But it maybe good to ask a friend jic, I know I would drop anything to be able to drive someone to the hospital in labour!