How far away is your hospital?

[monday]

I've just been looking at a website that has stats on all the different hospitals in my state & have found the best one within a reasonable distance to me has a 41% VBAC rate. I worry though, is an hour too far from the hospital? My labours have been longish (36hrs & 12hrs before the caesareans) so that's not so much of a concern, I just worry about having to be in the car that long.

[Trillian]

My hospital was 1hr away and I never gave birth in the car on the way there Out here women have to drive up to 3hrs to get to their hospital so distance is a non-event out here. I have been in the car during heavy contractions and it's not been a drama for me. You make yourself as comfortable as you can and deal with it. I think that you would be fine if you decide to go to that hospital.

[*TripleJ*]

its not fun but i did it for an hour and a half it was unpleasent but it wasnt horrendous

[*LittleMissSummer*]

I have a choice of 2 hospitals, one is a 10-15 minute drive away and the other is 20-30. Id prefer the furthest one because it has better maternity suite but im thinking ill go to the closest i just dont want to be mucking around when i go into labour.

[mzcatieboo]

theres a hospital 5 minutes from where ill be staying in Perth but i refuse to go there, so its going to take me between 30mins to an Hour just to get to hospital when im in labour, same hospital i had DS at, and well worth the trip.

[Tiff+2]

My hossy is 35mins away and I am so glad I didn't decide to go a little further north to Port Macquarie, which is 1hr 15 mins away (even more atm with so many road works!). 35mins was definately long enough for me, especailly with DH driving like a crazy man!!!
Oh I probably should add my first labour was only 4 hrs so got intense very quickly! They say you generally have faster labours the more children you have (although that is a generalisation!), I am thinking this one will be even faster and harder so the less time in the car the better

[JCE0810]

When i was pg with DD i had the choice of 2 hospitals one was 10mins away and the other was 30mins away and the one that was 10mins had a bad reputation so we decided we'd birth at the hospital 30mins away as it had a great reputation.

Where we are atm there is only 1 hospital which is 5min drive away and if we fall pg while living here we will birth there as i couldnt fault them when i had my D&C at the beginning of the month. We would have to drive 45mins-1.5hrs away to the nearest hospital if we didnt birth at the hospital in town.

[~*Niadalla*~]

My hospital was an hour away with DD. Wasn't too much of a problem. I have longer labours aswell (38+hrs and 10 hrs), so just made sure I called and went in when I was sure I was in labour.
It wasn't that bad of a drive and my contractions were 5 minutes apart. I was texting people on the way in.

[murraysmum]

bout 30 mins here if u drive an hour plus wait time if u get a taxi and if u wanna push it 2hrs by foot lol told dp if he isnt home im calling an ambo i aint waiting for noone lol plus i deliverd quick with my first

[Emma1979]

20 kms..... labour is so bloody long honestly an hour is nothing.....

ps - which hospital is it that you are considering?

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

I have 2 hospitals close... 1 is about 15min away but i REFUSE to go there (although it's prob better to go closer) and the other is a prob about 40min in GOOD traffic but that is my choice, they are a wonderful womens hospital and i am much more confident in their care.

I didn't make it to hosp for my 1st labour, poor DD was born on our bathroom floor while i was home alone on the phone to 000.

That said the midwifes are aware i live further away and i have been advised the MINUTE i am in labour i am to go to hospital, don't even ring unless i want to!

One thing most people NEED to be aware of is if you call 000 an ambulance DOES NOT have to take you to your preferred hospital, it's their call but generally they will take you to the closest possible hospital (for time restraints etc)

If you think you can be comfortable in your car for an hour then i say go for it, if your more confident in the support you will get there, the calmer you will be and the better your birthing experience!

[Lolli]

Only 15 minutes away, and I still didn't make it Extremely quick labour.

[murraysmum]

lol u obviously havent been to this hospital they make u wait an hour before they send u to maternity then u wait another hour for a bed

was concidering going to perth to deliver but looking at it i cant aford it

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

Only 15 minutes away, and I still didn't make it Extremely quick labour.

hehe.... with you on that one... so not looking forward to #2... hehe the back ache comes and i'm in

[smiles4u]

I gave birth only 39mins after arriving at the hospital (fast labour here too ) ....

... i was lucky the hospital was only a 5min drive from home

[ubba82]

I had a choice of 2 hospitals. One is about 25 mins and the other 30 -40 mins. We chose the one futher away casue that is where I had my other 2.

[madamerogers]

mine is 15 mins away
i had ds there and dh said i can get there in 5 mins if you need
no thanks honey.....15 mins is quick enough

[Amaunet]

Mine was 7 minutes away...and that included driving thru Macca's to get a coffee for DH Not that it would have mattered, I didn't have any cx for a few hours after my waters broke (mec stained so had to go straight in).

If the private hossy here stopped delivering babies, I wouldn't hesitate to drive an hour to the next closest. I think it's important that you have faith and confidence in the facility and staff to whom you are entrusting yourself and your child.