Travelling in labour, have you done it?

[[M]umma[M]ia]

My hospital is 1.5 hours away and I dont want to leave home until its absaultley necessary, which means I could be in full blown labour by the time that happens.

Did you or anyone you know travel while in labour? How did they find it? Is there anything I can use that will help the trip?

[Heaven]

My hospital was 30 minutes away. I was in strong labour when I was in the car. It was hard and it took all my concentration. The heat pack was really helpful on my lower tummy but it didn't stay hot the whole way. I think a few of those ones you click and they heat up instantly would be really good for the car

Have you read Juju Sundin's book? Some of the techniqes in there might also be helpful for a long trip.

[Charlotte91]

My hospital is also 1.5 hours away, I've done it in labour at 28 and 31 weeks. 28 weeks was OK, 31 weeks it was hard. I had to get there as soon as possible because I had to be flown straight to Melbourne (another 400kms) due to my complications.

If you're going to do it in full labour, make sure that you take a few clean towels, just in case bubby decides to show up on the way.

[NaeNae]

When my labour started my contractions were 5 min apart. We have a 30 min drive through windy bumpy country roads and it was HELL. I couldn't get comfortable and the pain was intense. I felt every single bump in the road.

There is no way I would leave it, voluntarily, to that point again let alone doing it with a 1.5 hour drive ... but then I had my baby in just under 2.2 hours from the first contraction.

I would rather get there early and walk around the grounds, but thats just me.

good luck

Nae x

[Jewel]

With my second I had a 30min drive. It was so awful. I couldn't hardly sit in the car.

[misty]

With 1.5hr drive, I would definitely not be leaving as late as possible - I would be leaving as soon as I knew it was established labour. Even if when you got there you didn't go straight to the actual maternity ward.
(then again, I am stressing that I won't make it to the hospital on time because I have a 45min drive and my DH works 30mins away from my house: my last labour was only 2hrs start to finish.)

I have been in full blown labour and in the car with every pregnancy (I go straight from nothing to full blown). It is horrible. You cann't get comfortable. Every bump, and curve in the road is agony. I cann't really give you any tips to get through it, because nothing actually helps - you just have to grit your teeth and bare it.

[AndiE]

Depends on where you're at in your labour.

With DS1 I drove myself to the hospital and back again (I was 1-2cm dilated both trips - and DH had been drinking, not much but enough that I didn't want to risk him driving). However on the return journey to hospital several hours later (think I was about 7cm dilated) there was no way in hell I could sit, so kneeled facing into the front passenger seat with my arms wrapped around the seat. Thank God it was 2am!! DH wasn't too impressed but I remember telling him to bugger off when he wanted me to wear the seatbelt. You can't hug a car seat properly with a seat belt around you. LOL.

With DS2 I was mentally more prepared and while I was well and truly in the throes of labour, I was able to sit out the 20 minute trip. Definitely wasn't the most comforable of trips, but I just tried to relax as much as possible through the contractions and told DH to "hurry up!!!!!!!".

[OceanPrincess]

Getting there early and walking the grounds is a good idea!

Are there shops nearby? Cafes? Somewhere you can peacefully labour without actually being in the hospital?

[Taurean]

Walking the hossi grounds (or somewhere close by) is a great idea. Even a quick drive in established labour is bloody uncomfortable. We only had a 15 minute drive and it wasn't pleasant.

We loved our hossi so I wasn't concerned if I was there 'too' early but the middies encouraged us to wander as much as possible anyway - around the birth suite reception area (there are 5 birth suites so a decent area to cut laps, lol), the maternity ward if we wanted or just around our room. I was comfy in the birth suite and instantly in the zone so I just wandered around my room, showered on and off and became one with the fitball

[ladybirdflies]

Have you considered checking in to a hotel or b and b? You could go to there and wait till you are ready to go to the hospital. I have known people to rent apartments etc got there in early labour and then to the hospital when they are closer to birth. Being in labour in the car is not great, especially if it is intense labour. I also had a friend who had a station wagon, she laid down the seats and made a nest in the back, it was really comfortable and she could mov through the contractions and rest in between, her drive was 1.5hrs. Maybe you could do that?

[human bean]

I only did a half hour trip, but it was pretty full on. I had to stay seated as 'Mr Safety' aka my DH was freaked that I'd take off my seatbelt or go on hands and knees on the back seat. I had probably 5 contractions in the car and I know I didn't open my eyes pretty much the whole trip, and banged my arm on the car door to get through each one. I just had to work on the distraction method (I'd been banging on a bucket at home to get through them) I agree with perhaps not leaving it til the last minute to hit the road, better to get there a bit earlier and do some laps of somewhere, not necessarily the hospital.

[~clover~]

I've travelled in all my labours. DD2 was an hour away with 5 min contractions. DS was 30 min with 3 - 5 min apart contractions. Its hard, you can't move much & sitting is hard.
I'd try going close by & spending time at a park or something
Good luck x

[Arimeh]

Do you have a friend that lives close to the hospital that you would feel comfy labouring at their place? I travelled 30 mins in early labour, had her 2.5 hours after getting to the birth centre, but I was planning on going to a friends house if it all died down.

[beansbeans!]

We had a massive trip to hospital when I was in labour with DD2. We left home when the contrax were 2min apart.. I actually didnt mind the trip, we were on country roads at 2am, so I had my usual role of watching out for roos, and wombats, and any other wildlife in the bushes, other than that I was watching the clock timing my contrax, and entertaining DD1 in the backseat.. I even sorted through the cds, to make sure I had the right music to listen to on the drive. The pain didnt bother me at all, yeah ok it hurt but I had to keep focused on what was going on around me. Also once we hit civilisation, I kept an eye out for police cars, I figured I didnt want DH to get a speeding ticket, but also they could help deliver if they stopped us! I also spent the time between contrax retelling DH everything I wanted to happen and not happen during birth. we discussed what he would do with DD1 if she freaked out and we cahtted to her about what was going to happen, why she was having her morning milk at 2am, five hrs earlier than normal..

But yeah, do you havea friend who lives near by? OR an alternative to driving when in full blown labour? Maybe going earlier, staying with friends or family closer to the hospital in the led up?

Oh and goodluck!

[Babyluv]

Get a TENS machine they're fantastic!

[madamerogers]

i agree with the going sooner rather than later.

With DD we had a 15 min dive and in hindsight- wonderful thing that- we should have stayed home and called 000

We made the trip with me also kneeling on the front seat facing the back in 5 mins i was stopping my body from pushing and bubba was born 5 mins after we arrived at hospy.

I was so comfortable labouring at home, and i had no idea i was so far along until i hit transition and my waters broke and it was pretty much on for young and old.

This time we are heading in when i get the first pains, and if i walk the whole town i dont care, last time was too scary.

do what youre most comfortable with.

Is an ambulance close by if you need to stay home?

[Trillian]

My hospital was an hour away but I only had one really hairy drive there in labour. 1, 3 and 4 weren't so bad and the trip was OK. But birth 2 was hard because contractions started really full on at 5 minutes apart but I was able to get in a good enough position in the car so it wasn't awful, but I did spend most of the trip wondering if we would make it. hadn't had such a full on labour with #1 so I was unsure of things and how it would all progress. My advice would be not to leave it till the last minute to go, but when you know that 'OK this is really it' I'd be heading in.

[LionsandBears]

Get a TENS machine they're fantastic!

Agree. We drove to hospital in labour with DS1. I had a TENS on and my hypnobabies on my ipod and I was away in lala land. I think I may have moaned all of twice during the 45 min trip in peak hour traffic. Though it wasn't 'active' labour, it had only been happening for 9 hours