How Should I Get to The Hospital?

[newlife]

Okay, well if I am at home when I go into labor, I won't be driving to the hospital myself. And since I spend most of my time home alon while everyone is at work or school, what should I do? Should I call an ambulance or call a cab?

[Evergreen]

I am sure someone will take of work or school to drive you. Your boyfriend could get a beeper, and let all his teachers or his boss know that when the beeper goes off it is time.

MOST first babies do not just fly out. You do not want to go to the hospital at the first sign of labor, you want to wait til you are in or close to transition. This gives you a lot of time to contact someone, and gives them time to come get you.

I know many women who have driven themselves to the hospital with no problems, though.

[mehndi mama]

Ambulances are expensive, noisy, and can cause panic. I'd go with a cab, if you can't get ahold of anyone else to come get you. Most likely, though, you won't have to get there in a mad rush, regardless, like the PP said.

[newlife]

Thanks. I should have mentioned that although I am sure no one will be home, I want to go to the hospital by myself, and get settled in before anyone joins me. Truth be told, I don't even think I will tell anyone I am in labor until I am settled in at the hospital. I kind of like to be in control. BTW, for anyone who has ever delived in a hospital, I have some questions:

How long does it take to check in
Where do you put your hospital bag once you get in your room
When and where do you change

Add anything else that you think may come in handy.

[mehndi mama]

Let's see - first off, see if you can get pre-admitted at your hospital. That's where you go in & get all the necessary paperwork filled out, and then they keep it all on file for when you finally come in in labor. It really cuts down on admission time. If you can do that, then all they'll need to do is get your name & insurance info, find you in the computer, verify your address and billing info & such, then send you to your room to get checked & probably hooked up to a monitor (unless you have negotiated otherwise.)
Hospital rooms have narrow closets - you can stash your bag in there. They'll give you a plastic bag to keep your clothes in as well. You'll have a bathroom in your room as well, so you can change in there, or at your bed - whichever you choose. The nurse will leave you to change before she comes back to check you usually. If you go in as a "just in case" dilation check (not necessarily to be admitted, but just to see if anything is happening), you may just want to wear a dress so you don't have to change, or take anything but your undies off for the exam. I even went in pantiless for my check the last time I had a hospital birth, since my water hadn't broken yet. It made everything that much quicker, since I did decide to leave & come back later, once my contractions were further apart.

[Lousli]

Originally Posted by newlife

Thanks. I should have mentioned that although I am sure no one will be home, I want to go to the hospital by myself, and get settled in before anyone joins me. Truth be told, I don't even think I will tell anyone I am in labor until I am settled in at the hospital. I kind of like to be in control. BTW, for anyone who has ever delived in a hospital, I have some questions:

How long does it take to check in
Where do you put your hospital bag once you get in your room
When and where do you change

Add anything else that you think may come in handy.

If you have a neighbor or friend that is comfortable with dropping you off and helping you register and then taking off, that might be a good option for you. If not, I think the cab or driving yourself is the best idea, especially because your insurance may not cover the ambulance. Although, you don't want to be stuck waiting for a cab that may not come (it has happened to me a few times) or driving yourself when active labor hits. So, yeah, once again, I would recommend a friend that won't feel the need to hover.

As far as checking in, most hospitals allow you to preregister, which you should look into doing. It will take only a few minutes if you have done this, and can even be done by someone else, but they will have some forms for you to sign. If you don't preregister, I'm not sure how long it takes.

When you come in with your bag, there is usually a chair in the room you (or a nurse) can plunk the bag on. Or they may just place it next to your bed. They'll tell you, or even take care of it for you.

They usually ask you to change into a gown when you arrive and have been given a room. If you are not assigned a room (too early in your labor or rooms are all full) you may continue to wear your regular clothes. If you prefer to wear your own cloths, or nightgown, just let them know, keeping in mind that they will get messy. They usually give you a plastic bag with a drawstring to put your clothes in, and give you a hospital gown to put on. Your room will have a private or shared bathroom (shared ones have a door to two rooms, and each one locks so you can still have privacy) and you usually get undressed in there.

Hope that helps!

[tug]

newlife - i don't know if you are still looking for suggestions, but i thought i'd add my perspective in case it's helpful. when i went into labor with my first, i took the bus from my office to home and then picked up the car and then drove to the hospital. i saw my doc first because i wasn't sure i really was in labor yet (only mild contractions, but water had broken and was drippy - no big gush 'til much later). since i had pre-reg'd, it took only a minute to give them the last bit of info at the nurse's station (i think). what type of room you get will depend on your hospital, i believe, and that will change where you put clothes etc. i had a chest of drawers and a closet so i could really have settled in. i hung out for a few hours before my hubby could be found (he was teaching and nobody knew what classroom he was in for a while). i was like you, i wanted to get settled before folks started coming in. i was in no rush for company.

remember to bring socks! hospitals are cooooold!

good luck!

[newlife]

Thanks. right now I am just hoping that I don't go into labor while I am at school. I would lose my mind. Beaung at home is different because I am in a comfort zone, but I don't like being at school as it is, and to be there when I go into labor, would not be good. Anyway, I am starting to get my things in order for the hospital, and I am getting everything ready for the baby now because I am starting to get the feeling that he will be here soon. I really think it is because I have alot of friends that were pregnant with me, and they are all popping like crazy. One of the was due on the 21st, and she went on the 3rd; another was due on the 31st and went on the 14th; another one is due on Feb. 18th, she went into labor about 3 weeks ago fortunately they stopped it, she is now on total bed rest (can only get up to take a 3 minute shower, if that) so I am praing for her. another friend was due on the 27th and went on the 20th; and another friend hasn't gone in yet, she is due on Jan 14th, and I think I will be going in around that time (hopefully not).

[kater07]

I agree, you don't even wanna head for the hospital until your are contracting 2-3 mins apart for 90 seconds at least. This will give you plenty of time to get someone to come home and get you. First labors don't usually go super fast. You wanna make sure you are 100% in labor before you go anywhere.

IF you MUST call someone to come get you and it's not a family member, a cab would be my choice. If you ride in in an ambulance, then the interventions will start in the ambulance and continue through your entire birth. I would never choose that for myself or my unborn baby.