Why can’t I drive myself to the hospital?

Question

This is my first, so maybe I’m just being a little stubborn and stupid here .. but let’s say I am out shopping today (which I will be) and my water breaks. I’m 15 mins from my hospital and 30 away from home. Why can’t I just drive myself to the hospital? 
This topic came up at school (I teach 3rd) and I was saying that if my water breaks in class, I’ll just drive myself to the hospital and everyone freaked and said omg no someone will take you blah blah. Am I being weird about this? Why can’t I take myself lol. I guess I just don’t want to leave my vehicle somewhere either. 🤷🏼‍♀️ I hope my kid isn’t as stubborn as I am!

Answer

Chances are, your water breaking will not be the first sign of labor. You'll go to the hospital when your contractions are 5 minutes apart, lasting for 1 minute. And they'll be extremely painful. Driving yourself 15 min in those conditions is possible but you'll probably have to pull over for each contraction. Plus, the stress of driving will prevent you from relaxing, making the contractions feel worse. It's not ideal and I wouldn't plan it that way but if you have to,  you could do it.

Answer

I drove myself to the hospital. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I was at a birthday party in another state with my SO and my older 2 Kids. We stayed until my contractions were 2 minutes apart and headed for the hospital.

Answer

If your contractions are bad, it can be hard to drive - let alone drive safely.  With my last baby, my contractions started less than 2 mins apart.  By the time we were driving to the hospital, they were coming over 1.5 (sometimes less) minutes apart and lasting about a minute each.  I definitely felt there was no way I could drive like that.
There are also those moms who deliver their own baby as they are driving to the hospital.  It is pretty rare, but it can happen.
Now, my SIL did drive herself to the hospital.  Her labors were much longer than mine...so really it all depends on how your labor progresses.  If you have a high pain tolerance, your contractions might not be as much of a distraction.  If your contractions aren’t on top of each other, you might have a better chance of focusing.  
I don’t think I would plan to drive myself to the hospital...and if someone offered to drive me, I would take them up on it immediately.

Answer

Depends on what’s happening. Frequent intense contractions could make driving unsafe, but not everyone has that happening when they go to the hospital.
I was induced, so I wasn’t in labor at all. I drove mostly so I could say that I did. My mother drove herself in very early labor, she was only feeling cramping so it was no big deal.

Answer

My water didn’t break first, I was in labor all day long at home with contractions. If my husband couldn’t have driven me, I could have. My contractions were not painful at all and honestly, I was trying to fix my broken washer/dryer all day long while dealing with contractions. It was totally doable if I had to do it.

Answer

So for me my water breaks really early..... I drive myself to the hospital with my 1st, I wasn’t in any pain, could drive normally plus my husband was an hour away at work, so it just made sense for me to drive and him meet me there.... and then with my 2nd hubby was only 15 mins away so we waited on him and my little sister to get there so she could watch my oldest at the hospital!!  This time I will most likely have to drive myself again, because hubby will be on the road!!

Answer

My work has some dumb rule where no one there can take me (so pretty much I get an ambulance, wait for my so to drive 30 mins to get me, or drive myself) soooo I’ll be driving myself if possible

Answer

After my water broke, I had several hours with either no or very mild contractions. I slept some, had breakfast, filed some expense reports. I definitely could have driven safely during that time.

Answer

I am extremely stubborn and don’t like other people driving. I can barely stand even riding with my husband. However, once contractions started, there was absolutely no way I could drive. And that was even before L&D; would admit me. Now if your water breaks and you aren’t having contractions, you might make it fine but why risk it? I’d plan to ask someone to drive you. Better safe than sorry.

Answer

I did. It wasn't a big deal.

Why can’t I drive myself to the hospital?

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