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Calling Ambulance when in Labor

5452

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 27 January 2012 - 16:49

Hi! I am asking this question to prepare for all the what-ifs. I am not due until June so I have quite a lot of time to plan properly. I am now pregnant with my 3rd child. My second child was born pretty quickly. I started feeling contractions and 45 minutes after I left my home, my DD was born.

So I am wondering if anyone has an answer for me. If I start having contractions at home and my DH is not able to get to me in time (he works in Abu Dhabi), can I call an ambulance? I will not consider driving myself or taking a taxi and I don't want to ask a friend because I do not want to give birth in someone else's car nor do I want to ask a friend to drive my car because I think there'd be a lot of valuable time lost.
So, basically, my question is: are you allowed to call an ambulance if you are in labor or is that not considered an emergency?

My next question is for women who have had several children and quick labors. Do you think having one quick labor means the next one will be quick or is that just an unfounded theory?

Thanks for your help!

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1247

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 29 January 2012 - 17:29

Thanks MB! I am moving soon to a place which will be far away from anyone I know! It's ok, though. Most likely I'll go into labor at night when I'm totally exhausted after a long day out and in that case, my DH would be there. Hi Amy. I had my first two children here in Dubai but at that time, I lived in walking distance from the hospital. I walked to the hospital during both labors! Anon...you know people not too far from where you're moving. ;) Just get the word out there that you'll need backup and I know those girls will come through for you, if you need them. :D I've totally abandoned that idea. I do not want to give birth in my car nor in a friend's car. Imagine the clean-up required if the baby were born in the car! edited by AnonDubai on 29/01/2012 nonsense, Im happy to take you, we can put a thick blanket or plastic sheet in the car a couple of months before just incase. Although If Im your 'hospital person' then you need to get someone else to be the 'collect the kids' person I guess :) And if you DID give birth in my car, the mess would be the least of my worries, honestly, I mean it! :) Awww, that's very sweet of you. I think I'd like to keep you as my "pick up the kids" person. It seems more convenient for logistical reasons! Anyway, can you imagine amniotic fluid in your car? :) after two kids and various illnesses (including DS coming down with Rota virus - in my car when it was 2 weeks old) I don't think it would faze me to be honest, lol. Don't worry about it to much just yet, if its early enough in the morning (no pressure) I can take you to hospital AND be your 'pick up the kids' person :) If you were really worried you could go to one of the clinics in the area, they can call you an ambulance, meanwhile you are the hands of medical personnel. All of the ones local to us have gyn staff. <em>edited by Purple on 29/01/2012</em>

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Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 29 January 2012 - 17:03

My mother delivered me on the steps of the hospital, but I was no7 ;) Your mother deserved an easy labor at that point! 7 children is a lot! It's a good thing that you were born so close to the hospital.

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 29 January 2012 - 16:57

My mother delivered me on the steps of the hospital, but I was no7 ;)

5452

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 29 January 2012 - 16:54

Thanks MB! I am moving soon to a place which will be far away from anyone I know! It's ok, though. Most likely I'll go into labor at night when I'm totally exhausted after a long day out and in that case, my DH would be there. Hi Amy. I had my first two children here in Dubai but at that time, I lived in walking distance from the hospital. I walked to the hospital during both labors! Anon...you know people not too far from where you're moving. ;) Just get the word out there that you'll need backup and I know those girls will come through for you, if you need them. :D I've totally abandoned that idea. I do not want to give birth in my car nor in a friend's car. Imagine the clean-up required if the baby were born in the car! edited by AnonDubai on 29/01/2012 nonsense, Im happy to take you, we can put a thick blanket or plastic sheet in the car a couple of months before just incase. Although If Im your 'hospital person' then you need to get someone else to be the 'collect the kids' person I guess :) And if you DID give birth in my car, the mess would be the least of my worries, honestly, I mean it! :) Awww, that's very sweet of you. I think I'd like to keep you as my "pick up the kids" person. It seems more convenient for logistical reasons! Anyway, can you imagine amniotic fluid in your car? :)

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Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 29 January 2012 - 16:24

Thanks MB! I am moving soon to a place which will be far away from anyone I know! It's ok, though. Most likely I'll go into labor at night when I'm totally exhausted after a long day out and in that case, my DH would be there. Hi Amy. I had my first two children here in Dubai but at that time, I lived in walking distance from the hospital. I walked to the hospital during both labors! Anon...you know people not too far from where you're moving. ;) Just get the word out there that you'll need backup and I know those girls will come through for you, if you need them. :D I've totally abandoned that idea. I do not want to give birth in my car nor in a friend's car. Imagine the clean-up required if the baby were born in the car! edited by AnonDubai on 29/01/2012 nonsense, Im happy to take you, we can put a thick blanket or plastic sheet in the car a couple of months before just incase. Although If Im your 'hospital person' then you need to get someone else to be the 'collect the kids' person I guess :) And if you DID give birth in my car, the mess would be the least of my worries, honestly, I mean it! :)

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Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 29 January 2012 - 13:27

I just got back from registering at my choice of hospital and asked the staff about calling an ambulance if I'm in labour and my husband is not home. She said that they will take you to your hospital of choice for a fee so she suggested going to the nearest ambulance centre and asking in advance what the fee would be. Luckily for us the ambulance centre is right around the corner from us so hopefully if I need them, they will get to quickly!!! I'll come back to this question if I get any useful info from the ambulance station.

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Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 29 January 2012 - 11:18

Thanks MB! I am moving soon to a place which will be far away from anyone I know! It's ok, though. Most likely I'll go into labor at night when I'm totally exhausted after a long day out and in that case, my DH would be there. Hi Amy. I had my first two children here in Dubai but at that time, I lived in walking distance from the hospital. I walked to the hospital during both labors! Anon...you know people not too far from where you're moving. ;) Just get the word out there that you'll need backup and I know those girls will come through for you, if you need them. :D I've totally abandoned that idea. I do not want to give birth in my car nor in a friend's car. Imagine the clean-up required if the baby were born in the car! <em>edited by AnonDubai on 29/01/2012</em>

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Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 29 January 2012 - 11:17

One thing to note, my neighbour called an ambulance when she went into labour as her hubbie was in Oman. and they charged her 300dh on the spot. So she was having contractions and trying to find her wallet at the same time!! That was only 1 yr ago but just be warned! Good Luck That's what I was thinking. In the USA, they bill you for it afterwards and it is expensive. Insurance won't cover it over there because it's not an emergency. Maybe it's the same line of thinking here, although 300 dirhams for an ambulance seems affordable.

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EW EXPERT

Latest post on 29 January 2012 - 09:28

Thanks MB! I am moving soon to a place which will be far away from anyone I know! It's ok, though. Most likely I'll go into labor at night when I'm totally exhausted after a long day out and in that case, my DH would be there. Hi Amy. I had my first two children here in Dubai but at that time, I lived in walking distance from the hospital. I walked to the hospital during both labors! Anon...you know people not too far from where you're moving. ;) Just get the word out there that you'll need backup and I know those girls will come through for you, if you need them. :D

192

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 29 January 2012 - 08:48

One thing to note, my neighbour called an ambulance when she went into labour as her hubbie was in Oman. and they charged her 300dh on the spot. So she was having contractions and trying to find her wallet at the same time!! That was only 1 yr ago but just be warned! Good Luck

Hello.Again.Kitty

1861

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 28 January 2012 - 22:23

I think I lack the energy to scream. Although, with DS, DH sat on a birthing ball and I could hear it squeaking against the floor which exaggerated the pain so, it took me 12 minutes to say it, but I mustered the strength to say 'go for a smoke, am fine' and that was all I could say. Then just before giving birth I said 'gas', and he said 'no, you're not having it'. I then began to push! Lol - sounds very familiar! The only coherent things I remember saying during my first was "water. now. [sip'> away" and during my second, was "this is it" just before I started pushing. Oh and "he's not coming out", which wasn't strictly true because my waters then broke and he was out on the next two pushes!

5452

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 28 January 2012 - 08:54

Thanks MB! I am moving soon to a place which will be far away from anyone I know! It's ok, though. Most likely I'll go into labor at night when I'm totally exhausted after a long day out and in that case, my DH would be there. Hi Amy. I had my first two children here in Dubai but at that time, I lived in walking distance from the hospital. I walked to the hospital during both labors!

Muesli Bar51338

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Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 28 January 2012 - 08:38

Anon Mabrook on your pregnancy!! :) (and you too AmyAus!) Maybe Anon you could post on here when you go into labour and someone closeby can help if required!! :)

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Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 28 January 2012 - 08:20

Thanks for all your responses. I guess I can safely say that I have no idea what labor #3 will be like! :) I didn't have enough time to have an epidural with my second child but I may opt for one if the third labor allows me the time. I really hate childbirth and am not relaxed at all during it. All I did was scream my head off!

Hello.Again.Kitty

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Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 28 January 2012 - 02:27

My first labour was 3.5 hours long from the first hint of a contraction to DD popping out. I was gearing up for one of those comedy labours - 20 minutes on the kitchen floor or something similar - but DS's ended up being 7.5 hours and far more relaxed. Both completely normal and natural. I just made sure that I had 2 on-call people to help out, day or night and a family member stayed with me for the 2 weeks running up to DH coming back from Dubai. <em>edited by Hello.Again.Kitty on 28/01/2012</em>

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Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 27 January 2012 - 20:07

My third was my longest labour! My first was 12hrs from first contraction to delivery, my second was 3hrs so I was freaking out with no 3 was sure he was going to be an hour or less as he was natural and with the other 2 I had an epidural however I was in labour for 14hrs!

1618

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 27 January 2012 - 20:02

I had to call an ambulance to the Greens once because a kid got pulled out of the pool not breathing. It took them an hour to get to us and it was the ambulance stationed in Emirates Living so it covered the springs, meadows, lakes, hills and greens area! When they did get there all they had was a stretcher and a thermal blanket with them no meds or other equipment for resuscitation! Thank god the life guard was so quick and one of the ladies at the pool was a nurse otherwise it would've been a tragedy!

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Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 27 January 2012 - 19:46

Hi Amy. You can get the VIP room, but you have to pay extra for it. I also hate hospital stays. I always beg them to let me out right away. It's too bad they don't allow home births here. 36 hours in the hospital is all I can bear. Let's hope my third pregnancy will be as smooth as my first two.

5452

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 27 January 2012 - 18:15

I heard the story recently of a woman from my town who did not realize she was in labor until the baby was crowning. By then, it was too late to get to the hospital and she gave birth at home. It sounds horrible but it is kind of nice at the same time. How nice to have a baby so quickly! <em>edited by AnonDubai on 27/01/2012</em>

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