https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 24 Apr 2026 13:53:46 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-drive-to-the-hospital#post-606873 Fri, 01 Mar 2013 18:17:56 +0000 FarmWifeGina 606873@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just pretend you live somewhere rural where even Target is 100 miles away, lol. We drove to a tiny country hospital 50 miles away for our last birth, but most of my friends drive 100 miles to the bigger hospitals. We only went to the smaller hospital because I found an MD there that I loved (she was pretty much a midwife, Birkenstocks and everything, lol) and I broke pretty much ALL the rules under her supervision, lol. But if there was a birth center, ANY kind of birth center with midwives, in-hospital or not, I would be very happy to drive that far for appointments and delivery. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-drive-to-the-hospital#post-573723 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 21:53:32 +0000 prettylizy 573723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are 30-45 minutes from our hospital and it was fine. Early labour lasted days for us (literally 2 days.... ugh!) we had plenty of time to get to the hospital. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-drive-to-the-hospital#post-573708 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 21:51:04 +0000 Foodnerd81 573708@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Would all you prenatal appts have to be at the place an hour away too? For labor and delivery alone, I think I would do it, but if I had to make that trip every month, then every two weeks, then every week, I think it would get old fast. (I haven't given birth though, so what do I know??)</p> <p>I will say that the far place sounds prefect and is exactly what I'm doing-- it's a midwife birthing center in a hospital, with access to any interventions we could need. It's slightly farther away than other options, but I'm spoiled in that it's 10-15 minutes away vs 5-10! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-drive-to-the-hospital#post-573681 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 21:45:42 +0000 wheres_c 573681@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My experience was the same as @kiddosc. I chose a hospital near work which was an hour away. When my water broke i wasnt in that much pain, and labor took 18 hours. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-drive-to-the-hospital#post-572992 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 17:53:18 +0000 mjane 572992@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I live in NYC and the hospital birthing center we went with is a few miles away, but probably around an hour given ny traffic. Lots of ladies here do it... Might be an uncomfortable ride, but generally works out in the end. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-drive-to-the-hospital#post-572777 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 16:14:19 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 572777@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine was two hours away :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-drive-to-the-hospital#post-572739 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 16:02:51 +0000 Weagle 572739@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In my hometown, the closest hospital with a L&amp;D ward is an hour+ away. It's no big deal. I delivered LO at a hospital 30-45 minutes away (depending on traffic) and it was fine. However, I had a super fast labor and was in transition in the car. That sucked. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-drive-to-the-hospital#post-572651 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 15:29:21 +0000 red_seattle 572651@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were 5 minutes away from the hospital, and that felt like the furthest I wanted to be. We went to the hospital 3 times and got sent away twice (that "5-1-1 rule" isn't helpful when your contractions start at 3 minutes apart-- I was only at 1 cm the 1st 2 times, and at almost 4 the 3rd time when I got to stay.) So there's that-- I would've been really upset if we had been sent away and had to drive an hour each way, each time. The other part is that the last trip to the hospital, it was SOOOO hard to deal with my contractions in the car, and I only had 3 or 4 (by then my contractions were a minute or 2 apart maybe?). And I only had to do it for 5 minutes! My idea of torture is an hour in the car while in labor. Sooooo.... IF the birth center will admit you no matter what if you're at 1 cm or 3 cm as long as you are definitely in labor, then an hour away is fine. In early labor, you could do it. But if they will send you away and you'll have to make the drive when you're in more pain and things are more intense, then I'd go with your closer option. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-drive-to-the-hospital#post-572615 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 15:07:12 +0000 kiddosc 572615@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The hospital I delivered at was an hour away. I work near the hospital and I my OB was chosen because it was convenient for me to get to appointments from work. There was more than enough time to get to the hospital and it really wasn't something I was terribly worried about. I figured if labor progressed super quickly there were several hospitals on the way and we could stop at any of them. The hour drive wasn't the most pleasant of my life, but wasn't horrible and was totally doable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-drive-to-the-hospital#post-572610 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 15:04:14 +0000 MsLipGloss 572610@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Grizz: Ahhhh - gotcha! I wish I had more of a perspective for you! I had an unscheduled induction at 38.5/39 weeks, so I didn't have a chance to experience a naturally paced labor! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-drive-to-the-hospital#post-572599 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 14:58:31 +0000 Boheme 572599@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsLipGloss: They are right there if you need them! Its just that the wing I'd be in, they won't be offered unless they're necessary. Its actually a wing of a regular hospital with a regular labor and delivery unit :) That's what I like so much about it...Its kind of both worlds in one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-drive-to-the-hospital#post-572596 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 14:56:08 +0000 Boheme 572596@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.Someone: I've thought about it! haha! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-drive-to-the-hospital#post-572583 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 14:49:05 +0000 Arden 572583@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsLipGloss: She said the birth center is IN a hospital, so she has definite access to all interventions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-drive-to-the-hospital#post-572576 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 14:46:42 +0000 Arden 572576@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My birth center is an hour away. My midwives aren't at all worried about the distance, many of their patients come from even further.</p> <p>If you get there in early labor and don't want to stay, you could always just get a hotel nearby and then return to the center when you are ready.</p> <p>Most first time moms are in labor for an average of 12-24 hours. I don't think it would be an issue at ALL. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-drive-to-the-hospital#post-572575 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 14:46:41 +0000 MsLipGloss 572575@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>An hour is an awfully long way if you are in pain, or making multiple trips (what if you arrive too early and they want to send you home)?</p> <p>I would also not be okay with not having access to medical intervention if the need were to arise. (I am not sure I read your post correctly - but I would definitely want to have doctor/surgical access just in case). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-drive-to-the-hospital#post-572573 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 14:46:02 +0000 BelugaBean 572573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@artbee: I like this idea.</p> <p>I wanted my hospital a bit closer, around 30 minutes or less. I started having contractions around 6:45am and left for the hospital around 3:30pm. It was supposed to be a 15-20 minute drive but ended up taking 1 hour and 15 minutes because of an accident. So I would make sure you think about everything that could go wrong on the way there. I definitely like the idea of seeing if you could stay somewhere closer though because I think you would be more comfortable at the midwifery wing.</p> <p>Edit: I will add that my water broke right when we got to the hospital but I would not have been able to deal with a car ride that was an hour long with how contractions felt after my water broke. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-drive-to-the-hospital#post-572572 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 14:45:45 +0000 Mrs.Someone 572572@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have no experience, but can you take the police car to the hospital when the time comes? Might make that trip a whole lot shorter! ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-drive-to-the-hospital#post-572565 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 14:43:41 +0000 ladyfingers 572565@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our hospital is 10 minutes away and that was too far. I did have a quick labor though (until I got the epidural). My water broke at 9:45 and by the time we got to the hospital an hour later, I was 7 cm. When contractions started at 9:45 they were 10 minutes apart. We had to wait for my FIL to come over to watch the dog and by the time we got to the hospital they were 2 minutes apart. I have a pretty shitty pain threshold but if I had to be in the car with those contractions for an hour I would have lost my ever-loving mind. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-drive-to-the-hospital#post-572554 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 14:40:22 +0000 heffalump 572554@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think an hour is too far away. Do you know anyone who lives closer to the place that you can hang out at their house when you begin signs of labor to make him feel better? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-drive-to-the-hospital#post-572544 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 14:36:31 +0000 Boheme 572544@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you were seeking out natural childbirth options, how far would you drive? </p> <p>I just learned that our nearest birthing center is in our insurance network. It is actually part of a hospital, but it is an intervention free zone where your birth is attended by a midwife. Should the need arise for intervention, you are right there in the hospital and an obstetrician will be available. This is honestly the option I'm most comfortable with since I'm a first time mama but natural birth is really important to me.</p> <p>We had planned on having this baby at a great hospital in our area, however, natural birth is difficult there. Its not really accepted or understood. They are ok with you wanting to do it, but I've had friends who delivered pain med-free there who say they get really pushy with the interventions. Both of them ended up with pitocin. My doctor is also a natural birth skeptic. </p> <p>Sounds like a no brainer for me, right? Well here's the kicker: the conventional hospital is 30 minutes away (more in traffic) but the midwifery wing of the other hospital is one hour away. I'm really struggling with the decision. My husband is apparently convinced all labors go lightning fast since he delivered a woman's baby while he was at work (in his police car, no less!), so I will have to get him on board with the midwife staffed hospital. I'm 25 weeks so the decision needs to be made this week to get me all switched! What would you do?! </p>