ambulance?!!

[CharlieSienna]

Iv heard you have to pay for an ambulance if you go in to labour does andyone know if this if true im in england leicester?

[nitabanks]

I've never heard of it to charge in the uk but then again I've never needed to go in an ambulance with my last pregnancy I had to travel from one hospital to the next via ambulance due to baby pooping when water broke the didn't have the full equipment a or whatever in my local hospital and it was a 20 minute Half hour drive but it was free other than that I jump in a taxi or knowing me get the bus Lool hospital isn't that far out in my opinion I rather get a taxi or someone to drop me than to wait for ambulance it feels dramatic even though being in labour for some people can be

[RockRose]

Mama,  most people get to the hospital in a private car.

Getting to the hospital,  in true labor,  isn't an ambulance situation unless you wait until the baby is actually coming out.  

Rarely do babies surprise anyone that way although it does happen,  and if you're at home and your baby's head comes out,  it's time to call 911.

Otherwise,  get to the hospital in a private vehicle - and have your husband or boyfriend or mother drive you.

[MamaDanielle]

guys i agree with specialmom - she is not saying that going into labour isnt an emergency she is saying that early labour and false labour isnt. there can be 20+ hours difference!
definitely call an ambulance when u know ur baby is coming because that is an emergency!good luck to all

[tishaxx]

Lol na not in the UK

[lysbordo]

A lot of people just have friends or the father bring them. Is that not an option? I don't know many women that had to have an ambulance come. That's a bit extreme.

[MrsEvans0o]

If you call the ambulance when you are crowning it takes time for them to get there. It could be to late. So it makes perfect sense to call them when you are in labor if you need to, to make sure your baby is safe. I drive so I could take myself. But if I wasn't fortunate enough I would have to call an ambulance bc my husband works out of state and the closes friend I have lives over an hour away. And taxi service is in town and you have to pay an extra 25$ for them to pick youbupnout of town. So calling an ambulance seems like the thing to do. YOU don't know peoples situation so don't say going into labor isn't an emergency

[specialmom]

Bottom line is every woman should do what she needs to do.  She obviously has to get to the hospital one way or another.  Wishing all moms luck in the process of having their baby safely.  peace

[aicnov14]

Yeah I heard its a few hundred for an ambulance ride, I busted my head back in the day and had to take a ride. the e.r. is expensive in general.

[specialmom]

Well, that is when it is an emergency-- ambulance should be called for emergencies.  I know when I was affiliated with an ER, they really tried to encourage people to use ambulances for their proper purpose (emergencies) rather than a ride.  But if someone does, there is a charge for it. And yes, there is a charge when someone is having a true emergency as well.  The question was if there is a charge for it.  I'm not going to tell anyone NOT to call an ambulance if they think they need it---  I was explaining why they do charge.  And why it is proper that they do.

Now, in some big cities, hospitals have affiliation with taxi services for those that have transportation issues.  I'd investigate that if I lived in a metropolitan area.  

[super_nerdy_mommy]

It's a rather late to be calling an ambulance in hopes of getting to the hospital if your child is already crowning. Calling when you reach transition may even be too late to expect to get there. "Full labor" as you put it, or active labor is considered to be when contractions are regular and consistently growing stronger, longer, and closer together. Most physicians (and I have read reports and recommendations from multiple countries around the world, not just my physician here in the US) say that once your contractions are consistently three to five minutes apart it is time to find whatever way you can to the hospital if that is where you plan to give birth.

[miracle_mommy2014]

Oh no lol my bad....my comment was for the poster I wasn't really paying attention to other comments....

[specialmom]

I was answering the question for the poster for WHY they charge for an ambulance.  She was asking a pretty basic question that I'm sure many wonder about.  There is a reason they charge and partly so that it isn't just used for a ride as that really adds onto the cost of services.  And most people are a little bit concerned with that.  

But any mother who thinks that she is in danger of having her baby at home and has to get to the hospital should do whatever they have to do.  Safety is most important for the mom and the baby.  

[miracle_mommy2014]

Why would you not have to pay for an ambulance?

[specialmom]

And by full labor, I mean baby crowning.  I think just needing a ride isn't an emergency and say you do all of a sudden have an emergency with your pregnancy where you need immediate medical assistance so that you or your baby won't die, you might be upset that the ambulance already had a passenger that just needed a ride to the hospital. If you have no other ride, then fine. Call an ambulance but certainly, there should be a charge for it when it's used as a taxi.  

Again, I'd think about other methods such as a real taxi or having a friend you can call or something like that.

people have to do what they have to do but to expect that for free is what I was saying. They do charge because those runs cost money including the salary of trained emt's and you are taking the emt's away from other emergencies.  That's all.  But people should do what they need to do or have to do.  A safe delivery is always most important.  luck to everyone.  

[specialmom]

No, it's not an emergency unless you are in full labor,.  labor usually takes a while.  I'd call a taxi.  good luck

[super_nerdy_mommy]

I know my state here in the US bills you for any ambulance use, and that it's usually (at least mostly) covered by insurance if you have it. I'm not sure about the UK though. You could always call the main desk at your hospital and ask them to transfer you to someone who could answer your question, especially if you think it's a serious possibility that you may be alone when you go in to active labor.

[MrsEvans0o]

And also the ambulance sends a bill you don't have to pay right away. It gives you a month or 2. And if you have medicaid it will be covered if you had to call anyways. I hope you and your baby get safely to the hospital when the time comes :)

[MrsEvans0o]

@specialmom !! So it isn't an emergency if your going into labor and have to way to the hospital? Heart attacks and other stuff are important but isn't it important to make sure your baby's life is safe as well? I think your comment should have been thought out a little more.

[CharlieSienna]

Well yeahh I agree that there for emergency nd would only ring one if something was wrong with my pregnancy.. I was just saying that I just  they charge u either way

[My2LoveBugs]

I agree with @Specialmom! If you're not in true labor then there's no emergency.

[specialmom]

Yes, it does and probably should cost money.  I think one of the reasons is so that an ambulance is reserved for true emergencies.  Picking someone up for a ride into the hospital takes away from the possibility of someone else having a heart attack getting life saving help.  

[CharlieSienna]

Ohh I see, I near ish to the leicester royal but its walkable but not when your have contractions lol, ill ring taxi if mums not around god help me lol

[josh_2415]

If you're in the US, the cost of emergency services depends on the state you live in. I grew up in Iowa, and you had to pay for calling for an ambulance. But where I live now, it's covered by tax dollars.

[mummainoz]

Not where I am in Qld Australia.