Time For A Test Drive

When your big day arrives you want to have as little to worry about as possible. Traffic and road delays are very unpredictable; therefore you should know all your available routes to your delivery location. Even if you’ve been there a dozen times, you never know if there will be construction or an accident that may cause an unwanted detour. 

The lucky person that gets to drive you while you’re in labor will also now be under an immense amount of stress and emotion; a nervous driver plus a road delay is a recipe for a disaster. So to prevent all of this, be prepared and run a few test drives as you get closer to your big day. It would also be wise to also do those test drives on different days of the week and at different times of day. A weekday, a weekend, in the morning, during rush hour, etc. During these test drives, you should also note when you left your house and when you arrived at your destination. By having the clocked estimated time of arrival, you will now have a general idea of how long you will be in labor during your drive. Having this data ahead of time will allow you the opportunity to call for help so an ambulance can escort you to the hospital so you’re not giving birth on the interstate. 

If you determine that your desired birthing location could be difficult to reach in an emergency situation, you should also have another delivery location option lined up. Perhaps the backup location could be a “high risk” hospital, a high rated ICU, or another hospital that your OBGYN works at during the week. Whatever the reason, having a second location already planned out, and test driven to, could become an actual life saver.

As your due date approaches, there are a few other travel tips to consider. Be sure to always have your car’s gas tank full, your hospital bag packed and your car seat properly installed in the backseat of your car. Some new mom's may have time after delivery to send their partner home to install the car seat and to pick up any missing items, but having the car seat already installed (and checked by your local police or fire station) will eliminate one more thing from your mind. 

One last important thing to consider: a back-up partner. If you and your trusted partner are not together once labor progresses, you should be prepared with a back-up partner to drive and accompany you to the hospital or your delivery location. You should absolutely NOT get behind the wheel during this fragile time. If you’re unable to get a hold of your driver and do not have an available backup person to drive you, call 911 and take the ambulance escort. Just be aware that if this happens, they will take you to your nearest hospital which might not be your preferred location - so prepare accordingly ahead of time just in case. 

Remember, safety first! Driving a little fast is ok, but driving through red lights is not safe - or legal! If possible, ask your driver to avoid potholes to remain as comfortable as possible. If anything happens during your drive and you are unable to reach your destination, call for help. Keep your doctor’s phone and emergency numbers saved in your favorites and have your medical IDs handy. Hold on, breathe, and remember: You Got This Mama!