🚑 Maternity emergencies: when and how to get there

Gear and preparation

• Hospital bag, identification, Mother Child Health Handbook and any other pregnancy records.
• Your hospital's maternity assessment or labour ward contact number.
• A planned route, backup transport and arrangements for other children.
• A charged phone and relevant payment or insurance information, without delaying urgent care to collect it.
• Before birth, check your SHA enrolment and dependant details, your chosen provider's maternity eligibility and any fees. SHA administers the system, including SHIF, which replaced NHIF from October 2024; do not assume every service is covered.

What to do

1. 1. Contact the maternity team

   Call for contractions, suspected waters breaking or uncertainty about symptoms. Explain the pregnancy stage, symptoms, previous births and any high-risk care plan; follow their instructions about where and when to attend.

2. 2. Recognise urgent warning signs

   Reduced movements, vaginal bleeding, severe headache, visual changes, fever or severe abdominal pain need prompt maternity assessment. Do not delay because contractions are irregular.

3. 3. Call 999 or 112 when needed

   Call for heavy bleeding, collapse, seizure, severe breathing difficulty or signs birth is imminent, such as an uncontrollable urge to push. Follow the dispatcher's instructions. If you cannot connect or an ambulance cannot reach you promptly, contact the nearest maternity emergency facility and activate the safest available backup transport; do not wait indefinitely.

4. 4. Arrange appropriate transport

   If the team advises routine travel, choose a safe driver or taxi with a companion where possible. The labouring person should not drive. Share navigation, bags and communication according to what your partner needs.

5. 5. Leave without unnecessary delays

   Bring records if readily available. If waters may have broken, note the time, colour and smell and use a sanitary pad, not a tampon. Do not wait for a shower or a fully packed bag when assessment is advised.

Classic mistakes

• ❌ Assuming you always have two hours Labour and complications can change quickly. Travel distance and individual risk also affect the plan.
• ❌ Diagnosing false labour at home Irregular contractions do not rule out a problem, especially before 37 weeks. Ask your maternity team rather than dismissing symptoms.

Same topic

• 🚨 7 warning signs to contact maternity care promptly
• ❓ What happens after a trip to maternity triage?
• ⏳ Understanding labour stages and cervical dilation
• 💉 The epidural: how it works and what to expect