i have to decide..

[titch]

... where to have my baby. But im being expected to make this decision with no real information!

Im moving house on Friday and will be a 10 minute drive from the hopsital I work at (in the child development centre) and a 20-30 minute drive from the hospital where I have been having my antenatal care so far.

Because my new house is under a new NHS trust I will be changing GP and Im guessing changing midwife too.

The only info I have is that my current hospital has midwifery led care and consultant led care in separate units and the new hospital only has a standard consultant led care unit. They also have a higher rate of c-section but I think this is because the consultant led care in my current hospital has a really bad reputation so lots of mothers plan to go there for consultant led. theres been lots of bad press about my current hospital, especially in other pregnancy forums when I google it, Ive heard women swear they will never go near the place again. On the other hand the midwifery led unit is brand new (less than a year open) and is described more like a hotel than a hosptial with double beds so your OH can stay over with you and a high number of birthing pools to make sure more women can use them if they request it.

So Im stuck. Im on midwifery led care and I intend to give birth in a pool if Im allowed with gas & air and relaxation techniques for pain relief, so a more 'homely' environment would be much better for this than a clinical environment. Thing is, if I end up needing to be transferred to consultant intervention during my labour then Ill be petrified cos Ive heard so many bad things. On the other hand the new hospital is closer to my house and I get free parking with my staff pass!

How am I supposed to make this decision, I kind of want to see both the places and chat to the staff to get a feel for how supportive they will be of my birthplan, but is this possible so early?

Feels like making a decision in the dark!

 

[Rosie's Mummy]

I can see your quandry - is the consultant led unit higher in C-section rates because women with high risk needs are automatically under a consultant and therefore more likely to require a C-section? It hink some statistics can be misleading. I think you should ask to visit both places, I know that last time I had the opportunity for a tour around the unit where I went but that wasnt until much later on, when I was 7 months gone. I like the sound of your midwife led care; definitely the sort of thing Im after.
Let us know what you decide to do xx

 

[frances2009]

I'm also moving house 4 weeks before the baby is due and need to chose between 2 hospitals - my original hospital and one closer to where I'll be living when I move.

My original hospital has a "home from home" unit which I was dead keen to go to. The closer one doesn't although they are both midwife led.

It's been suggested that if I do want to change hospitals, I do so now so that I can receive all my midwife care there rather than changing at the last minute (moving July, baby due August).

I'm going on a tour of the new hospital tomorrow (even thought I am only 14 weeks pregnant) and hope looking at their facilities will help me with my decision.

I think the overriding thing for me is probably to chose the closest one. Have asked around and many people say the car journey to the hospital can be pretty awful. Bearing in mind we live London (so traffic unpredictable) and don't have a car (getting a taxi!) I'm not sure if I like the thought of being stuck on-route to the hospital!

Am hoping to make my final decision after seeing the hospital tomorrow.

I agree though, hard to make this early and to weigh up all the pros and cons!

 

[titch]

ah thats good that you're getting to view both. How did you manage that? Did you just ring them or did your midwife organise it? So many decisions! Just so anxious to get it right!

 

[frances2009]

They just had a helpline at the new hospital so I called that. They were super helpful and just suggested I come down to check everything out. Most places seem to do tours I think - you don't normally have to book or anything as far as I'm aware so no restrictions on who turns up.

 

[titch]

oooh thanks for this info, Ill defiantely give them a ring and arrange to look round, at least i know what Im choosing then!

 

[frances2009]

Did you have any luck phoning the hospitals for a tour?

I went on mine last night and was ok as far as hospitals go.... the room wasn't very.. I don't know... inspiring? Not sure what I was expecting really! All very clinical (yes I know its a hospital!) - just a bed and an armchair. Told us to bring own pillows etc.

I guess when you're in labour you don't really care? But just didn't seem to be the most inviting of rooms...

I don't know what I was hoping for really.....

Might go and see my original hospital next week - although further away does have a "home from home" unit so perhaps this will seem more appealing..

Guess I should stop being fussy

 

[becks20]

Hope you get to view the hospitals. I saw my midwife on wednesday and i said about a home birth and they didnt seem very keen although that really pissed me off as my OH`s SIL is having her 1st baby at home with the same midwifes. They said they ill have to check and make sure i can get taken to hospital if i need to be taken, which as far as im concerned an ambulance could drive up to the car park shutter and theres 2 flights of stairs to get down from my flat so i cant see the problem but then i was offered to have a water birth at the hospital, they have ONE pool and they said i will have it if i go into labour, but when i had my daughter the pool had been used and hadnt been cleaned so whats to say this wont happen again. grrr sorri iv side tracked lol im hoping to view the maternity ward here but seems can only do it if i do antenatel classes which i dont want to do as i no most of it! X