Saw the midwife for the first time today

[Sherlock]

And came home carrying the a *huge* pile of paperwork
Excuse long ramble post, but wanted to get it all out there

Anyway, midwife is lovely, dry sense of humour which I enjoy. My BP has dropped back down to its more normal 120/70 and she said she was not concerned about any extra weight I am carrying. She joked I'd only be gaining from here

We discussed where I'd like to give birth and she said my local hospital (20 minutes from here) was the usual place and had a midwife led unit. I said I wished to go to a different hospital. Turns out as its in a different county it means more paperwork and different waiting times for tests/scans etc than if I had chosen to stay local. Few more complications paperwork wise, but that's fine by me.

My main reasons for opting to go to a larger hospital outside of my area and therefore having the extra hassle were a) Midwife led means if things became complicated and I needed surgical intervention etc I'd have to be transferred to the main hospital 20 miles away anyway. And it would not be my choice of hospital either. b) The one I want to go to has a great reputation, am told the ladies giving birth there generally come out happier with the experience than they do at the other large one within my own county.

Anyway, paperwork for Taunton was duly filled out and will be sent off. Just have longer wait for certain baby tests there is all. And later on in our conversation it turned out that due to my asthma I'd not be able to give birth in a midwife led unit anyways, they'd send me to a larger hospital with full facilities. So glad I chose the one I did

Anyways, was good to get in the system as it were. Bloods at 12 weeks is the next thing. Now I am having a lazy day, taking the dogs for a walk in the biting cold wind and coming home and putting my feet up

 

[Manda&Thomas]

aww bless you glad you managed to pick a hospital you wanted hun
manda xx

 

[littlepip]

Glad everything went well! First thing i did after my midwife appointment was go and collect my bounty bag! Im going to a hospital 40 minutes away im dreading being in a car for 40 minutes screaming in pain lol but its a better hospital

 

[Sherlock]

I'm pleased that the hospital of my choice was ok. Sure it means paperwork for both NHS trusts, but they are good about it all apparently. Just one health trust has different times for things than the other, so its a juggle but thats ok.

It is a 30 minute drive also, but its a town I know well and my family and friends can all get to easily. The one in Exeter is 45 minutes away (on a good day in easy traffic) and my midwife told me the feedback from women giving birth there is not great compared to Taunton. I've heard great things about Taunton and not so good about Exeter also, so it was a no brainer for me

I did toy with the idea of a home birth, but as this is my first, and I'll be 37 when due, and with no idea how the pregnancy will go, I thought hospital was a better option. Also with my asthma and sometimes having severe attacks, I'd just rather know I was somewhere they could treat me. Midwife thought it was the sensible option also.