Choosing hospitals?

[Gargula]

Hello,
Not concerned - just curious.
Read a few threads where people mention that they choose their hospitals for birth. I have never been asked to choose my hospital and just assumed it would be my nearest.
Is this a choice I am "supposed" to have?

[ben5]

i went to my local hospital with my first and because it was 4.30am they said they weren't taking anyone in at that time so they put me in an ambulance to glasgow(26miles away). by the time i got to glasgow i had ds1 within 20mins!!!! glasgow was my nearest big hospital.
ds 2 was born in hospital that was 5 miles up the road. just makes sense to have child at local hospital and sometimes you don't have much choice!!!!!!!!! good luck

[birdofthenorth]

My nearest hospital has a bad reputation, which to be honest I assumed was just hearsay and not a real risk. My midwife gave me a genuine choice which hospital to use and I asked her if she'd choose to have her kids in our local one -and she said to be honest, not! Her frankness surprised me.

She told me about the other options nearby and I've gone for a new swanky maternity unit in Manchester, about 13 miles from me. It may take us an extra 30 mins to get there when I'm in labour, but so long as the care is good when we do get there it's fine with me! It's also near DH's work so may be handy for him depending on when I pop.

You'll know what factors are most important to you, but if you're unsure just ask you midwife to give you the pros and cons. It genuinely is your choice, it seems! Bear in mind that in normal circumstances your birthing hospital is where you'll have all your scans etc too.

[honeyapple]

YES! You are supposed to have a choice!

There should be 3 choices-

hospital
midwife led birthing unit
home birth

The hopsital doesnt need to be your nearest either. If you want a hospital birth it is really important to go and visit them first- they all offer tours. For an uncomplicated pregnancy I would really suggest you think about a birthing unit (if you are fortunate to live near one) or a home birth. Studies show that for uncomplicated pregnancies a home birth is just as safe (if not more safe) than a hospital birth. Mothers that labour at home or in a birthing unit are less likely to need drugs beyond gas and air and are much less likely to need help with delivering their baby (ie forceps/ ventouse).