Hi all. I'm having a real dilemma about choosing where to give birth and I'm wondering if anyone wants to share their views on these options with me.
I'm 36 weeks+1 with my first (and probably last!) child. I am low risk.
I live in a town with a highly rated and recommended midwife-led birth centre, which is a 5 minute drive from my house. The nearest big general hospital is around 20-30 minutes drive, depending on traffic.
The local birth centre has two private delivery rooms. My husband and I recently toured these when we attended an antenatal class there. Dimmed lighting, birthing pool, aromatherapy if you want it, comforting homely decor, just a really lovely environment. There is of course a bed but you are encouraged not to birth laying on your back and to try whatever positions are comfortable for you. All of the midwives and midwifery assistants were so friendly and welcoming. There are also private rooms for post natal care - double bed so partner can sleep over with you and adjacent kitchen where you can make tea and have snacks. Partners can stay with you 24 hours. Parking is free. I need to stay in for 48 hours for NAS observations due to medication I'm on, so this important. Breastfeeding support is offered and you can stay there longer if you feel you need more support. It's close to home and I'm familiar with many of the midwives there as I've been going for my clinic appointments.
No epidurals though - the options are oramorph, Entonox, and morphine injection.
Now, I know that the big hospital isn't really going to be like this. I used to work there (not in maternity but I am familiar enough with how it is there). Short staffed, midwives rushed off their feet. The parking is horrendous and expensive. I know several people who have given birth there and didn't have good experiences. However..... They have the epidural option. But I know I'm not guaranteed to get one if I ask for one, either due to stage of labour or availability of an anaesthetist. Also, if there are complications, you're already in the right place should an emergency c-section be required etc, whereas if you were elsewhere you'd have to go off in an ambulance.
I am anxious about birth and the pain involved, even though I consider myself to have a good pain tolerance, I have a fear of the unknown and have read so many horror stories about birth I'm pretty much terrified now. I'm reading about hypnobirthing to try and calm my fears.
I originally thought that if I had to give birth vaginally I'd definitely want as many drugs as possible and an epidural, so I had it set in my mind I was going to the hospital. But since viewing the rooms at the midwife-led centre and seeing how nice, friendly and comforting it was, I feel a bit stumped. I'm not sure what to do. Everything hinges on whether I feel I can manage without an epidural and I just don't know!
Any thoughts would be very welcome! What would you do in my position?
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Childbirth
Hospital vs midwife led birth centre?
38 replies
faelavie · 16/09/2019 20:24
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