Birthing Centres and Home Births and independant midwives

[MERMAIDKB]

Is having a baby somewhere other than a hospital easy to organise also what is likely to cost?

Being a first time mother is it worth considering giving birth at a just a midwife lead birthing centre??

[NatalieJaneIsPregnantAgain]

As long as your pregnancy continues to be a normal straight forward one, then you can give birth where ever you want!

Birthing centres are a good 'happy medium' between hospital and home, if you have one close enough to you they are available on the NHS.

Home births, you tell the MW you want a HB, she'll book you in (all being well) at around 36-37 weeks they will bring a HB pack out to your house in most circumstances, and you are ready to go. If you want a pool or anything you have to sort that out yourself, and get it OK'ed with the MW.

Independant MW is basically a private MW, I don't know all the ins and outs, but assume you would get more one to one care and obviously the advantage of having the same MW throughout. I think they range in cost from around £1000-2500 dependant on area and experience.

[jvs]

ds was 1st baby and he came at home, if you have good community midwives they can sort it all for you.... just as long as your pregnancy is problem free.... bit hit and miss sometimes though as you need (in our area at least) 2 midwives who are able to attend delivery, best to get yourself booked into birthing centre as well just incase their is not two able to come.
good luck

[MERMAIDKB]

I see - what happens if there are complications? Are there birthing centres with doctors and additional equipment.

[MrsMattie]

Birthing centres are usually attached to a hospital - you would be transferred to the maternity ward if there were any complications.

Birthing centres are almost always 'midwife led' (no doctors), with facilities you might not find on a normal maternity ward (e.g. birthing pools) but they do not generally offer you any pain relief other than gas & air.

[jvs]

The thing i found with a home delivery is that you are one on one with a midwife....they never leave your side, if anything is showing any signs of going pear shaped they pick it up really quickly and can get a blue light ambulance to get to hospital.

[kellyannlondon]

I had DS at a private birth centre in London in January. I have to say that the care I received was excellent - the same midwives throughout pregnancy, labour and post-natally. It's not cheap - I paid £6,500 which inlcuded care from 12 weeks (all appointments at home), private scans, labour and 6 weeks post-natal care. It is a lot of money but I did have a wonderful, natural labour. If this is a route you're interested in, I found my midwives through www.independentmidwives.org.uk

Re complications, the birth centre I used was next door to a hospital with a neo-natal ward so I knew if anything happened, I could be in there within 5 minutes.
I know though from talking to some friends that some NHS hospitals now have birthing centres attached so this might be an option as you would have the comfort of midwife-led care but the reassurance of being in a hospital.