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Pregnancy

Midwife led units

31 replies

Inbl00m · 12/06/2014 19:19

Hi ladies, has anybody had/is anybody considering having their baby in a MLU?

OP posts:

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scarlettsmummy2 · 12/06/2014 19:24

Yes, had both babies in MLU. Only positive things to say. Much better facilities, lovely midwives and generally a great experience. I had a water birth second time, which I also highly recommend. One birth was in NI, the other in Scotland.

tumbletumble · 12/06/2014 19:38

I intended to have my babies in midwife led units but it didn't work out that way.

DC1 - started off in MLU but transferred to labour ward when I decided to have an epidural
DC2 - arrived before I had time to get to the MLU
DC3 - finally achieved my aim!

mssleepyhead · 12/06/2014 19:46

Really hoping to be giving birth in one in August. So far I'm on track to (low risk). Really like the look of mine, and it's in a hospital with a labour ward just above it so any problems and I can be transferred easily. Fingers crossed I won't need that though!

Fissawissa · 12/06/2014 19:53

I'm also hoping to have this baby in a MW led unit - sounds similar to yours mssleepyhead.
I'm looking forward to it!

iamelectrogirl · 12/06/2014 19:58

Yes- all mothers are referred to the MLU here unless they're high risk/ overdue.
It also helps that my mum is a midwife who works exclusively there

SouthDerbyshireMamma · 12/06/2014 19:59

I've requested to give birth in MLU and so far I'm on track to achieve this.

Inbl00m · 12/06/2014 20:03

Glad to hear so many positive thoughts about MLUs. Our original midwife asked me where I'd like to give birth before I'd had chance to look into it. She really put me off the MLU by saying 'we don't really advise it for first timers' but having looked into it it sounds like a much nicer option than the hospital.

Obviously you have to be happy to transfer if needs be but I'm happy to take that chance.

OP posts:

callamia · 12/06/2014 20:04

I did, and I'd happily do it again.
My baby needed to go to NICU soon after birth, but a paediatrician arrived in minutes and he was taken upstairs to the NICU in good time (he wasn't in any danger - he just needed a little extra oxygen).

My midwife was excellent, and the facilities were great. I had my own room, a pool, and my husband and I were both allowed to stay a little while to recover even after ds was taken to NICU.

MuscatBouschet · 12/06/2014 20:05

I did first time round and it was great. My midwife friend said all the best midwives like to work in a MLU, given the choice, because they have more autonomy and say over their work environment.

SouthDerbyshireMamma · 12/06/2014 20:08

Thats contradictory to what my midwifery team advise OP. They were over the moon when I said I wanted midwife lead care at my booking appointment and i'm a first timer. Its encouraged round here

Shame its not the same story everywhere..

RAFWife12 · 12/06/2014 20:13

OP - I'm surprised that you were told they don't recommend first timers go to MLU! I've been advised it from day 1, and all being well that's where I plan to give birth.

museumum · 12/06/2014 20:14

I had my ds (first baby) in an mlu but it was on the same site as the hospital. I had a water birth and it was fantastic. But the mws did call a paediatrician down from the hospital just as ds came out because there was a lot of meconium present. Ds was checked over and totally fine.
When a mlu is on a different site from the hospital I don't know if they can just call in a paed like that?

pamplemoussed · 12/06/2014 20:20

Had both my dcs in a mlu; water birth for both. Fantastic experience both times.

Inbl00m · 12/06/2014 20:24

RAFWife and SouthDerbyshireMamma I'm surprised in hindsight now I've looked into it a bit myself.

That said, original midwife has now disappeared - even the surgery doesn't know where she's gone - so I'll ask one of the community team I'll now be seeing for their advice too. All a bit odd!

OP posts:

mssleepyhead · 13/06/2014 20:37

Interesting that some places don't recommend it. It's the default option when I live; I wasn't even asked if I wanted to give birth there, they just assumed. Luckily I did!

squizita · 13/06/2014 20:44

I'm a high risk (not gynie a blood condition) and a 1st timer and was given all the mlu leaflets, told it was up to me!

Inbl00m · 14/06/2014 14:38

Squizita what did you decide to do?

OP posts:

Roxie85 · 14/06/2014 15:27

I had my first 6months ago at my mlu and it was fab. After a tour at both the hospital and the mlu i knew in my gut where i wanted to go and was willing myself to get to 37 weeks and to not need inducing. Thankfully baby arrived at 37+4 so i got my mlu waterbirth. However due to a 3rd degree tear i didnt get to take full advantage of the option to stay overnight with hubby and baby at the mlu as was taken to hospital for surgery and had to stay overnight there instead alone with baby.
Only actually spent 1hr 30mins at the mlu due to it being only 50mins from arriving to the birth.
Hope i will be allowed my next there when the time comes.

Roxie85 · 14/06/2014 15:33

Oh and my mlu was 20mins away from the hospital which was my only concern, but they have full resuscitation stations for mum and baby on site and mws are trained to use them, but they tend to be overly cautious and if there is any hint of a problem (even a bit of meconium in the waters) an ambulance is called and you are transferred.
At my mlu you can only go if your waters are clear (if they break before arriving) if you dont want high level pain relief (no epidurals available) and you are not being induced, have low iron levels etc etc (there are a lot of boxes to tick in case)

Chipandspuds · 14/06/2014 15:58

I had DS in our local midwife led unit and it was really good. I arrived and had an internal examination and then I was straight into the birthing pool with some gas and air. It was all as relaxed as giving birth can be and afterwards I had my own room which had an ensuite toilet and shower. I'm booking in there again with dc2! It is reassuring that our mlu is the floor beneath the maternity wards at the local hospital so if you change your mind and want an epidural they can transfer you and you just go up in the lift :)

StetsonsAreCool · 14/06/2014 16:25

I had MLU delivery with dd, which I chose because the consultant ward had all the equipment out, ready to use in an emergency - which makes sense if the majority of deliveries scheduled for consultant ward are high risk. Personally I felt that I wanted to avoid intervention if possible and that would be easier if it wasn't there waiting to be used.

Having said that, this time there's a chance I might haemorrhage and so I might be high risk. Tbh, even if I am low risk, I'm still going to choose the MLU in the next town over, which will avoid an ambulance ride if I do need to be rushed to the consultant ward. I may well even choose the consultant ward over the MLU, as I don't want the worry of a big bleed overshadowing the rest of my labour.

RetroHippy · 14/06/2014 16:34

Just had mlu recommended today at my booking in appt. I've got a choice of two, one with a ward at the attached hospital, one which has an attached hospital but would require an ambulance over to the other if there were complications. It will be my first, they have no reason to suspect I'll have any foreseeable issues, so either would be fine.

From what I've seen, they're lovely. I'd definitely go for that over a ward.

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ShoeJunkie · 14/06/2014 16:42

I had DS at MLU, fab experience.
Currently expecting DC2 and plan to have them there all being well.

Holfin · 14/06/2014 16:43

I had my first in a consultant led unit as she was born at 36 weeks. My second was at a MLU (different site with consultant ward). I much preferred the MLU. Much more relaxed, quiet and calming in my own experience.

Holfin · 14/06/2014 16:43

*without consultant ward attached

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