Posted this on a Bristol specific thread, but know we have a few Bristol ladies here who I didn't spot on that thread so thought I'd copy my write up of visits to hospital vs midwife units from today...
Cossham is lurrrvely!
4 rooms all with double beds and pools, and they'll have 2 ladies in active labour at any time (the other 2 can be people recovering). In reality people aren't in there any longer than 24 hrs as they only take low risk births and you'll get transferred to Southmead if there's any complications. They say they rarely have to turn people away. Transfer rate is around 40% for FTM, and only about 4% for those who've birthed before. But the 40% is as much those being transferred after birth (more severe tears, blood loss, help birthing the placenta, baby needs a bit of help or drugs etc) as during labour.
At southmead the mendip birth suite is closed until at least new year they reckon. But they've basically moved it up in to rooms right next to central delivery suite. There were 3 rooms, 2 with pools, and there are now 5 rooms but only one with a pool. The others are basically delivery rooms painted lilac with some mats on the floor. The pool room was lovely, the others were meh compared to cossham. You're not allowed to bring in your own pool. Once you've birthed you'll have an hour or so in that room then be transferred on to the mendip ward where they have private recovery rooms. Again, given its low risk births, you're not going to be in them for long, although min time is about 7 hrs as they have to do checks 6 hrs after birth. Advantage is you are right next to central delivery suite if something goes wrong.
If you're on central delivery suite, the rooms are basic hospital rooms like you see on One Born. You can move the bed out of the way and they'll give you mats/ balls etc for more active labour if you want it. Once you birth you get an hour or so to establish feeding/ have a shower etc then you move on to shared ward. Partner allowed to sleep in a chair (or bring their own camping mat!) the first night but then only come between 10 and 7 if you're in a while.
If baby is in nicu you'll be allowed in and out 24hrs, and probably get a private room on mendip ward.
I'm going to go and have a look at midwife ward at st mikes too. My main reason for wanting a home birth was to guarantee a pool, but after hearing that cossham is rarely full, I may take the chance. Reckon I'd phone Southmead first and go there if pool is free, then st mikes if similar set up to Southmead, then cossham if st mikes pools are taken. The midwife at cossham was lovely and said it's extremely rare they transfer in a genuine emergency, they generally know early if something isn't quite right and there's plenty of time for an ambulance etc.
I also wanted a home birth as I was keen to labour in water and thought if I'm in a pool at home in the early stages, I may as well just stay there. But, the midwife said you should only really use immersion in the final stages of labour so you get the benefit, if you're in it from the start you won't get the same relief when needed. She suggested just being in your bath, or leaning over your birthing ball with your shower running over your back (don't know how big her shower is!) to get the benefit of warm water in the early stages.