ANYONE HAD A WATERBIRTH AT LEICESTER ROYAL INFIRMARY?

[vhibbs]

Hi All

I am really keen to have a water birth, this is my first baby so have no idea what to expect or if the LRI even facilitate water births. As it is my first I would rather be in hospital so I know if anything goes wrong help is at hand.

If anyone is planning a water birth at LRI or has actually had a waterbirth there I would really appreciate your advice and experience.

Thanks

Vicky

17 WEEKS

Hello Vicky, I'm also 17 weeks and planning on going to the LRI so am really interested to read your responses. I was hoping to discuss waterbirths with my mw at my appt on 6th but any experiences would be great.

Hi Daisyfields

My midwife at my docs surgery isnt great to be honest have to try and prize the information out of here and half the time she doesnt even know - asked about antenal classes and she didnt know the number of the NHS led scheme for me to call. I mentioned a private on I found on the internet in our area and she was just like..yeah do that then.

Dont hold out much hope for her being any use throughout the pregnancy. What area are you in, in leicestershire? Have you had any suggestions for anetenal classes?

Vicky

I'm afraid I don't know anything about antenatal classes yet, tbh only just beginning to really take in the info that I read and am told properly, it's all been so surreal and just washing over me so far.

I'm in south leics and my mw is part of the meridian team. Have been sort of secretly considering a home birth if LRI don't have facilities for water. The thought of laying on my back in bed sounds hellish, although I'm a first timer too, so how would I bloody well know?!

Are there any other mws at your surgery that you could talk to?

I'm hoping to go to the Kensington Birth Centre at LRI - from talking to my midwife it's a midwife led unit within labour ward and they have mood lighting and at least 1 pool!

I'm trying not to think about the birth too much (only 12 weeks) but I like the idea of a water birth.

My midwife's other suggestion was the birth unit at Melton but I decided I wanted to be in hospital in case of problems or wanting an epidural. You can transfer there for postnatal care though :)

Anna

Hi, I'm 35+2 and hoping to use the LRI pool. Will let you know how it goes! Not getting my hopes up as it may well be in use, but all being well will have the baby in kensington birth centre.

Good luck cookingfat - hope everything goes smoothly!

I wanted to but the hospital was full so I couldn't (busy september from all the Christmas shagging!) Ended up with an epidural in the end anyway. So no experience of the pool but just wanted to say that LRI were fantastic. The birth centre is lovely and if there are any complications then the maternity unit is just down the corridor. I couldn't sing their praises enough.

Thanks Pickle, it's lovely to read that we'll be well looked after :)

i don't remember the kensington birth centre having mood lighting (unless its been put in since May), telly or radio didn't even work in the room i was in so was going stir crazy with nothing to take my mind off contractions, ended up getting moved to the maternity unit in the end to get syntocin drip to speed things up. I hated it in there but i suppose it depends on who you get and what your birth is like

Hi, I work at the birth centre and have to say we don't use the pool nearly as much as we would like too. The pool is located at the far end of delivery suite meaning if we are busy, the sheer logistics of caring for 2+ women very far away from each other and maintaining good communications with your colleague becomes very difficult and 2 midwives need to be present at the birth (which is also difficult with the staff shortages)Plus the room is more often than not being used by delivery suite.
Installing a pool on the birth centre has been asked for for years, but the cost has always been a barrier. This is YOUR service. You should all demand a pool be installed for your use as this is the largest birth centre in the country and we can rarely offer it as an option.
We do have lots of births in the baths however!
Melton has 2 birth pools as have the General and of course theres always the homebirth option!

Go to Melton Mowbray. St Mary's birth centre is the BEST place in this country to have a natural birth, never rushed, always supportive, will help you with breast feeding and won't rush you out.

At least go there for the aftercare.

I had ds2 at LGH, and insisted on a transfer. the LGH staff were very snotty about it, and I found I had to insist very firmly that I didn't want to 'just go home', and that I wasn't ready (I really wasn't, 6 hours after birth!) and I wanted to go to St Mary's.

The staff at St Mary's were adorable and had my lunch ready (giant oven baked jacket potato with salad, cheese, coleslaw and gammon ham)

You may have to insist on going there/

I will second going to St mary's. Had dd1 there in 2004. it was just fab. I wouldn't consider giving birth anywhere else other tha Okehampton Maternity Unit. (Had moved back home for dd2)

happyjules, was the food good? >

I have been looking into it too im 20 weeks on friday and i'm thinking water birth apparently the LRI has 2 pools according to the net? Don't know how true this is!? cathypearl do u work at the royal? If so im due June 17th think you could reserve me one :o
Its one born every minute that got me thinking about it after watching a lady on that i watched a few videos and all the women seem so comfortable!