Whittington birth centre - questions to ask

[emilyarm]

Hi,

I am planning to visit my local birth centre theis weekend (at the Whittington). I wondered if anyone had any suggestions of questions to ask?

Ideally I want to have as natural experience as possible and am also considering a home birth but feel a birth centre may be an easier option.

Also would love to hear others experiences of the Whit.

Thx

I had my first baby at the Whittington 5 years ago, but opted for the labour ward as wanted the option of an epidural if necessary (so not much use, sorry!)

One thing I would ask is how often they are full and need to turn labouring women away, and what your options would be in that instance. When my water broke I had to wait 3 days on the maternity unit for a bed to become available on the labour ward for an induction. While I was there some women delivered on the antenatal ward.

Thx auntpolly

I had my first child at the Whittington in August last year. Strted off in the birth centre but did have to be transfered to the labour ward in the end. Despite needing to transfer and actually giving birth in the labour wrad I would definately go back to the birth centre, it was really lovely. The only 'disapointments' I have are mild and to do with a midwife rather then the actual centre really, when they changed shifts I got a new MW I thought was better! The atmosphere was nice and I was allowed to get on with things in my own way with what I felt to be appropriate encouragement or suggestions of things/positions to help. I also felt I was very well treated in the labour ward when I transfered. After the birth I was even offered a chance to go back to the birth centre as that was where I had started and had hoped to birth but I opted to go to the main postnatal ward instead as I didn't want to be taking up space in the birth centre when someone else could have the room to labour in (I guess I'd have moved again even if I had gone back to the birth centre though as I ended up in hopsital three more days). Again, I thought I got really good support and treatment there. Staff where really ubnderstanding with me - I got a migrain and lost my vision, my baby wouldn't breast feed for 2 days (but we got there in the end), and I had post traumatic stress syndrom with flash backs having had a bit of a traumatic time of it for the birth. They were really great with it all.

Post again if I can help with any specifics of the birth centre at the Whittington.