Sharing a room?

[thefurryone]

Hi, I am currently 31 weeks pg and planning to go to the MLU at our local hospital for the birth. I realise that this may not happen if my risk levels change or if the MLU is fully booked, and in either case I'd be at the same hospital but in the CLU. Not ideal but I figured the main difference would be a slightly more medicalised room without a birthing pool and that it wouldn't be the end of the world.

However, I was speaking to someone today who previously gave birth there when the MLU was full. She spent the first part of her labour on a ward with 3 other women who were being induced, all of whom had visitors in with them.

I'm totally horrified at the thought of this and really don't know how I'd cope if I end up in the same situation. Have I just had a totally niave view of this up until now? Is it normal to be in with other people when you're in labour? What if anything can I do to prevent this happening? I had thought about a home birth but decided the MLU would be a better option this time.

I will ask some questions about this at my ante-natal class next week and will speak to my midwife, but just wondered if anyone here had any advice.

Thanks

Hi I was in a early labor unit on DC1 which is what I believe you mean. You only go there if there is a reason you need to be in hospital before you are 3cms. E.G induction or I had to go in because when I had ds policy was if your waters break you have to be admitted (that has changed now) so as long as you dont go in before 3-4 cms for medical reasons or you are struggling to cope and want pain relief early you will not go in there and will have a private room IME. HTH

That does help thank you! Fingers crossed I won't need to be in too early. I thought I was being quite calm thinking of different scenarios but the thought of being surrounded by non-medical professional strangers just hadn't even come across my radar.

Just don't rush in unless there is a need too. Your be fine.

Even if you do go in there you are transfered out at 3-4 cms it is not that bad honestly, as you are in early labor you wont be in to much pain and there
will usually be large gaps between ccs.

I was induced for my second dc and was on a ward with other mums at the beginning - I guess it was an early-labour unit. But it wasn't as horrid as it sounds, there were three of us, all being started off on a Sunday evening; established labour didn't start til the next day, then I moved to a private room in the labour unit.

It was a bit like the postnatal ward, tbh, a nice supportive atmosphere, dh couldn't stay overnight, so it was good to have some company as labour gradually started. By the time you are in full labour, you won't be surrounded by strangers!