Advice on what I should discuss/ask at a 36w 'booking in' appt (1st pg)

[BellaCB]

Or otherwise known as a 1st timer who feels like she knows nothing...!

I have just moved PCT and have what is essentially a booking-in appt at the hospital where I will probably give birth next week, even though I will be 36w at the time. Apparently my new PCT won't really trust my notes from my old PCT and will insist on taking new bloods etc., which is fine.

However, I was honest with the midwife in my previous PCT and told her early on that we were always planning to move during my pregnancy, as I was hoping she would have some advice. She didn't (other than repeatedly telling me that my notes were not my own and I had to give them back when I left! I haven't yet... ) and because she knew I wouldn't end up giving birth in her PCT, she did very little other than check my health - and now I'm starting to feel like I've missed all the discussions that I should have had over the past 20 weeks with my midwife.

Luckily I haven't had any problems with the pg and have no reason to suspect that there might be anything unusual about the birth. I've also been to NCT classes and so feel like I have learnt a lot about birth choices etc. But I feel completely lost when it comes to some of the basics! Who do I call if I have any questions or think I'm in labour? Can I borrow a TENS machine from the PCT? Have I missed the tours? The only maternity unit in my area has both midwife and obstetric led units - how or when do I choose between them, and who do I tell?!

Basically, if anyone has any advice or can tell me what they've already discussed with their midwife by 36w re chosing units and actually giving birth I'd be incredibly grateful - I want to make sure that I don't miss the opportunity to ask all the important questions!

Hi Bella, I think you need to get in touch with your midwife. They should be able to answer all your questions and should be able to organise a tour of the maternity/labour wards for you. Do a search on Birth Plan templates on here, that will help with thinking about your options before, during and after the birth. Good Luck! xxx

Thanks wiggle, I will look at the birth plans. But I think I didn't explain myself properly (with pregnancy brain that's not surprising!) that I don't actually have a midwife at the moment, not until I go to the hospital next week, so I just want to be sure I don't forget to ask any essential questions

Can you ring your new GP and ask them to give you the numbers of the MLU/hospital you have near you, at least then if you go into labour before you've seen the MW you can call in and say you're in labour. I moved also during my pregnancy, and have found the care here to be poor. I have only met my midwife once, and seeing her again on Monday for my 36 week appointment. I am hoping to book a homebirth. To be honest, they are quite laid back about these things, whereas the mums-to-be are thinking I need to get organised, there doesn't seem to be that same sort of urgency for the MW, at least in my experience (this is my 3rd PG). I dont really know what you need to ask, I suppose whatever you are unsure of. If you want a tour I would contact the unit directly and see if they organise them, I doubt veru much your MW will organise it for you. The hospital near me has them every saturday in the morning, you just show up and dont need to book. They may have something similar near you.
Go over your pain relief options with your MW, she might discuss a birth plan with you, so maybe have a think beforehand of what you have in mind (though be prepared most birth plans dont go to plan!). Basically if there is anything that is worrying you, then thats the time to ask. Might want to write it down as with pregnancy brain all things tend to go out the window, plus if you are filling out new forms (what a bore!) you might forget what you wanted to ask.
Normally what happens when you go into labour (or think you are), you ring the hospital or wherever it is you're thinking of giving birth and they will normally put a midwife on the phone who will assess your contractions over the phone, and decide whether you need to go in or not. They dont tend to have TENS machines (or dont in my area) so if thats something you want you can hire or buy one (look online or boots hire them out). They should have things like birthing balls, and some places allow you to plug in a cd player though a few require you to bring batteries as it hasnt been safety tested. Some have pools- of this is something you want you need to request it once you ring in confirming you are in labour so they can ear mark it for you, hmm what else? Make sure to pack your bags but you dont need to take it all in with you at once (there might be limited space inside your room, so just take your labour bag, and leave baby bag/carseat in the car for time being). Really thats all there is to it, it isnt complicated. Good luck with it all xx

oh ps- exciting as it is when you do go into labour, dont be rushed to go into hospital too soon, I did that with my first and was only 4cm when I arrived- then spent the next 22 hours there! Try and labour as much as you can at home if you are comfortable, its much nicer to be around your own things.

Contact numbers for labour ward. Do they have a 24hr assessment centre you can contact.

Visiting times, how many birth partners, how long partner can stay for afterwards, how quickly they will discharge afterwards if all goes well

If you're bottle feeding do you need to take in your own bottles.