What is the likelihood of the pool and / or birth centre being full?

[lainey8]

Just did a tour at Chelsea and Westminster. From what we could see the facilities are good and the indended provision is great. My ante-natal so far has been good - though I am apparently very low risk so appointments have been pretty short and sweet!

Anyway, on the tour they couldn't show us any of the rooms in the birth centre (3 rooms in total) or either of the 2 pools because all were occupied. Apparently it was a quiet day as well.

When I asked what would happen if I came in and it was all full (like at that moment) she was a bit evasive and then started talking about sometimes closing the unit if they were full and ringing round other hospitals. Ended this random little tangent with 'but when we are really busy they usually are as well'.

Oh, and they would double up rooms before they turned people away anyway....

I have heard 1 story locally about this happening to someone but it was a friend of a friend so I'd written it off as an urban myth.

I'm now seriously thinking about a home birth just so I know what to expect and can plan for not getting in. I'd rather try it at home than risk the stress of being turned away / or even doubling up rooms. I'm really keen to try a water birth as I've heard such good things and at least at home I would be able to rent a pool rather than get to the hospital and be told it wasn't available.

Any experience or advice? Am I getting my knickers in a twist about a non problem?

I don't know how common it is, but I had to go into hospital for a scan after my waters went and ended up at the early pregnancy assessment unit as the labour ward was full.

Why don't you discuss your options with your midwife? I'm sure she would be able to allay your fears. If you do want a home birth then I would go for it.

Double up on rooms

My thoughts exactly farfallarocks.

I think I would go home alone rather than that. At least if I planned to be at home there should be a midwife allocated and avaialble.

It's one of the reasons I opted for a home birth for DC1 - not at C&W but similar busy London hospital often full, with people in labour in the waiting room (actually i think all London hospitals are like this).

You normally get not one but two midwives for a home birth. And they are super experienced midwives at that. In the end I had an emergency transfer for an EMCS but it was all rather calm and lovely and I had my two midwives to hold my hand the whole time. It was a great experience and I can thoroughly recommend!