Potentially in Consultant Led Unit..... Again.

[PastaandCheese]

I couldn't use the birth centre last time due to gestational hypertension so was rebooked for consultant led unit. I then had merconion in my waters and my baby became very distressed culminating in a low forceps delivery as the paediatrician wanted her out 20 minutes after I started pushing.

DD needed to be resuscitated so it was the right decision and overall the experience wasn't too bad. Didn't have to go to theatre and just used tens and a bit of gas and air with a local for forceps. Luckily I laboured quickly with DD being born 2.5 hours after arrival.

32 weeks now and have set my heart on the more gentle environment of the birth centre (on same site as CLU) and midwife was fine with this. BP is now starting to creep up. Was 140/80 yesterday which is still within normal but higher than it has been.

MW suggested this is anxiety driven because I'm attaching too much importance to the birth centre. MW helpfully suggested I try to get my head around a second CLU birth which will either help with anxiety and reduce BP or reduce distress in the event I am diagnosed with GH again.

What are the positives to the CLU? I can only feel sad about it as it will be continuous monitoring and the restricted movement that brings (the best I could manage last time was sitting up on the bed as I had drips, clips and wires everywhere) and intervention. Also, I will have to stay on post natal ward if I have GH and I really hated that.

Sigh...... Can anyone help me think a bit more positively about this?

Sorry for the mega post..... Feeling sorry for myself today which is silly really because last time I was at risk and so was my baby and they looked after us really well. Just think this probably be my last birth and I'd hoped for a nicer experience.

Why does it automatically mean monitoring? I had all of mine in clu and never had CM. I had an antibiotic drip with dc2 but wasn't on the monitor much.

Dc3 was born on the CLU but in the pool. The most intervention I had was one VE and a quick listen on the Doppler. The midwife didn't even touch me during labour and I delivered dd by myself.

That's really interesting Mike and I think herein lies the problem. I don't know what drips, clips and monitors were for my GH and which were for DD.

Do you think if the baby is fine I'll be left alone a bit more?

I know that sounds so negative as the staff who stayed with me the whole time were so kind but it just seemed every 5 minutes there was a new machine to attach to me and I'd prefer a bit less of that if possible.

Everything I've read on here suggests 2nds are easier and quicker anyway. Was that your experience?

Oh, definitely no pool with BP issues. I know that from last time but I can live with that if I can move a bit more.

My two births had the same outcome - emcs, dd for undiagnosed breech and ds for ftp - but the experiences and after effects were very different, the second time being much more positive less of a shock
I suppose my only point is that birth is probably the least predictable experience you'll ever have but at least this time you know that in advance...
Good luck x

You can have a monitor in the pool in some clu
I could have - but I ended up elcs.
Can you remind self that actually it is the best place for you and for baby? I focussed on that and the fact that I didn't want to cause stress to the midwives or end up in pain in an ambulance being transferred. You can still take relaxing stuff with you, can't you?

Please remember that they cannot force you to do anything. If you do not want continuous monitoring then you can refuse it.

You can ask about other interventions they propose too. If you are not in a position to do so yourself then ask your DH to do it for you: 'pasta really wants a natural birth. Please explain why you think xyz is necessary'.

I gave birth to DD1 on a CLU and it was a very hands-off birth. Periodic monitoring with a doppler, no pain relief (which was my preference). Giving birth on a CLU doesn't necessarily mean you'll have a load of interventions.

Good point so it won't be as much of a shock this time especially if I prepare myself for the fact that this is about a healthy baby and me getting back to my other LO in good health rather than a cathartic experience!

twins I will try to do that. I know I sound selfish and foot stampy. DH thinks I'm mad and just keeps saying 'so long as you are both ok'.

therobber we did NCT last time so we knew we should do that but I think we were both frightened and just went with anything that was suggested. That said there were a couple of issues last time where I thinks just one means I might be more inclined to ask more questions.

Ive always been under consultant care, for reasons that never, ultimately, had any effect on my labours. 2 of my 3 were on the CLU and I was not happy about it as I wanted water-births. But I had a wonderful consultant who suggested hat I labour in the CLU but be treated as though I was in the MLU. Low lights, very brief intermitent monitoring, minimal intervention, etc. It only worked so-so the first time, as the midwife couldn't get her head around the idea, but with dc2 I wouldn't let her come near me and the midwife who looked after me was brilliant.

Would that be a workable compromise for you? The consultant would have to write it in your notes, and you might have to be quite firm in refusing interventions.

I think just the chance to talk about it would be good iloveafullfridge. Last time I was assigned to a horrible woman. I had been admitted by this point and without introduction she simply said to the MW 'this girl has pre eclampsia so we are inducing her on Monday'. For a start I was 35 at the time so hardly a girl!

I had to pipe up with 'please can you speak to me, not the MW and please can you read my notes as I don't have PE. All tests for that are clear. I'm not sure I want to be induced'. I went into labour over the weekend naturally and the consultant who was on duty was lovely and even came to see me on the ward the next day just to say hi.

You've given me the idea that if my BP goes up I could request to be on his list as you can actually have a sensible conversation with him. That would make me feel much happier.

I wouldn't give birth anywhere but a consultant led unit.