Please can you tell me what the difference between a Community Hospital and a bog standard Giant City Hospital? And, which one should I give birth in?

[mameulah]

Second baby, third pregnancy. Just don't know what to do???

tia

For me it would be a bog standard giant city hospital every time. The care will probably be rubbish but if anything goes wrong, there should be a consultant on duty or at least on immediate call to carry out a c/s. Also, there is more likely to be a paediatric team for the baby and anaesthetist if you need an epidural. Most community hospitals have very poor if not non-existent consultant cover - any problems and you have to transfer.

Good luck

For me it would have been the opposite - the one to one care of a community hospital, so that the midwife with you can give you positive support and take action if there is a whiff of trouble, is be better than just being one of a crowd in a CLU and just crossing my fingers and hoping that if trouble arises someone is around to spot it and take action.

Community hospital will have a midwife led unit, so great for most people where nothing goes wrong, no epidural needed etc.

Giant city hospital is where the operating theatre, obstetricians, anaesthetists and special care baby unit is. A small number of people need these things quickly (under ten mins). They usually have a midwife led unit too.

Trouble is you can't tell which group you'll be in until afterwards.

I know where I'd rather be.

Can you go on a tour of both of them. See how they make you feel. Does one feel right? Do you feel comfortable with the staff at one? I recently went on a tour and midwife described their care program as nuts and seeds. I'm a nuts and seeds person so I felt comfortable there rather then the excellent but more medical based program.

Usually the bigger unit is where the intensive care or specialist teams for you or baby is avaliable if needed. For example if forceps were required or a c section.
Also consultant led units are able to provide a bigger range of pain relief such as epidurals.
Midwifery led units are able to provide a more therapeutic setting for uncomplicated births.

Wherever you give birth you should have one to one care as your Labour becomes advanced. And in both settings the team's will watch closely for complications etc. I don't think it's helpful or true l to imply that that wouldn't happen in a larger unit.

Be aware that if you chose the midwifery led unit there may be times where you could require transfer to the main hospital. Or instance s such as mecconium stained liquor where they would probably advise closer monitoring within the bigger unit.