Question about hospital births

[orangebud]

Hi All. I'm expecting #1 and have a question about hospital births and the surroundings you will be in. I always assumed that when you delivered your baby (as longs as all went as expected) you would be in your own room with your partner, midwife etc. I have recently heard that in some hospitals, you give birth on a ward, in a bay with 5 other women. To be honest I was shocked and hoping this isn't the case. I can't imagine going through it all with everyone else hearing me in pain , whilst I listen to them going through the same. Can anyone put my mind at rest? Thanks is advance.

Wow certainly not in both hospitals I've delivered in (Central Scotland). You always have a private room for labouring here and then move into a multi patient ward for your post care.

I can imagine if there were shared rooms for labouring it would be loud, uncomfortable and not conducive to an effective birth!!

I can't say if is is true for all hospitals but most have a maternity ward - where there will be 4-6 beds in one room ( plus usually some private rooms too) and a delivery suite which will be private rooms.
When you actually have the baby you should be on delivery suite in your own private room. Maternity ward will be for people who might be in early labour (eg I was there overnight after being induced with a pessary) or for those who need to stay for a while after the baby is born.

Private room for all three deliveries here

Onto a ward after dc1 but home from delivery after 2 and 3

I've had 4 babies in hospital and every one was in a private delivery room.

Some women are taken into the post natal ward while they are in very early labour or if they need monitoring during late pregnancy, then yes they are in bays with others. When they establish labour, they are taken to delivery suite.
I went onto the ward to be induced with number 3 but had my own room, then was moved down to delivery. Its rare at my hospital for women to actually deliver on the ward. They may labour there for a short time if they come to hospital too soon.

Post natal wards have multiple beds but you do not deliver on a ward setting.

I've had 5 dc (west midlands) & for two of them I gave birth in the examination room which was like a broom closet but still private as I couldn't be moved to the delivery suite.

I've never met a woman who has given birth on a ward with other patients.

Thank you everyone for the replies, this has certainly settled me. Must try not to listen to all the stories I hear. Thanks Again - Have a great weekend!

No you deliver in a private room on a delivery suite. Some people are admitted to an ante-natal ward if there are early complications, so you might have some early stages of labour there, but for the 'hardcore' bit, unless you have a very speedy unexpected delivery you'll go down to the delivery suite.

I suspect as Fern says that what people were referring to is the fact that if you're not in established labour (usually things like 4cm dilated, contracting regularly used to determine this) but they keep you in regardless, you'll likely be on a ward then. Once in full labour you'd be moved to delivery which is private rooms. Bear in mind that the walls are pretty thin though and you will likely hear other people labouring and they will hear you. You won't care though.

Ask your midwife what happens at the hospital you plan to give birth in?

I think it depends on several factors like how established your labour is, how many rooms they have free etc.

If you go in at 4cm but there isn't any rooms you may be kept on a ward.

DC1 I had a room in birthing centre but was then moved to labour ward (again had my own room) but was on postnatal ward after delivery.

DC2 I had a room in birthing centre but was almost sent elsewhere (labour ward) as there was only 1 room in the birthing centre but two of us in labour. I was 1cm more dilated so I got the room lucky really as baby arrived a mere 80 minutes later so the other lady ended up elsewhere.

I've not actually heard of anyone I know delivering anywhere other than their own room.

My hospital allow you to stay in room in birthing centre unless is it required, sadly mine was needed ASAP and I was actually "rushed" out!

I do know someone who delivered on the prenatal ward, where she'd been for a few days previously, but that was a combination of very, very fast labour and a fuck up. It isn't normal.

Do you which hospital you are having the baby because a lot of them allow you to arrange a tour of the maternity ward.

The only time I have heard of someone delivering their baby on a ward with others present is if it was a really quick labour. Doesn't happen often at all. You can be in early labour and still in a shared room as it depends on staff and delivery rooms available.

Do you get the opportunity to go on a hospital tour? Maybe ask your midwife? We went on one this week (baby is due in 3 weeks) and it was really good because we got to see what facilities are available and they explained all about what the process is for when you come in/where you might be moved to during your hospital stay.

No hospital will plan for you to deliver on an ante natal ward. Very occasionally we get caught out with women who have come down in very early labour and then are suddenly pushing, leaving no time to transfer to delivery suite. If that does happen, we try to move the other women out of the bay, so that the woman delivering has some privacy.
I've never known a UK Hospital have actual bays designed for delivery, only private delivery rooms.

We went on our hospital tour 6 weeks ago and there were private rooms for delivery (I am in Cardiff).

Private deliverry room both times in Barnsley. Recovery was partly in private room and partly on 4 bed ward.