I'm 36 weeks pregnant with my first baby and have decided to go to Caerphilly Birthing Centre. This is a stand alone centre. We live in a small village just outside Caerphilly and the CBC is about 5 mins from us.
The other choice is a 30 minute drive to the major University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff but as I am terrified of hospitals (phobia) I really don't want to go there. We visited the hospital birth centre and labour ward and REALLY didn't like it at all. It was shabby and not very homely or comfortable at all.
CBC is lovely, small warm homely and cosy and I've had all my ante natals there and know all the midwives (Haven't had one ante natal at the UHW in Cardiff and know none of the staff at all) - as I'm so scared of giving birth I feel I'd be more relaxed and able to cope in a small cosy familliar environment. About 48% of their mothers are first timers.
Trouble is I'm gettng grief from relatives/friends who say its terribly "dangerous" to have baby number 1 outside of a hospital environment and I won't be able to do it without an epidural etc etc (can't have one in the birth centre). They aren't taking into account my fears and feelings on the matter.
As I really would not cope with going to a big hospital (would freak out and have massive panic attacks as I'm so scared of those places and UHW isn't very nice) I really want to know that I'm doing the right thing by going to CBC. I haven't had any problems in pregnancy and am not high risk in any way.