RAH Paisley, Consultant led unit birth

[Noodlekitty]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone on here has had togive birth in the Consultant led unit here instead of the Midwife led unit, and if so, what should I expect from this?

I am classified as a high risk pregnancy because my BMI is 37 (35 is the cut-off point for the midwife unit.)

Basically just want to know if I am going to be basically tied to the bed and constantly monitored, orif I will be able to have a resonably active birth, which is really what I want. At the moment I feel like there isn't even any point in me thinking about a birth plan or even what my expectations will be, because I'm just going to be told that this is the way it will be. Its getting me down a bit, so basically I'd like some reassurance!

Thanks

I have never heard of high BMI making you high risk. Is this your first?

your BMI makes you high risk! wow, i was never weighed in either pregnancy !

i think that you will probably have intermittent monitoring, and they might try to insist on continous, but you can decline it.....and you should ask and ensure that you will be ok to move around and stay mobile, as that is a really good way to help ensure a better birth .....

there is a point having a plan and expectations, your care should be centred on you and your needs and it is ok to ask for those needs to be met

wanting to be active in labour is not unreasonable

AIMS can give you good info about this sort of thing

I had one of each consultant led and midwife led at RAH, I think the unit may have changed slightly in layout but I think the units are next to each other, is there no way you could be midwife led but transferred to consultant if problems occur, who is your consultant btw.

Ceolas, yes this is my first. Also had a problem free pregnancy,so am really annoyed I have to be there in the first place.

Seb, my consultant is Dr. Robbin, started off being Dr Muir, but he's retired. The MLU is on the third floor of the block, and the CLU is on the second.

Lulumama, as far as I can pick up, the idea is that I will be continuously monitored, which is the part that really worries me, obviously as this is my first, I have no idea how I'll find the whole experience, for all I know, I may want to spend the whole time flat on my back, epiduraled and drugged, but my gut instinct is that it will be easier if I can stay on the move. I'm going to try and stay at home as long as possible through early labour, circumstances allowing, so I can at least put off being confined to bed that way, but I can't see them allowing me to switch between units, no matter how problem free my pregnancy has been, given that its hospital policy regarding the bmi thing.

DI (Who wished she'd lost half a stone before getting pregnant, then I'd be fine!)

CFM..does not change the outcome, nor make it safer..what it can do, IMHO..is invite more intervention

intermittent monitoring of the baby should be sufficient..and staying at home as long as possible gives you a good chance of staying active and mobile as long as you can

yes, you might want an epidural and to lie on the bed...but you don;t need to be forced into it...

you can make an informed decision not to consent to an epidural, or CFM or being on your back for labour....