Midwife lead labour unit

[lilliannrose]

Hi ladies, I am only 10 weeks preggers with my first and i am just looking into birthing options as I am not keen to given birth at my local hospital due to a bad personal experience aswell as hearing of others who have had a bad birth experience. I am interested in looking at a midwife lead birth unit. Is this something anyone else has had experience off? I would love to hear your stories.

I loved our local midwifery led unit. It's co-located with the consultant led unit at the local hospital one upstairs one downstairs so if a transfer is needed then medics are in the same building.

The rooms were lovely with low lighting, music, beanbags, comfy chairs, birthing balls etc, the bed was hidden behind screens and I was able to use the pool. DS was born around midnight and we were taken back into the single room afterwards to get a sleep, DH was given a pull out chair bed to stay over and DS was snuggled in the cot beside me and it was just really nice. The care we had from the midwives was amazing and we were allowed home in the morning. I'm really hoping for something similar second time around.

I loved it. You'll need to check if you're eligible, it depends on how high risk you are. My midwife led unit was inside the hospital so I yad the reassurance of having the drugs down the corridor, I'm not sure if I'd have gone to a separate unit.

I'd say go on a tour, our room was really lovely and felt more like a hotel room. The midwives were very hands off and I gave birth in the pool. The whole experience was fantastic, but the birth was very straightforward and no interventions needed.

Hi ladies, thanks for your feedback. I have looked into a midwife led unit and unfortunately it's miles away from the actual labour hospital in a complete different town which is so annoying cause it does look really relaxed. I don't fancy the idea of having tonnes of doctors and nurses milling around me at the hospital but looks like that's my only option

You can choose which hospital you give birth at. So of your local hospital is one that you don't like, is the another hospital in a reasonable distance you could go to?

Some hospitals without full on midwife led units have a couple of midwife led rooms which are like mini versions. Then you know the doctors are literally around the corner but they don't come in unless there's an issue. It's worth calling up the units and asking them because it's not always obvious.

Midwife-led units usually only permit low-risk births past 37 weeks with natural labour and BMI under 35. If you're premature, overweight, induced, or high risk in any way they will insist your baby is delivered in a doctor-led ward. So check out the ward they'll send you to if you end up being unable to go to the midwife-led unit.

I loved the MLU where I gave birth. It was attached to the hospital so if there were any issues I only had to go downstairs. It was so peaceful and I liked that you stayed in one room.

I started my labour in the local midwife led unit. In he birthing pool. All very nice and relaxed. Fortunately it was down the corridor from the hospital delivery suite as I had to rushed there when things went south. I don't know what would have happened to DS if we'd had an ambulance transfer.

So for that reason I'd never use a midwife led until that wasn't attached to a full delivery suite.

I don't fancy the idea of having tonnes of doctors and nurses milling around me at the hospital

I think you’ve got a slightly unrealistic view of nhs staffing levels on maternity wards...

I don't fancy the idea of having tonnes of doctors and nurses milling around me at the hospital but looks like that's my only option

I was induced so obviously on the usual labour ward. A midwife started me off and I was transferred to the delivery room after a few hours where a student midwife delivered my baby with the midwife present. I didn't see a doctor (not counting the anaesthetist who came and went very quickly when It transpired I was too far gone for an epidural) until they came to check my tear.
Even on consultant led wards the vast majority of babies are delivered by midwives. The doctors are there just in case.

Just thought I'd share the other side.

Have you considered a home birth?

I had twins so had to go to the delivery suite after induction, however apart from the doctor popping in to say hi, I didn't see him again until I needed help to get the babies out.. the midwives were there the whole time :)

I just gave birth on a consultant led unit as I was deemed high risk. As it happens it was all very straightforward so didn't see a Dr at all. We were pretty much left alone until the action started.I don't think my experience would have been much different on the mlu.

A 'relaxed' midwife led unit is all very well until you need hard core pain relief / something goes wrong. As you say the unit is quite a way from a hospital. How long would an ambulance transfer take if something went wrong? If it is longer than five minutes I wouldn't risk it.

Also quite interesting why anyone would consider giving birth without the option of having an epidual? You don't know how you will deal with the pain.

If anything goes wrong (which obviously in many, many cases it doesn't) then I would want tonnes of doctors milling around. I would really want immediate access to doctors just in case.

Lillian is this in east lancs by any chance? Our mul is a good 15 minutes my ambulance away, and that would be with minimal traffic and blue lights.

Congratulations on your pregnancy!
I had all 3 in the MLU unit in our local community hospital. It’s completely separate to any district hospital and the local GP was present (but not involved) in the actual birth each time.
The main hospital is about 20 miles away and I was reassured that in the event of an emergency an ambulance with the midwife could get me there in less than 30 minutes. You are carefully monitored and would be transferred early on if there were any concerns.
My experience each time was very positive. I knew the midwife team really well before giving birth as the same team also provided the ante and post natal care.
Listening to friends birth stories I am very grateful I had the choice of an MLU and would recommend it, if you’re a suitable candidate.

Is there no hospital MLU anywhere near you? Sounds like that's what you're after.