DM putting me off going to an MLU

[Nic165]

Currently I'm booked in to give birth in a hospital about 30 mins away from my house. But recently I've been thinking about moving to a midwife led unit which is only 10 mins away. This is my 2nd pregnancy and low risk. I mentioned to DM that I was thinking of transferring to the MLU instead of the hospital which is equipped with the necessary to deal with emergencies. DM was quite taken aback that I would even consider moving and said why would I not want to be somewhere that had everything I needed available in an emergency. I said the MLU would transfer me in an emergency or if I wasn't progressing etc but the main reason I want to move is that it seems much calmer and quieter in the MLU, I can stay as long as I need, no restrictions on visiting times and DP can stay overnight. Now I'm second guessing thinking I'm not doing the right thing by my child if I choose MLU over hospital and something went wrong. Anyone have any recommendations over one or the other or any advice?

Hi op.
Is there anywhere nearby that has both? I gave birth in the mlu near me but it is part of a maternity hospital so the doctors where only a floor away if an emergency happened.

Otherwise I too would recommend going to mlu. I was determined to go even when my face waters broke early at 36+6 (mlu only take you from 37weeks) had to wait around for a day at home during labour but made it in. Very very positive birth experience. Gave birth in water then me and oh stayed the night in our room. Nurses on call to help and assist with breastfeeding. Wouldn't change a thing.

The thing that would put me off a FMLU as opposed to a hospital one is the possibility of having to transfer a long way. Of necessity they have very strict risking out policies. You're really unlikely to end up with a bad outcome in an FMLU precisely because they transfer at the first sign of anything that could be trouble. As they should do, of course. No argument there.

But because I really wouldn't fancy a long journey, if I wanted midwife led I'd rather be somewhere that if I needed a transfer it could happen really fast.

They do have much better staffing ratios though, so there's that. There are quite a few in the UK that are pretty underused, which of course is good news for you if you want to give birth there.

I had a natural delivery with my first and an emergency section with my second (no warning and actual crash section). My friend had placental abruption in the mlu (which was in a hospital). It is unlikely either of our babies would have survived a transfer 20 minutes away but who knows? I’m risk averse so the mlu in hospital was the best of both worlds (even though I never got to give birth there). Thousands of people give birth at home with no issues. Talk to your midwife some more then decide.

Personally I'm with your mother, but I'm much more relaxed and reassured when I know everything is on hand.

Any kind of medical service being underused is not particularly reassuring because practitioners need to continuously use and implement their skills to keep them sharp. Thankfully complications for mothers and babies in birth are relatively rare (for many complications for babies, they are measured per 1,000 births and for mothers per 100,000 births) but this means a setting with low levels of patients won't be as skilled at spotting and responding to complications.