Midwife led birth centre - do you pay? (Darrent Valley specifically but all)

[LJFM2B]

Hi, I am a little confused and dont have another appointment with my MW for 4 weeks and dont want to call for this question! BUT

Do you have to pay to go to the midwife led wards? i know you have to pay for a hypno birthing experience but its not clear if you have to pay to go into the ward to give birth? .... There are only 3 rooms in my hospital (Darrent Valley - Dartford) so i dont see how they can offer than to everyone with out some sort of catch?

Help :)

You don't have to pay, no (unless it's. Private wing/hospital). The MLU is just as it says - a unit which is midwife (rather than doctor) led.

Not sure what you mean by hypnobirthing experience - you normally have to pay for a hypnobirthing course as they're offered by external companies but you can have a "hypnobirthing experience" for free!

In general no, and it's nhs at darrent valley so no.

As it's on site you may well be expected to go there by default if you're low risk.

I've no direct experience but I can't see why you'd have to pay.

Possibly if there's too many labouring women you might have to go to the Labour ware if no beds, that might be the catch. Your midwife will be able to advise how likely that is.

Midwife led units usually have a quicker discharge time too. The one I went to was 6 hours where you either go home or to postnatal ward (if MLU attached to hospital).

I was lucky that there was nobody there when I went in (4 rooms available) so can’t comment on what happens if all rooms in use.