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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Birthing centre not connected to hospital

31 replies

bearface1983 · 01/08/2018 20:40

Hi all. I am thinking of a midwife led birthing centre birth. There are two options near me and the nicer centre isn't attached to a hospital. My concern is a transfer if it's not going to plan. Anyone had good/bad experiences? I really want a natural birth and am doing hypnobirthing just apprehensive as it's my first xxx

OP posts:
mavydoes · 01/08/2018 20:59

Best policy is to actually have one connected to main hospital so your covered in both scenarios. Also as a FTM things don't always to to plan as wanted and consultant led is then available for epidural etc.

I'm consultant led and was with my first and that brought me comfort knowing if it changes I have the team there immediately to help.

Good luck mama

BurtTyrannosaurusMacklin · 01/08/2018 21:02

Personally I would always want one where emergency intervention was available on the same site. I can’t begin to imagine how terrifying it would be for something to go wrong during birth and to have to be moved into an ambulance and rushed off somewhere else. Would not be worth that risk to me, especially on a first vaginal birth not really knowing what to expect.

LoveIsPatient · 01/08/2018 21:09

I was very low risk with my first due to age and no complications so I was super excited to have my baby in my hospitals new birthing centre (attached).

Good job it was attached as after I was admitted when I was in labour, they realised DS has moved slightly sideways which was why I was getting intense back pain. After a lot of vomiting for 5 hours in the birthing centre and still only 4cm they broke the news that I needed to be transferred to the ward to be put on a drip. Within half an hour of the fluids I shot up to 10cm!

So yes i was very pleased the ward was nearby.

Second baby 18 months later was a lovely planned home birth. First babies are much harder generally so being near the ward will probably give you peace of mind. But very much up to you!

Xx

moreismore · 01/08/2018 21:12

I had my first delivery in a site 10mins by ambulance from the hospital. I had a really wonderful waterbirth just as I wanted and felt totally safe and supported the whole time. Post-delivery I did actually need to go to hospital by ambulance but it wasn’t at all a scary experience. I still felt totally safe the whole time and baby travelled with me in the ambulance (who knew they had isofix?!)

I’m due soon with my second and have had complications which mean that the stand alone unit won’t accept me. I’ll be using the unit attached to the hospital. I was advised as part of my decision-making that transfer to the labour ward one floor below could still take 6-8 mins so negligible difference IMO.

The most important thing is that you feel safe. Go with your gut instinct and don’t let other people scare you. If you have been offered all these options you must be considered low risk. I hope you have an uncomplicated birth wherever you choose Smile

Mindchilder · 01/08/2018 21:16

What's the benefit of a standalone birthing centre over a home birth? If I wasn't getting the benefit of a labour ward near by I would rather be in the comfort of my own home!

moreismore · 01/08/2018 21:21

I guess not everyone has a home environment that’s conducive to a calm atmosphere for birth? And if you want to use water not everyone has a space for a pool. In addition there may be childcare issues if you don’t have family close by that can have other kids at their own home. Lots of reasons I’d imagine!

Ifeelshit · 01/08/2018 21:43

Facilities over looks any day!

Original poster
bearface1983 · 01/08/2018 22:02

Thanks for the feedback...

It's not how the centre 'looks' it the fact every room has a pool and more facilities than the other birth centre that is next to a labour ward.

I don't want a home birth...

Main reason for the other unit was the pools as there are only 2 at the unit connected to the hospital

The newer stand alone unit has better ratings- less transfers to hospital, less tears and more midwives per person o

All the research tells me midwife led is the way to a healthier birth I'm more interested in that potential hospital transfer and if it would worry me. I can't decide xx

OP posts:
moreismore · 01/08/2018 22:08

Say you had to have a hospital transfer, what is it about that that worries you?

AntiHop · 01/08/2018 22:14

I started off in the birthing centre which is not attached to a hospital. Unfortunately they did have to transfer me by ambulance to the hospital. It wasn't the nicest experience being transferred but it didn't create any problems. A midwife came with me in the ambulance.

mumofone234 · 01/08/2018 22:15

I had DS (my first) at a midwife-led birthing unit that wasn’t connected to a hospital. I had the same apprehension as you about potentially needing to be moved, but it all went really well and I was able to have my baby there and go home very quickly after. If I had another, I’d definitely do the same. I may be biased because my birth was straightforward but I found I was a lot more relaxed than I’d have been in a hospital, and the midwife was happy to respect my wishes regarding being left in peace to get on with it. I think that unless there was a major, major issue (which is very rare), the amount of time you’d spend travelling to the hospital in an ambulance is probably about the same as the amount of time it’d take them to get you into theatre at a hospital anyway (they ring ahead if you’re coming by ambulance).

SwimmingKaren · 01/08/2018 22:22

I had one birth on a labour ward in my local hospital and my second in a midwife led unit 20 odd mile down the road which was by far the better experience. They had better facilities, so much more time for you and DH was allowed to stay with me and the baby overnight as we had a private room. I hated my labour ward experience, it was dreadful and would opt for the midwife led unit again given the choice. But as others have said, even with a low risk birth (and I think you have to be classed as low risk to go to the midwife led unit) you have to bear in mind that things can go wrong and you could end up being blue lighted to the nearest hospital which obviously adds on time and complications you don’t want in an emergency.

Original poster
bearface1983 · 01/08/2018 22:29

Thanks for the positive responses. I think I am worried about a transfer because it's my first. It's that fear of the unknown. I know that it's ok being low risk I suppose it's that niggle in my mind. I think I will tour both and look at the transfer times and weigh it up. Thanks everyone xxx

OP posts:
kikibo · 01/08/2018 22:32

If they need to take into account longer transfer times, they won't wait until the last possible moment. Most risks are foreseeable.

I was in an MLU with a transfer time of 20 minutes to the next major town (I'm not in the UK). Went fine.

You'd have the same if you had a home birth, so what's the issue?

FraterculaArctica · 01/08/2018 22:57

Very rarely, even the transfer from birth centre to hospital may be too long for the baby's safety. My labour with my first DC was in birth centre attached to hospital. Was going very slowly but no untoward clinical signs - until bam his heart rate dropped and I was rushed up in the lift to theatre and given a CS under general anaesthetic, all in the space of 20 mins. If the transfer had been more than a 5min lift journey the outcome might have been much worse. Very very rare - but do consider.

EsmereldaPepperpot · 01/08/2018 23:23

I wouldn't. A colleague lost her baby at a stand alone birth centre because of the transfer time....minutes can count and things can go bad very quickly. Maybe for your second if you have a very straightforward first?

DandySeaLioness · 02/08/2018 01:36

I nearly lost my DS2 in a birthing unit. He had blood taken from his head in utero and I was in theatre having a CS 5 mins later. He was born blue and unresponsive with an Apgar score of 2. Had I had him at a standalone birthing centre 30 mins away I'm convinced this story would have a tragic ending.

GandTthankyou · 02/08/2018 01:44

Had both of mine in mw led units not attached to hospital. Loved it. They will get you/baby to a hospital and err on the side of caution if you need to be there. Look at the stats for how many people birthed in the unit and how many had to be transferred. They usually publish these for each month. They are very reassuring. Also a mw led unit is no different to homebirthing (apart from the building!) x

mumofone234 · 02/08/2018 22:36

It’s also worth noting that of the number of people transferred, the majority are usually due to a desire for an epidural, rather than complications. When I was researching, I spoke to the midwife and she said it’s usually a pain relief request.

Sandstormbrewing · 03/08/2018 08:42

It's not how the centre 'looks' it the fact every room has a pool and more facilities than the other birth centre that is next to a labour ward.

But the other birth centre has better facilities close by.

The birth centre I went to was down the corridor from the labour ward. That 4 minute journey was terrifying (the actually journey was 30 second, but had to get me on stretcher, notify the labour ward I was coming and wait for the room number I was to be transferred to. Luckily for me it wasn't a real emergency.

Remember that when you are at an unattached unit, they have to get the ambulance (which aren't stationed there) then transfer you to the ambulance, then out and in to the other hospital and up to the labour ward. That can add vital minutes to the journey.

WhirlingTurkey · 03/08/2018 12:59

I had this same dilemma with my first. Standalone midwife led unit in my town (five minutes - if that - from home!) or midwife led unit in big hospital 40-50 minutes away. Another hospital (consultant led only) about 20 mins away.

I had concerns about transfer (would be to the closer hospital), but midwife put my mind at rest that they don't wait until the last minute to transfer and err very much on the side of caution. When I looked around the standalone unit I felt very certain that I wanted to give birth there.

In the end I gave birth at the consultant hospital 20 mins away, for various reasons (decided due to health factors beyond my control).

This time I am going to try again for the midwife unit, despite the fact the 20 minute hospital is now also midwife led only, so (if needed) transfer would be to big hospital further away... I had a straightforward birth last time so have weighed up the pros and cons. If the big hospital was closer I would consider it, but on the other hand it is over stretched now due to closure of consultant unit at the other hospital, so it's performance isn't as good as it was. I had a quick labour last time, so I feel closer is the better option.

There are a lot of factors to consider, no one can tell you what you should do. I would talk through pros / cons and your concerns with your midwife. They will be able to help you work out what's what.

Momo27 · 06/08/2018 09:46

I had my first in a stand-alone MLU
I found it brilliant, the support and care from
The midwives was first class. None of the rushing around, changing shifts, unfamiliar staff and even being understaffed that can be a problem in larger hospitals

Remember: you wouldn’t be allowed to deliver in a stand-alone MLU unless you were assessed as low risk. Safety records are excellent- they have to be.

My only concern beforehand, like you, was what if you need a transfer? The midwives explained to me that the majority of transfers are because the mother decides she needs more pain relief- ie not a medical necessity but a case of choice. If the mother is assessed as needing to be transferred, then her midwife would go with her in the ambulance.

Honestly, I had a few ‘naysayers’ who raised their eyebrows when I decided to have my first in an MLU. Some of them being other expectant mums from my antenatal group! Looking back I can see it was their problem... they couldn’t seem to deal with the fact that I was aiming for a low tech birth in a familiar environment with a known midwife. It was what I got, and although very painful, I felt it was a positive experience because I felt listened to and in control.

Honestly if MLUs weren’t safe they would be shut down.

To those who are saying ‘why not just have a home birth’... well, from a practical point of view we lived in a tiny house at the time, there wasn’t space for a birthing pool etc, and most importantly I wanted the comfort of my own room, meals cooked for me and a home from home environment. The only way I could guarantee that was the MLU. Some women transferred back to the MLU (for the benefits I’ve just described) after giving birth in the regional hospital BUT there was no guarantee of doing that because there were only around 6 rooms and priority went to women booked in for delivery there. It was a wonderful place and I have happy memories. I stayed a week after having dc1 !

Rockandrollwithit · 06/08/2018 09:50

It would be a no for me. I had a healthy pregnancy with DC2 but he was born with a congenital abnormality that is almost impossible to detect antenatally. He appeared healthy but as soon as I tried to feed him he went blue and needed immediate CPR. As I was in a hospital he was receiving medical attention from a doctor within a minute and in an incubator and stabilised very quickly. He had to have surgery but is OK now.

He would certainly have died if I hadn't been at hospital. The odds of this happening to you are very very tiny (his condition effects 1 in 3500 babies) and I'm not trying to scare you, but birth can be dangerous to babies too.

Momo27 · 06/08/2018 10:14

Babies can be (and are) resuscitated in MLUs.

Not trying to sway you either way OP because ultimately it is your decision. But arm yourself with the facts. There is a lot of hearsay around things like this. Visit with a written list of questions- I did - and I left with absolutely no doubt that for a woman assessed as low risk, a MLU is a safe as a hospital

StaySafe · 06/08/2018 11:51

Why not have a chat with the Midwifery Lead at the stand alone hospital about how they handle the question of transfer, and how often it happens.

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