Where to give birth - 1st time baby

[Mangotango123]

I am really anxious about my first labour in September. I am really squeamish and hate needles etc, and the thought of childbirth fills me with dread and unreasonable fear.

I am wanting to give birth in a freestanding birth centre which is located really close to my home. My midwife thinks this would be beneficial to me as it is midwife run, and it may be a slightly more intimate setting for me as I’m worried about the birth.

I am hoping to give birth without medical intervention and through just gas and air if possible.

I understand fully that if there are complications or I need an emergency c- section I would be transferred to the hospital which is about 10 miles away.

What is everyone’s opinion on this? Do you think I am making right decision or do you think I should opt for mainstream hospital given it’s my first and it has provisions for complications if needs be.

Many thanks

If you have a low risk pregnancy then go for it! Sounds much more relaxed than at a hospital, which you'll be under midwives unless there's an issue.

You're less likely to have complications if you don't expect to have complications (based on an not survey). Birth can sometimes be over-medicalised. It's a natural thing after all!!

Hospitals make birth more medical and you are more likely to have/ need interventions in an obstetric unit.

In summary, more low risk births should be in mlu!!! I think it's a great idea.

You are less likely to need intervention if you are relaxed and comfortable (as much as you can be in labour anyway). If you get the go ahead for the birth centre then go for it, or even a home birth if you are more comfortable with that. Just because it's your first doesn't mean you have to go to a mainstream hospital.

To help with your anxiety about the birth I would suggest looking into meditation and hypnobirthing. My local hospital provided a 'confident birthing' class which introduced these and was free. Look into what's available in your area from the NHS, if there is something like this available it will be good to try so you can see if it's something you want to pursue before committing to spending money on a hypnobirthing course.

I felt the same way as you! We luckily live in an area with a great midwife led unit and high home birth rates. After reading 'the positive birth book' we have planned a home birth. Our midwife led unit is located at the hospital and is only about 10 mins away from our house so if I decide I want to go there instead we can just throw my hospital bag in the car and whizz there. I highly recommend the book, and to do loads of research on every stage of labour etc, being informed and knowledgeable will take away the element of fear. Being in a hospital increases your chances of having unnecessary medical intervention, so a midwife led unit or home is the perfect place, especially if you're feeling anxious!

I was the same, but after labouring for 14 hours in the MLU before them recognising a problem and being blue lighted to hospital in agony and needing more extreme intervention than I would have if it had been caught earlier; do think carefully. A lot of hospitals can make the birthing rooms feel more like MLU ones, but without wanting to be that person explore all of the options.

Midwife unit all the way - if you are low risk and your midwife thinks it would be appropriate then I'd go for it.

I had my DC2 in a standalone community midwife unit and it was magic! Such a wonderful birth experience. Unfortunately I couldn't go there with DC1 as had PROM and so had to be induced.

It's worth bearing in mind that if you go overdue and have to consider induction then that would impact on place of birth, and there are other complications that can crop up in pregnancy that could mean you aren't deemed suitable for midwife-led birth (I had to push for one with DC2 as my platelet levels were a bit low). Just worth keeping this in mind so you aren't disappointed if your plans have to change.

Also, I would highly recommend a TENS machine, alongside G&A, for pain relief, if you are keen to avoid the heavier options!

I am in a group of 8 women who gave birth last year (first babies) and not one of us managed to avoid hospital. There were 2 inductions, 4 emergency c sections, and 3 ambulance transfers (one after birth for stitches). I was one of the inductions as my waters broke but no contractions started so I had to go to hospital. I wouldn't have your heart set on a MLU, just in case.

See if you can book in to have a look around both the MLU and the maternity unit at the local hospital. Our local hospital facilitates this but I'm unsure whether it's available at all maternity units.

Some medical units are nicer/less "hospitaly" than others.

Sounds like a good idea to me. I've planned a home birth for similar reasons. I'd second a pp. suggesting you look into hypnobirthing. I've done the online course from the positive birth company and feel much more confident about it all!

I had planned to give birth with my first in a MLU and it never happened due to complications. Luckily the MLU is attached to my local hospital so I started in there and then moved along the corridor to the labour ward when things went wrong. I wouldn't have wanted to have been any further than that short corridor away from the help when it was needed. If I had another baby I would aim to try again in the MLU but only because it's right next door I don't think I would risk a stand-alone unit.

I wanted the MLU but got moved to consultant unit as I was only patient there & I honestly think it was for money reasons, I would have ended up there anyway as needed epidural & eventually EMCS.

If you have a serious last minute complication like a cord prolapse or abruption and the MW can't sort it, you've got three minutes til brain damage. You can get to theatre that quickly from a MW led unit in hospital but not from one in the community when you're likely to wait at least half an hour for the ambulance. Are you happy to take that risk?