Stoke mandaville

[10purplepansies]

Anyone had experience giving birth here? Was there a birthing pool free for you when you wanted it? And is it easy to get to the labour ward from there if you decide you want epidural?

I’m 32 weeks and currently planned to give birth in the midwife led unit. The labour ward and midwife led unit are in the same building so yes I believe it’s easy to move between the two. I’m going for a tour there next week which you can book online but I believe that there are three birth pools in the midwife led unit. I think it’s pot luck whether you can get one, I’m due in August and the midwife told me that August is planned to be less busy than some other months at the moment, for example October is planned to be very busy.

Quite outing but I couldn’t help joining in here - I’m 27 weeks and hoping to give birth at the MLU, also going on a tour next week might see you there Foodie!

My midwife said that if you decide you want an epidural they just put you in a wheelchair and take you over so it sounds straightforward. No idea about how likely you are to get a birthing pool, suspect it’s luck of the draw and who happens to go into labour at the same time as you.

The labour ward is literally down a corridor from the MLU. There were birthing pools available when I was there but I opted to go to the labour ward for an epidural! Even in the labour ward I'm pretty sure they have a birthing pool they can put up because I remember my midwife telling me that's what the huge space in the corner of the room was for.

@Fortheloveofscience what day are you going on your tour?

@Foodie68 did you go on the tour? How was it?

So the tour was pretty short, although it did provide a good overview of the midwife led unit versus the main labour ward. The are birthing pools in both areas although midwife led unit has more (3 versus 1 pool I think they said). In midwife led you can only have G&A or Pethidine for other forms of pain relief they would transfer you to main labour ward. I’m still keen for a waterbirth although my baby is still breech.

Ok thank you. I'm keen too. Just want to know that if I decide to have an epidural, the transfer will be quick... How many weeks are you? Still time for breech to change ... what are they saying?

From what they says it sounds like the transfer between the midwife led and labour ward is very straight forward, more so than other hospitals where the midwife led unit can be completely separate or a few miles down the road.
I’m 34 weeks at the moment so still some time for the baby to turn although if it hasn’t turned by the end of this week I’m trying moxibustion which is a Chinese acupuncture technique. How long have you got left?

Ah that sounds good...I'm 37 weeks now... l

Hope baby turns soon for you...