If I have a hospital birth, instead of another HB, would I get a nice break and my own room?

[bohemianbint]

I'm probably being really naive here but I've never had a hospital birth or even been on a ward, so I know nothing.

I had a fab HB with DS1, my own shower, my own bed, Corrie and a pizza hours afterwards, marvellous.

On the downside, as it was so easy I felt I was expected to just crack on like nothing had happened, waddle up and downstairs and sat there for 6 hours without a break or food when relatives turned up batch after batch. I felt dazed and DP was positively pushed out.

I don't want that this time. But I also don't want any unwanted intervention, I just want to do it my way like I did last time.

What do you think? Hospital for a rest, or HB with much stricter rules for family?

I have been very lucky because my last two births at hospital, I did get a side room, but only because I delivered prematurely and the midwifes felt it was cruel to put me in a postnatal ward.

On the other hand, aside from the fact that this isn't your first child, perhaps your partner would have "a nice break and own room" if you were in hospital

I had a very uncomplicated and relatively undisturbed hospital birth - and paid for a single room to get some peace. Fat chance!! It seemed like every half hour someone was knocking on the door - would you like a bounty bag, I've come to take your blood, just mopping the floor, here's the lunch menu...on and on for three days.

The other thing was that of course, when things quietened down, it was just me and the baby, and I think if I'd been at home with dh for comfort I would have been less fearful (my 'omg what have we done?' moment came at 11pm on ds's first night! I nearly had palpitations!)

Sounds like you've decided Bohemianbint, but just so we're not too anti hospitals, my local hospital does LDRP rooms ( labour, delivery, recover, post-natal) so you get a room to yourself for the whole time. It was reasonably clean- I didn't need to do any cleaning at all, and DH enjoyed a good nights sleep at home away from us- he had 12 hrs visiting so that was enough for him ( and me!). The bed had 'sides'to put on so could co-sleep and breastfeed, so no worried about narrow bed, and rooms along a corridor so could only hear next room (only heard one lady labouring very loudly, but I know from working on the floor below if the windows are open our staffroom has unusual background screaming!). Also had pool, which I used in labour (so I did use another room as well). Food was ok, but DH could bring in take aways too ( my huge treat was a mcD breakfast, something I hadn't had while pg, or since, come to think of it!).
I did need a blood transfusion so ended up staying in 4 days, but all that breastfeeding support means we kept going for 2 years until I was 16 wks pregnant. All in all great experience.
However, I am hoping for a homebirth this time too!!
mumofk

I have to say that Dh and I agreed that we would have no overnight visitors for a long time and people were invited to visit (one visit each day) but that Dh would be the one to say - "Jen's not going to say it but I can tell she is getting tired, it has been lovely to see you, thanks for coming"
In the event we had loads of visitors because that is what I wanted but people very much waited to be asked - No one just turned up.

I have to agree about missing the whole homecoming thing though - as much as it was lovely it was surreal especially first time round - it was a bit of "what you are just going to leave us to it? But we havent got a clue what we are doing!"

I needed to get home for a rest and some decent food. They need the beds for people who need medical attention, not for people who want a rest!! Get your dh on the case!!!

I stayed in hospital with first one, second one was a unplanned homebirth went to hospital wanting to rest with new baby. I ended up leaving after the first night. I missed my boys and the bloody cleaning ladys kept waking me up over things like "had I finished my breakfast" ( when I was still asleep) and Asked if I had, had a shower, just so they could clean it when I wanted to lay in. I planned to stay but wanted home. Maybe you should just see how you go, take it one day/night at a time. My midwife visited me at home afterwards.

I've got it! Have the homebirth - cleaner, calmer, nicer than hospital - then as soon as you're walking, you and your partner and the baby scoot off to a nice B&B somewhere and don't tell the relatives where you've gone for a couple of days!

See? Homebirth and nice break!