Crowborough Birthing Centre First Time?

[ivyG]

Hey there

this is my first pregnancy and I have heard excellent things about Crowborough but wondered if going there for my first time is a bit ambitious? My other choices are Haywards Heath and Brighton. If anyone could offer any advice as I live about 40 mins from Crowborough so would be a bit of a trek in labour to get there.

thanks

When are you due? HAve you been to have a look around? Its lovely there and it is inside crowborough hospital (obviously a little hosp) generally first labours are long so in theory you'd have plenty of time to get there. Mind you my first was 4 hours. Im due in November and will be going there..

Im due in Nov too so not long to go now, did you go there for your first birth? thanks for responding

Im due in Nov too so not long to go now, did you go there for your first birth? thanks for responding

Might see you there! No i lived in berkshire for ds1 so was in a hospital. That is another thing i like about the birth centre you dont have to traipse miles through car parks and corridors to get to the maternity unit. you walk in the main door and you stay on the ground floor and it is right there. I found it a nightmare getting up in the hosp and then walking all the way through again after id given birth.

I only live 20 mins away from it so our MW's cover there and they are really nice. They only have on average 300 births a year so generally very quiet which i personally think is nice because you get more attention from them. The ambulance station is right next door too for peace of mind.

I have had all my scans done at crowborough and all the staff have always been nice.

I don't have any experience myself but two women I know have been there. One was a first timer who was warned that she would need "balls of steel" to survive with only gas and air! Not only did she survive, she had a great experience giving birth in a pool. She also found the aftercare excellent.

The second woman travelled from the Dartford area but this was her second birth. I understand that she found the experience much more rewarding than her previous birth in a consultant led department.

Best wishes whatever you decide.

I booked to give birth there, but ended up at Princess Royal as DS was prem and needed to go to SCBU. I did get most of my antenatal checks there and it was lovely as it was midwives who actually had a chance to get to know you, realistically would see you in labour, and did appointments whenever it suited you - including evenings and weekends. My comm midwife was VERY dismissive when I chose to book there, with dire warnings about how I could only have G&A etc - which was why I wanted to get away from her for a start (I had to have a continuously monitored labour on a bed, DS was OP and I still just had G&A BTW)

My doula had done loads of births there, and said it was fantastic as you are guaranteed a water birth if you want it, and they are very much set up for active births and encourage that.

I also knew someone who had twins by c sec at Tunbridge Wells and went there to recover - she loved it there.

I, personally, had a bad experience at PR, and would say that its only advantage over Brighton is that the parking is better.

I gave birth at Crowborough 5 years ago (omg!) - was a fantastic experience, first child, water birth. I lived in Hove at the time so had a similar 40 min journey. 1 visit to the Royal Sussex convinced me there was no way I was having a baby there!

MW at Crowborough were lovely, all very relaxed including meals etc - only 3 people in when I was there so had a room to myself afterwards.
Don't know if things have changed since then, but based on my experience I would highly recommend it.

I had my first 2 DCs at CBC. DD1 was born in the mahooosive birth pool and DS1 was born in the corner bath - which I wanted to avoid as it didn't look big enough, obviously it was! The unit was full when I had DD1 (haha, all six beds) but the care and attention was still excellent. With DS1, I arrived at 8.30am, had him at 1 min to 9am and checked out in the afternoon! Both births were drug free.

I also like the fact that there are no strange medical staff wandering in unannounced. The attendant midwife tells you when she's calling for the 2nd midwife and immediately introduces you when she arrives (whether you can be arsed to say hello is entirely up to you)! And the ambulance station is right there and it's only 20 minutes to blue light to Pembury.

The births I had at the Unit were so very good that I was completely relaxed about having my next too at home (with lovely Debbie Gowers & Eithne Halliday).

I know there is one MNetter with a bad story about CBC but it's the only negative feedback I've ever heard.

that should read "my next two"!!!

My SIL had her baby at PRH last week and is raving about it. I won't choose it though as two of my friends' babies were brain damaged there, and when visiting SIL I was struck by how clinical it is. I'm hoping to go to Crowborough, great to read everyone's experiences.
ivyg do let us know where you choose and how it goes! I'm about 40 mins away from Crowborough too.

i've read lots of good thigns about crowborough too

although round here i hear that you don't actually get any choice. i think they are keen for more places to be like crowborough though.

thanks for all your advice, have lots to think about thats for sure! will keep you posted