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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Waterbirth at Lister, Stevanage - advice please

28 replies

Whiteybaby · 15/01/2009 11:24

Has anyone had any experience of having a water labour/birth at the Lister in Stevenage. A community midwife told me a few weeks back its ok to bring your own (eg pool in a box) as no in house facilities. Hospital midwife yesterday said there is only one room that can manage a bath being brought in, that they NEVER do water births, and said I should go to the QE2 instead. She said community midwife completely wrong to say it would be ok. Lister is 10 mins drive and QE2 prob nearer 40! After completely different responses I am confused! Its my first and although v v keen to have water experience am aware that there are plenty reasons why I might not get this and end up being on "dry land" and still in Welwyn! Having searched think "Freestyle" may have tried waterbirth at Lister in November but not sure if she is still m'netting or how it went??

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Theochris · 15/01/2009 11:40

I have had a baby at the Lister but not a water birth, as far as I was aware they offer this only at the QE2.

However, it might have changed. Best way to find out would be to call the unit directly or even better, take the tour which is on Saturday afternoons I think.

SparklyGothKat · 15/01/2009 11:45

I have given birth at QE2 and Lister, not a water birth though. The QE2 has had a refit since I had Dd2 7 years ago, and I 'think' there is a pool there. Seeing the size of the rooms in Lister, I can't see them being able to fit a pool in.

TattyCatty · 15/01/2009 11:47

When I had DD almost 3 years ago, it was not possible to have a water birth at the Lister as they didn't have a birthing pool. The delivery rooms do vary in size, and are obviously allocated according to which room is available when you arrive, so you wouldn't be able to guarantee getting a room big enough to house your pool in a box even if they let you bring it in.

We were told at the time that the nearest facility for a water birth was at the Rosie in Cambridge, which I believe is the midwife led unit linked to Addenbrookes. Our NCT teacher was a physiotherapist there and raved about it as a facility, but it was just too far to contemplate going to in the throes of labour. The 7 minute journey to the Lister was bad enough!

Don't know what the facilities are at the QE2 these days, but I do know that some Mumsnetters have had bad experiences there and would chose the Lister over it anyway.

Would you consider a homebirth to get your water birth experience? Community midwives in the area are very supportive of them!

SparklyGothKat · 15/01/2009 11:54

I chose Lister over the QE2 in 2007, as I have had bad experiences at the QE2 too.

misdee · 15/01/2009 11:58

round here they love homebirths! i had one, and although QE2 is right on my doorstep driving wise, i had lister down as my chosen hospital

catsmother · 15/01/2009 12:19

When I had DD in 2003 at the Lister I was told I could have a waterbirth in their pool providing no-one was using it 1st blah blah blah. As it happened, the pool was apparently broken anyway.

At the end of last year, in speaking to the midwife about my pregnancies (I later had 2 m/cs - in Sept and Nov) she told me they no longer did waterbirths there.

Original poster

Whiteybaby · 15/01/2009 12:45

thanks so much ladies. Your comments about QE2 is pretty much what worries me! Did a bit of research yesterday and Lister seems to win hands down! As you say there is one room at Lister that it is possible to bring our own pool into but midwife pointed out every chance it will be occupied. Also concerns me that even if room free there might not be a midwife willing to help me as not common practice there! QE2 have two birthing pools so she basically said doubles your chances. Also midwives more used to using water. Between us I am really tempted by HB but as having never done this before and my HB really being against the idea (in case there is a problem) I think it may not be a viable option for me this time round.. next time maybe??

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Original poster

Whiteybaby · 15/01/2009 12:46

catsmother, think we cross posted. so sorry to hear about your m/c's.

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BabyStarlightsMum · 15/01/2009 12:51

Go to the Edgeware Birth Unit. It is heaven on earth.

All the rooms are en-suite and they all have a pool with dimmer switches and underwater lighting. Your partner can stay with you 24/7 and they provide double beds.

People travel for up to 3 hours to give birth there. I couldn't recommend it highly enough.

I was hoping for a homebirth, but for peacefulness and tranquility (not to mention tidyness) this place was my preferred choice.

BlueCowBackToWondering · 15/01/2009 12:57

whiteybaby - you are more likely to have 'problems' in a hospital than at home...

Home water birth is FAB! Get your partner to read more research.

Original poster

Whiteybaby · 15/01/2009 12:57

thanks Baby. My mid wife did mention it a while back but she said that apparently there have been problems transferring out emergencies? Some poor woman needed hopsital treatment but was turned away from the nearest and had a bad time being shuttled up the A1 hunting a bed... gives me shivers thinking of it! It does sound fabulous though if everything goest to plan. Re your comments about HB the tidyness issue (for want of a better word) had crossed my mind too!!

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BabyStarlightsMum · 15/01/2009 13:03

Whiteybaby There are Barnet and Chase Farm hospitals to transfer to. There are unlikely to be problems transfering because:

a) The transfer time is less than the time it takes to prepare a theatre

b) The mw's don't wait for an emergency to arrange the transfer. If there is a 'slight' chance that things might not be going as well as they could be the transfer is arranged then.

However, sometimes, very rarely, a hospital can be full, - but this is as likely with Lister and QE2 as it is with Chase Farm and Barnet. You could well be shuttled down the A1 in any case (although very very unlikely)I don't think your mw has been fair to you in this instance.

If nothing else, - go for a look around. I met quite a few mws there and they all seemed fantastic, hands off and sensible.

Original poster

Whiteybaby · 15/01/2009 13:06

BlueCowBacktowondering have just emailed my DH a web link and asked if we can investigate a bit more . Midwife did suggest we have a home visit to enable us to hear more so they appear v keen to promote. Am feeling ridiculously excited that a HB might be reconsidered.. wouldn't relish telling the g'parents though, I already know what my mum thinks of whole idea!

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BabyStarlightsMum · 15/01/2009 13:08

Who will the HB team be? QE2 or Lister?

I had probs with the QE2, but I live in a different area with a different team to you.

BlueCowBackToWondering · 15/01/2009 13:09

I was born at home - it was the norm in the 60's. How old is your mum? Maybe she was one of the first generation to automatically go into hospital.

My DH is now evangelical about homebirths, having suffered through 2 hospital births first. He was extremely sceptical but was very reassured by the mw home visit.

Original poster

Whiteybaby · 15/01/2009 13:11

I assume it would be Lister. There just seem to be so many different options at every stage of pregnancy and I have never got the same answer from midwives twice on any of them!! I've never felt so underinformed on anything..!

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TattyCatty · 15/01/2009 13:14

Whereabouts do you live Whiteybaby? If it's Hitchin, then there is another mumsnetter that has had 2 homebirths supported by the community midwife team - it's not the actual team at Lister that do the homebirths usually. I can point in the direction of this thread if you'd like to hear about her experiences.

BabyStarlightsMum · 15/01/2009 13:20

I'd still go and look around the Edgeware.They give you stats on transfers etc. but you'll also get an idea what you can aim for in terms of care and provision either at home or another hospital. They even provide a free natural birth class and a free waterbirth class.

SparklyGothKat · 15/01/2009 13:25

you do realise though that the team at Lister is the same as QE2, they all just move about... My friend is a midwife and she moves between the two. I tell you somthing, i was so glad that I didn't have the midwife last year that I had with DD2, I think I would have hit her.. she was a nasty cow.. long story.. I chose Lister as I am high risk in pregnant and the consultants are better at high risk pregnancies at lister

Original poster

Whiteybaby · 15/01/2009 13:36

TattyCatty I do live in Hitchin.. Seeing another thread would be great. My choices not helped by the fact that I'm not overly delighted with my allocated midwife who confirmed early on if I chose HB she would be there. I've not seen her since 18 weeks tho as been stand in's for two last appoints. Maybe now I am further ahead she might be better.

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BabyStarlightsMum · 15/01/2009 13:39

Whiteybaby You can choose to not have her there. It is your right. You don't have to give a reason either.

Women labour better when they are comfortable with their caregivers.

TattyCatty · 15/01/2009 14:35

Just to second what BabyStarlightsMum said, you can absolutely change your midwife at any point - I did just that myself as the woman that I was originally allocated gave me some very poor advice early on. Will see if I can get my friend to come and help you!

sparkle12mar08 · 15/01/2009 15:43

Hello Whiteybaby - I've answered the summons from Tattycatty (waves!). I've had two fab homebirths in Hitchin and the community team are truly supportive from my experiences.

This thread is a good one about persuading hb's on the homebirth subject, and my posts on it detail our experiences with a couple of different issues (ressucitation and shoulder dystocia). There's a bucket load of stuff on www.homebirth.org (I think it is) which you may have already seen, and is well worth spending a few hours looking through.

In short if you want to be more in control of your birth experience then planning for a home birth is one of the best things you can do. Even if you do transfer, you will have given yourself the best chance of being informed about your choices, and quite probably a good deal of confidence about exercising those choices. Another friend of ours had a home water birth in a tiny upstairs one bedroom flat for her first child and was totally supported too.

In terms of the midwifery team in Hitchin I got on very well Martina McCann and Nicky (can't remember her surname, wears combat trousers a lot and has a couple of wrist tattoos), Heather's also lovely too, but it's very much a personal choice.

Happy to chat about anything

sparkle12mar08 · 15/01/2009 15:44

PS - working hard then Tatty?

TattyCatty · 15/01/2009 15:50

Working my fingers to the bone Sparkle!

As somebody who ended up having a pretty traumatic birth, with lots of intervention, it took a good 25 minutes from being told that I needed to be prepped for a C-section to actually getting into theatre. In the end, they managed to get DD out with ventouse and forceps but even so, that would have been adequate time for an ambulance to get to me and then get me to the Lister.

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