Waterbirth at Lister, Stevanage - advice please

[Whiteybaby]

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??

I wanted a water birth, but not at home (too far from hosp in event of complications), but decided that I'd rather have a non-water birth at the Lister than a water one at the QE2, as the QE2 has such a bad reputation.

Agree that most of the mw round here are fab, and very supportive of home births.

Hi Sparkle and thanks again everyone for coming in for a chat! I will have a look at your thread when not at work and have slightly more time! Your comments are really appreciated. My mid wife is called Helen and although i am sure she is brilliant I just haven't felt connected to her or that she is particularly interested in me. I did meet martina last time and really liked her, haven't met other community ones yet... Changing midwife just felt a bit like running the risk of upsetting people and I thought i was prob being overly sensitive! I feel awful even typing this but my main concern with HB is that if something bad happened I (along with HB and g'parents) would never forgive myself. Not sure I can cope with that pressure against their very public and understandable concerns. As you say tho the midwives I saw yesterday said the transfer time is same whether already in hospital or not as rooms still need to be prepared etc and I am prob within 10 mins esp if blue lights flashing! I have 10 weeks left and no idea what to expect as first timer and sometimes feels simpler to go to Lister and have it on a bed!! At least the hopsital gets the big thumbs up!

Whitebaby There are arguments to suggest that things are actually less likely to go wrong with a HB than a hospital birth.

I have heard woman say 'thank god I was in hospital because x happened', and I have though 'but x wouldn't have happened in the first place if you'd been at home, - or more specifically, were better supported'.

hth