WWYD-birthing centre vs. labour ward for first child? (What if I need an epidural....)

[Thandeka]

Hmmmm.

Have my assessment booked in to see if am eligible for awesome new birthing centre in a few weeks. Have seen the rooms they are fab and seems like an amazing place to give birth. Haven't seen the labour ward but imagine it is a bit grim by comparison.

I am not necessarily a gung ho natural childbirth earth mother type and would be quite happy with an epidural if I had to have one but you obviously can't have one in the birthing centre. The only thing putting me off epidural is fact it may interfere with establishing breastfeeding which I will struggle with anyway due to previous breast surgery - but then loads of mums successfully breastfeed after epidurals.

So am leaning towards trying to manage without pain relief other than gas and air (and probably would try water birth, tens and active birth positions too!) hence birth centre would be awesome but then ruling out epidural scares the beejeezus out of me (then again I guess they would only have to transfer me upstairs if I really couldn't hack it- but then I worry it may be too late/a lot of faff to move rooms)

So erm nargh - WWYD?

Well, I have had both my DC in hospital on just gas and air in the water pool, no intervention needed, thankfully

So I have had positive birthing experiences

I think for my first I probably liked the medical 'back-up' options - I just had no idea how I would be in labour (does anyone?!) so wanted to cover all bases

But I wasn't that focussed on labour, I was more freaked out by the idea that I would be bring a real-life BABY home with me

I know people who have had their 1st in a birthing centre and all has been great. Good luck!

I'm the same as you - not the gung ho earth mother type, but prefer the atmosphere of the birthing unit. It's much quieter, you have more privacy, and I like the team of midwives.

I'm going for the birthing unit option (I hope). I'm hoping that the relaxed atmosphere will help me to stay focused and not panic.

Also, my midwife said that they try to get you to stay at home for as long as possible, and if you think that you might not be able to cope with the pain, you can always choose to go to the labour ward straight away. They also told me that if I wanted an epidural, I can ask for one - the will simply transfer me to the hospital (about 20 minutes drive) by ambulance.

Good luck deciding!

How far is the birth centre from the hospital? You can always transfer if you decide you need pain relief. It's a difficult one cos no one knows how they will cope with labour when they haven't done it before. Personally, I had my DD in a birth centre just with gas and air. Luckily though my labour was only 6 hours.....not sure I would have coped with just the gas and air if it had been longer! I'm going for a home birth with the next one though so it can't have been that bad!

I loved the birth suite for dd1, but had to use the delivery suite for dd2 as it was an induction. Even though they are in the same building they seemed world apart - much much preferred the relaxed atmosphere of the birth suite.

The delivery suite was much more medical feeling, and whereas first time round they said thinngs like "just listen to your body", encouraged me to try different positions, move around, use birthing ball, pool, etc, 2nd time round it was all "just hop up on the bed and lie on your back. are you sure you don't need an epidural?"

if they're in the same building, you can always change your mind anyway

Birth Centre is downstairs and labour ward upstairs so easy to transfer. So I suppose I am not completely ruling out epidural but just making it a bit harder for myself to get one which in a way may help me cope better IYSWIM. Hmmm....

If it's in the same building, i'd go for the birthing centre, personally

Don't think too much about the epidural for now. You'll know when the time comes whether you need/want one or not

Gas and air is MARVELLOUS

What is the assesment/what makes someone elibible for a birth centre?

Lol

The logic is this... if you are relaxed and comfortable with your surroundings, you will cope better, therefore are less likely to want or need an epidural.

And with them being so close together, transfer is easy.

How have you been with the rest of pregnancy and how do you generally cope with pain and stress? That may give you a clue...

TNH, though, go with your gut, aim for the 'nice' birth experience and just bear in mind your right to say 'sod it, where's my epidural' if you want it!

heth got there before me - how far apart are they? I had a lovely 8 hours in the birth centre at my hospital before it got less lovely and was recommended I be taken downstairs to the delivery suite for an epidural.

The staff were great and distracted me until the anaethetist had finished whatever he was doing so he turned up in the del room a minute after me. Moving you is literally a case of wheeling you into a lift (the locked priority one) and along the corridor - MrNC says it was difficult keeping a sheet over me (I was naked from having been in the pool) but I really don't remember.

The delivery suite was clean and functional, and the epidural didn't interfere with me bfing at all, although I was still on a drip postnatally for other reasons and so couldn't reach the cot - luckily some sensible staff rigged up lots of pillows and a bedrail for us to cosleep. Well, he slept, I didn't...

Thandeka if they're in the same building then I'd go for the birthing centre first. Have just done that for my 3rd delivery - unfortunately had to be transferred to DS due to meconium stained waters but could have done so by choice otherwise.

In terms of whether you leave it too late for epidural, that's a risk even if you start off on DS as you may be either too far dilated (they don't like to give you an epidural too near to the end if you have coped without so far, so that you can feel to push) or because the anaesthetist isn't available, so wherever you end up you'll need to bear that in mind

Have had 2 deliveries with epidural and 1 with just G&A - all pain relief is lovely when you're in labour and as others have said you won't really know what you want until you're there so try to keep an open mind.

Go to birthing centre. Much calmer etc. If necessary they'll transfer you. You're more likely to feel more relaxed in the birthing centre and water is a wonderful pain reliever so you may forget all about epidurals.

With regards to the breastfeeding and your previous surgery... are you speaking to a Lactation Consultant or Breastfeeding Counsellor? It's worth sorting that out now rather than waiting. If you've already done so (really must do more than just read the OP) I'll move along.

I had epidurals for #1 and #2. With #3 I really wanted to try yet again not to have an epidural so opted for the birthing centre in the hospital with the knowledge I could transfer across to the consultant unit for an epidural if I really wanted/needed one.

For me the birthing centre was fab. The care in there was so much better than I had experienced with #1 or 2. The staff were very into emotionally supporting me this time both before and after the birth. I had a lovely waterbirth using tens initially and gas and air too. No epidural for me. I would recommend this to anyone to try having done it. I did also use the Natal hypnotherapy CDs too which I think really helped to keep me calm too. Losing my calm mental state was a huge factor with me needing an epidural with #2 I think.

I would definitely go to the birthing centre, they are much more relaxing places to be. But good to be close to the labour ward in case you need to be transferred (I was with both of mine --DS1 for epidural, DS2 had bradychardia).

If you can transfer easily I would go for the birth unit. Labour wards if like mine were awful, cramped, sounds silly I know but so clinical. I didn't move off the bed once on it with my first which I regret. Birthing units seem far more relaxed and welcoming in my opinion.