What kind of birth did you have? Was it at home or in hospital?

[LocalEditorCambridgeshire]

Watching the news this morning about encouraging mums to give birth at home got me thinking.
I'm not sure there's enough staff in my area to be able to do the job. I'm not sure i fancy the mess after!

I had DD1 at the Rosie, which was fantastic- they were lovely and I was able to go home the same day despite needing the Bayeax Tapestry recreated on my fanjo.

DD2 was born at home. On paper it went well but the MWs were bloody awful- bossy, patronising, didn't listen, one assaulted me ... I think they were just bored.

But I would have a homebirth again, with different MWs. I had a pool set up in front of my TV and was watching while puffing away on G&A.

And it was utter bliss to have a shower in my own bathroom afterwards and get tucked up in my own bed. There was no mess at all, the MWs cleared it all up (so they did something right in the end).

A lot of mothers in my village are encouraged to have homebirths. It's only 15 mins to Hinchingbrooke if they need to transfer you.

I had mine at Rosie. The actual birth and the midwives until the birth were great. However the night midwives/nurses at the Rosie were awful!

They were horrible to me, kept treating me like nuisance and just after you've given a traumatic birth, that's the last thing you need. They quickly chucked us out of the ward in the middle of the night to the Lady Mary Ward. However, everyone on the lady Mary ward was fab, but it was too late by then as we hadn't established breastfeeding and my baby's temperature had gone down at the Rosie, as the air con was on and I had no idea how to put it down, despite telling them it felt too cold.

I probably still would have my next birth at hospital as I can't imagine what the mess would be like at home, and plus I needed a last minute assisted birth, so had to be moved to the delivery unit.

thank you for sharing

I had mine at the Rosie and would never consider a home birth personally. It's just too scary to think you're away from prompt medical assistance.
I had two very positive experiences at the Rosie but the aftercare wasn't great. Suppose once the baby's out, it's show over

Why is the after care so poor? That's when you really need help!

Both of mine at Hinch. With DC1 I was actually planning a home birth but at 38 weeks suddenly developed severe liver problems which meant emergency induction. The labour unit care was exemplary, though I'm not sure if that was down to my being so ill!

The pregnancy for DC2 was monitored closely so when my liver started to go tits up again at 37 weeks, I was induced again. I can honestly say it was a great experience; I had a doula, which helped, and also one of those new-fangled mobile epidurals which meant I could move around a bit. Plus a superb midwife (thanks Charlotte!) I would happily go through it again - not the pregnancy though

Not quite so keen on the postnatal ward care, just because they wrote things in my notes that weren't true (eg no nipple soreness, when I was suffering quite badly and had said so).

Hinchingbrooke Hospital named “best Trust in England for quality of care”
www.hinchingbrooke.nhs.uk/hinchingbrooke-news/