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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Birthing Centres

19 replies

arabella2 · 25/08/2003 10:41

Hi
I'm 9 weeks pregnant (time creeping by very slowly, can't wait to stop feeling sick / stop worrying about miscarrying) and am considering a midwife led birthing centre for this birth as ds's birth was fairly uncomplicated.
My 3 options seems to be the birthing centre at UCH, the Edgware Birthing Centre and the birthing centre at Queen Charlotte's in Hammersmith (all in London). Have slight reservations about UCH as it may be a little far to get to in the heat of labour (things went quite quickly with ds). Also the Edgware Birthing Centre is not attached to a hospital so in the event of a mother and / or baby emergency there would have to be a transfer by ambulance I suppose.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, does anybody know anything about any of these places and have any advice???
It would be nice to have access to a birthing pool which I believe these places normally have?
Ds was born in St. Mary's in Paddington, and while I liked it antenatally, when ds was actually born I ended up on a bed with loads of fungus underneath the mattress (so dh tells me)...

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bea · 25/08/2003 11:27

hi arabella2... i know that dot1 and juno have had an experience with the edgware birthing centre... so it might be helpful to hear from their firsthand experience.. dot1 is always trawling the threads (message board junkie!!!) so i'm sure they'll give some helpful advice!!!

oopps!! isn't this awful offering advice from other posters!!!

Good luck!

ThomCat · 26/08/2003 11:09

Hiya - That's the reason I didn't go to the Edgware Birthing centre - it not being attached to hospital and as Lottie had to go into special care so pleased I didn't.
I went to Watford General where they have a seperate part called the ABC unit, Aleaxandre ward - midwife only led, and it's LOVELY. They've decorated all the rooms, have a pool, a sensory room and no drugs etc in sight, it's next door to special care and downstairs from main maternity ward so lift there to take you stright up if needs be. You go into the room designated to you and have the baby there and stay in that room till you leave, you have your own little bathroom and shower, pretty breadspread and matching curtains from Laura Ashley(!), tv, stereo, smells of lavender, really, really nice.

Gem13 · 26/08/2003 11:25

I was in the local park the other day with 3 other mothers. Out of the 4 of us, 3 had 'started' at the local birthing unit and then got transferred by ambulance 11 miles away to the nearest hospital where 1 had a C section and 2 of us had forcep deliveries plus complications.

I think it's worth remembering that it's a homebirth service but not at home. I am currently expecting number 2 (14 weeks) and I don't want to go to hospital as ending up giving birth in a hospital theatre was horrible. I don't think I could get through the door of the birthing centre either.

This time I'm tempted by a homebirth. I want a waterbirth (so I'll hire a pool) and I want the midwife to be with me all the time (last time I panicked every time she left the room) plus there's now another person to consider (DS!).

I guess what I'm trying to say is that it all depends on your experience of birth the first time round and what you want from your second.

dot1 · 27/08/2003 13:22

Hi Arabella2

As Bea said, dp (Juno) and I have experience of Edgware, which was a wonderful place. dp wanted a water birth and had some of her ante natal care there. It really was the best place to go to - v. relaxed, caring midwives, lovely big comfortable homey rooms. She started her labour there, but unfortunately, after about 21 hours the labour wasn't progressing and she was in a lot of pain. We decided (they left it to us but were very helpful) that dp needed to go to hospital for an epidural. As soon as we made the decision they were great - called an ambulance and within about 20 - 30 minutes we were on the way to Northwick Park. A midwife went with us to handover, and we got messages throughout the rest of the labour that they were phoning to see how dp was doing.

Even 19 months later, we saw the midwife who looked after dp at a recent baby fair in Harrow, and she remembered us (OK, maybe gay mums are fairly memorable?!) and asked how things were etc.

dp had our ds another 12 hours later by caesarian when the labour still wasn't progressing.

I know she really regrets not being able to give birth at Edgware, but at least we started off there, and it was the best thing in the end that she was transferred to hospital - which they did quickly and professionally.

Good luck whatever your decision!

Original poster

arabella2 · 30/08/2003 09:45

Thanks for your messages everyone. I went to see the birthing centre at Queen Charlotte's and was quite impressed. I'm going on a visit at the Edgware Birthing Centre this Sunday but I think that I will probably end up at the other one because it is in a hospital - in the case of anything (even meconium which I had last time) at least you are only transferred upstairs rather than by ambulance in the heat of contractions. The only thing that worried me about the Queen Charlotte place was that there seemed to be a big divide between the labour ward and the birth centre with the birth centre being completely pro natural birth and the labour ward being all lie on your back with your monitor on... Maybe it was the midwife's prejudice against the labour ward (since she worked in the birth centre) but she didn't seem to like them much! Painted quite a scary picture...

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TalkingTree · 30/08/2003 10:02

I had my ds in the birthing centre in UCH in April. It was fantastic very clean and new (about the only bit of UCH which is see the thread on clean hospitals) and the care I got was great. It is just round the corner from the labour ward, so its easy to be transfered if you need to be. I stayed in my room in the birthing centre till I went home the next day, but if it is busy you may get put in the post labour wards, which can be a bit grim.

I had dds1 & 2 in the labour ward, and the birthing centre was just a million miles better (though also an easier birth). If were to have another baby I would definately go there again, even if Ihad moved house and lived further away.

Hope this helps.

Original poster

arabella2 · 30/08/2003 13:16

Thanks TalkingTree. My only concern with UCH is how long it would take to get there - I live in Willesden. With ds things went quickly and what if they go more quickly next time??? I really don't fancy having the baby in the car!!
Of course at night there is no traffic (which is when ds was born) but you can't guarantee the night unfortunately.

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SofiaAmes · 30/08/2003 22:07

arabella2, I had my ds at St. Mary's and had a terrible experience ending with an emergency c-section. I had my dd 11 months ago on the birthing centre floor at Queen Charlottes. I wanted to have a VBAC (and did) and they were amazingly supportive. I can't say enough good things about them. As it turned out, I had a haemmorage after the birth and had to be wisked up to the theatre on the regular labor floor. This was done with no problems, or communication gaps. I spent the night up there and then was allowed to (it was organized by the birthing centre midwife) come back down to the birthing centre for the next few days that I stayed there. During the last few months of my pregnancy I refused to see my gp (long story), and did all of my checkups at the birthing centre. Every midwife I dealt with was friendly and helpful and the floor always seemed calm and not oversubscribed.

ThomCat · 01/09/2003 10:21

Arabella - have you considerd the birthing unit at Watford General Hospital?

Original poster

arabella2 · 02/09/2003 20:14

Yes I have briefly, but it is just too far away - not only for actual labour but also for scans etc...
I've told my doctor I've picked the birth centre at Queen Charlotte's so I hope that turns out okay...
It's right next door to Wormwood Scrubs, do you think that might affect the sproglet in some way???

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Original poster

arabella2 · 02/09/2003 20:15

Thanks everybody for your advice by the way.

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ThomCat · 03/09/2003 10:35

Queen Charlotte's is meant to be fab, and I think I'll have next baby there. Due to fact my little 'un has Down's and it was possibly genetic at first, all the genetists etc told me they would get me in there as it has the best reputaion for scans and for dealing with any possible problems I may have.

Good luck with everything and enjoy xxx

Original poster

arabella2 · 03/09/2003 11:10

Thank you

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M2T · 03/09/2003 11:52

Good luck Arabella!

Sorry to butt in.... but does anyone know if there are any birthing centres in Scotland?? I'm quite keen on it for the next one.

Original poster

arabella2 · 03/09/2003 20:23

M2T, found this list on babycentre: \link(www.babycentre.co.uk/refcap/548758.html\Scotland)

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Original poster

arabella2 · 03/09/2003 20:24

As you see I haven't mastered links! Anyway, if you look on www.babycentre.co.uk and do a search on birth centres, about third or fourth on the list will be birth centres in Scotland - there are loads.

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M2T · 04/09/2003 13:20

Cheers for that Arabella.... I'll have a look now.

Immi · 15/11/2006 12:50

I'd really like a waterbirth and have a choice of Whipps X, Edgware, or Newham Hospital that offer this facility. Anyone got any other feedback on these please? Immi

Creena · 15/11/2006 14:04

Hi there - I'm afraid that I don;t have any direct experience of the centres you refer to but, as I plan to deliver at a midwife led unit this time, I've been looking at this site;

www.birthchoiceuk.com

You might find it useful.

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