Peoples opinions on MLU???

[HelloBear]

I'm 34 weeks and am in a total quandary about where to give birth. My DD was a planned hb but for various reasons not completely sold on the hb this time round (moved, DD being at home, some health problems). Decided to book a hb but there is a new MLU at my hospital, on the same level as the clu but separate.

However I have heard/read mixed things about them. Basically would I just get the same or more care at home compared to a MLU? What are people's thoughts or experiences?

At this rate my baby is going to be born in the car as I dither about what to do!

I'll pop back in a bit

You get more supervision from MWs at home, there isn't anything available in MLUs that isn't available at home

personally I think they should be abolished and the resources put into either home or hospital births!

but the fact that yours isn't a stand alone makes it not quite as bad as the one I went to! But still! in order to be moved to the CLU the MW needs to be doing more than popping her head round the door and "leaving you to it" as they often do in MLUs. It might be just down the corridoor as oppose to an ambulance ride, BUT if you are supervised at home you'll be in an amulance and there maybe hours before anyone noticed there was anything wrong with you in the MLU in order to wheel you over to the CLU

Question people who "loved" your local MLU, did they actually NEED anything or did being left alone suit them? (in which case they could have been anywhere TBH!)

Generally for a hb you'll have a mw there with you all the time, whereas at a MLU they might be popping in and out, depending on how many staff they have to cover all the patients.

It's really a personal decision, and depends entirely on what will make you feel most comfortable. To my mind, the benefits of a hb would be not having to worry so much about finding childcare for DD when I'm in labour, and being able to sleep in my own bed and shower in my own bathroom afterwards. The benefits of a MLU would be being right next to the hospital in case of complications, but still having a natural, hopefully non-medicalised labour and birth. Personally, my DH isn't keen on my having a hb (needed intervention last time) so I'm hoping to have DC2 at the local MLU.

Can you book a hb for now but use the MLU if you decide at the time that you'd feel happier there (assuming they have space)?

also the MLU kept telling me to wait longer at home when I really wasn't coping by myself, If I'ld had a HB I'ld have had a MW there from the start who could have helped me to get more comfortable

plus the fact that I knew that at some point I'ld have to get in a taxi made me really anxious becuse I wanted to do the trip before I was wailing like a banshee in the street trying to get in the car! but the MLU kept saying no no no don't come in yet it's your first you can go to sleep and come in tomorrow morning (I bloody could not! )

lacking I've see your posts on this topic. I guess the worry I have is that the MWs will have the same time pressures at the MLU as they do at clu and therefore not give what I want (I.e 1-2-1 Mw care).

I feel so angry at the moment that i feel like I'm being 'forced' to go for a hb as the only way to guarantee 1-2-1 care. This is madness in my opinion!

Interestingly I did chat to a mum friend today who gave birth there recently and she felt they left her to it too much.

I did eventually move to a CLU and it was much more on an individual assesment there..
in the MLU it was very much one size fits all - everyone likes to be left along apparently! everyone wants the pool get in it you silly woman! everyone's first follows A,B,C

at the CLU, there wasn't pretty decor, there wasn't a lot of space, but the MWs are more used to a whole spectrum of labours in there and treat you case by case, I my MWs didn't leave my side in the CLU and reacted to what I was saying and doing etc.

In fact I compained to the VBAC MW about the MLU just a couple of weeks ago, and she didn't even see that her response was EXACTLY what I was complaining about "oh I'm sorry you felt that way about the MLU, but most women like it to be X,Y,Z"

Everyone I know who rates the local MLU and who says that the feel their own needs were reacted to, on questionning did actually follow the MLUs A, B, C of MLU type births - so were just lucky that they "conformed" actually!

I've said it on other threads I know, but I would have been transferred probably hours earlier to the CLU had I had a home birth