has anyone managed a water birth at QMC in nottingham

[jayjaybaby]

hi i would love one but not heard much and they dont do the hospital tour now as its all on line so would love some feedback good or bad

I used the birthing pool at QMC when I had my DS a year ago. Could have had a waterbirth if I had wished but felt happier pushing 'on land' as such! I didn't have any pain relief at all - felt comfortable with the water until contractions got really strong, by the time I got out of the water it was too late for anything else!
I found everything about QMC was fab - midwives great & aromatherapy after birth really surprisingly helpful!
Any other questions just ask - can't think what else would be useful to tell you!

were they useful in getting breast feeding established im really worried they will run off to nursery with baba and give her formula

Absolutely no chance of that happening (running off to nursery I mean!
They will not take your baby away from you, baby stays with you every moment with a cot on wheels so you can have them next to your bed or wheel them with you to get tea/coffee etc.
Will def. encourage breastfeeding (will help with formula if that is your preference though).
Ask for help as much as you like, they are happy to watch you bfeed and help with positioning etc.
Also good are the mwfs who come and visit after you leave hospital - again, if you ask for help with bfeeding they will give it!
I didn't stop bfeeding until DS was 9mths old. The first 8 weeks are the hardest and I really wanted to give up, but keep going - it gets better and by the end I loved bfeeding and didn't want to stop!

thank you expat cat are you still in notts

Hi I am still in notts - sorry it took me so long to get back to you. if you want to chat some more you can email me [email protected] (sorry not set up for CAT)

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has anyone realised you cant tour the maternity unit now un less you go online shocking if you ask me

thank you i will do i find very unsettling that the first time i ever set eyes on a delivery suite birthing pool will be as i go into it not the best way to make you feel settled in hospital

please if anyone has info i will be very grateful

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What info are you after Booby?

was it good are the mid wives supportive did you have to wait were you allowed to give birth in the water just stuff like that

Righty ho - I went on the tour of the labour suite/theatre and the wards. This was in October 1994. There was no opportunity to see the birthing pool as someone was in it giving birth (and it is probably fair to say they didn't want 20 or so heavily pregnant women and their partners filing through!!). We were however given a leaflet which has a picture of the birthing pool on it and it looks like a spa/jacuzzi type thing (but without the bubbles obviously) in a very nice room. However, you can never assume that if you want a water birth that it will be available - someone may be already in it and it is done on a first come first served basis. I am pretty sure that they are open to the hiring of pools for the individual rooms though. I sort of fancied a water birth, but in the end I was induced and it wasn't really an option).
The rooms where you give birth are clean and comfortable with individual shower/toilet facilities and TV. There are pictures on the walls, but nevertheless you have to remember birth is treated in hospital as a medical procedure and all the gubbins are within easy reach.
ALL of the midwives who saw me through induction were fantastic, but the absolute best was the one who broke my waters and saw me through labour and birth. She was a mature midwife who was so calming, reassuring and absolutely lovely. I have absolutely no negatives to report on the "service" provided by those in the labour suite. Particularly the tea and toast afterwards!
In terms of the midwives who were on the ward (I saw a lot of them, I was on there just over 6 days after giving birth) they are fantastically supportive - if you want to breastfeed they are there to help you 100%. Not just the midwives either.... the other staff (auxillaries???) are fantastic at trying to establish breastfeeding) and they also have dedicated breastfeeding counsellors who tour the wards for the needy (that would be me then!) The individual rooms are generally saved for those who have had caesarean, so you can expect your stay to be in a room with 3 other mums.
As soon as you can effectively feed your baby you will be going home.
Hope this helps. If you do want any more info, give me a nudge before this drops off my "threads I am on" list (in 3 days time).

Did I just say 1994?
Hmm. Make that 2004.
Oh god