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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Home birth vs MLU...Talk to me!

16 replies

Shellywelly1973 · 01/11/2013 16:29

I've had 2 water births at a birth centre. Im pregnant with dc6 so cant use birth centre as 5 dc is their policy.

Im booked into a local hospital with a MLU. I nearly cried when I realised there were only 5 rooms in the MLU. Im now considering a home birth. Dp isn't keen. Dealing with practical issues like dc, privacy, space & how to squeeze a pool in are all factors putting me off a home birth.

We have no family near by to help with dc so hb is most likely way for dp to be at the birth but its also a worry as to where they will be if not asleep or at school!

So has anyone had a home birth & given birth in a MLU? Is there a big difference... What's a MLU like?

TIA!

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rachyconks · 01/11/2013 16:35

I had my DD at midwife led unit, and it was great. No other babies so nothing to compare too. Is water birth an option at MLU? When you say 5 rooms do you mean private too instead of ward or delivery rooms? I am shocked the birth centre has a 5DC policy!

TerrariaMum · 01/11/2013 16:37

I've had 2 home births. If you want a pool, by all means have one, but they aren't obligatory for home births. I didn't have one for either of mine.

As to where your DC will be, well, you have more birthing experience than me, but I found I did not go into labour with DD2 until I was sure DD1 was safe. So your body may take care of that.

I have no experience with MLUs at all so can't help you there.

crazykat · 01/11/2013 16:44

Not had a home birth but DC3 was born in a MLU at the hospital and it was brilliant. It only had a few private rooms with their own bathrooms and mine had a birthing pool/bath though I didn't use it.

It was nothing like being on the ward when you're moved from labour ward to delivery ward to ante natal ward. You only go to the MLU from home when contractions are 5mins apart.

DC3 was born at 2am and the MW told us we could go whenever we were ready just let them know and they'd get the paperwork ready - unlike on the ward where I was always pestering the poor MW to let us go home.

Labour started as we were going to bed and we were home by 6am, the elder DCs didn't even know we'd been gone.

Original poster

Shellywelly1973 · 01/11/2013 19:06

Thanks. The hospital im booked into hasca dtandard labour ward with the mlu on the next floor.

Im concerned I will get to the hospital & the rooms will in use so I would have to go to labour ward. I haven't given birth in a labour ward for more then 12 years & it wasn't a pleasant experience!

I gave birth twice in water with no other pain relief so that's what I would like to do again. We don't have a room to use at home so it would have to be set up in the living room.

Its only ever taken me a couple of hours to deliver any of my babies once i arrived atvthe hospital or birth centre. I feel a bit like it's a lot of hassle going to the mlu when I know I can do it at home. The most pain relief I've ever used is gas & air so I know I can handle the pain.

I've never given birth at home so I don't know whst to expect.

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Original poster

Shellywelly1973 · 01/11/2013 19:08

Excuse typos...fat pregnant fingers & on my phone!

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lackingideas · 01/11/2013 19:49

If the MLU i used is anything to go by 5 rooms may well be more than enough. My MLU only had one pool but it was free both times I needed and most of the other rooms were free too. My experience was great, a very calm environment, and the second time was particularly good because they discharged me within two hours of the birth.

No experience of home birth though, sorry. (Maybe next time, if there is a next time...)

What's the logic behind the 5DC rule?

sebsmummy1 · 01/11/2013 19:53

I am really shocked by them putting a limit on how many children they will let you deliver using the birthing pool!!! I would be challenging that rule to be honest, it screams of des criminality to me.

sebsmummy1 · 01/11/2013 19:54

Discrimination.

Original poster

Shellywelly1973 · 01/11/2013 19:54

The birth centre I went to with my last 2 have a policy of only letting mothers who have had 5dc or less deliver in the birth ccentre. Its due to risk of bleeding etc. Its a stand alone birth centre so no doctors etc on site.

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Original poster

Shellywelly1973 · 01/11/2013 19:57

No its not about using the pool but the actual birth centre due to risks thst I stated in my last post! Sorry for any confusion!

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RhinestoneCowgirl · 01/11/2013 20:04

No experience of MLU as both mine born at home. I didn't use a pool as didn't really have the space to have one set up in the house beforehand, did use bath in first labour, but second was much so didn't feel the need.

In terms of practicalities of childcare, if you don't have family nearby then are there friends you can ask? We had my mum coming to stay in time for my due date, but as she is 3 hrs drive away, we also had a couple of friends on standby to look after DS. We also had a doula so that if mum wasn't there DH would stay behind at home and doula would go with me if I had to transfer to hospital.

In the event, I went into labour about midnight (my mum had arrived in the afternoon) and DD was born just before 6am. DS slept through the whole thing.

Original poster

Shellywelly1973 · 01/11/2013 20:14

No we've no friends in the area. 2 of the dc have SN so very difficult to organise childcare.

If I go to the mlu I will be on my own unless its in school hours. My sister moved a couple of months ago & my mil died 7 weeks ago. So very suddenly & unexpectedly in a very different situation.

Im more worried about organising a home birth & trying to get dp & the dc out of the house so I can have the baby...

Im not worried about being on my own. Although I adore him- dp isn't great as a birth partner!

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peeapod · 01/11/2013 20:23

could you perhaps prepare for both? decide you either want a home birth or a mlu birth? if mlu is number one option, then ringing when you need them to find out about space instead of going in, and have home birth as a back up option if things dont work out?

Original poster

Shellywelly1973 · 01/11/2013 20:32

Have no idea...thats why im posting on here!

MLU wouldn't be my first choice. Its an alternative to home birth but im worried if im in a hospital then I could end up on labour ward & in a medicalised situation.

Im worried if I am at home dc will be around & I won't be able to relax & get on with actually giving birth!

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hazchem · 02/11/2013 01:37

Can you take a tour of MLU? Ask them how often they run out of beds? They may never run out of beds. A MLU should be similar to the the birth centre but onsite.

If you are thinking about a Homebirth what about having a doula who is there to look after the the children or you. So if your DH needs to be with the children the doula is with you? Do you have a bath? You can use that or a show for water pain relief if you think a birth pool is too big. I just had an inflatable one and it did take up space but you only put it up in labour.

It might be a good idea to book an extra midwife appointment and really talk though the options you have.

Original poster

Shellywelly1973 · 02/11/2013 09:48

I was very surprised they don't run tours of the mlu or labour ward as it was difficult for the tours to view the rooms as they are constantly in use. Its part of a massive teaching hospital in North London. They do a 'virtual' tour but it's not very helpful as it's totally based on facilities nothing about how it feels -iyswim!

Financially a doula isn't an option.

I really don't feel the need for my dp to be at the birth. So far he's only been to my 20 week scan with this pregnancy. With my last dc, I sent dp home after the birth, even though he could have stayed the night as partners were welcome to stay & our other dc were staying with relatives.

Actually posting on here made me realise im very scared of the hospital. I hate hospitals. The consultant is all 'policy policy' I'm 40 so my age is a big issue to them. I find their attuide a little strange.

I have an appointment with the midwife on Wednesday so I will ask her some questions.

I really hoped someone would be able to share their experiences of a mlu & a home birth. I've not experienced either!

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