Revamp of delivery rooms to encourage more 'active' births

[SJH0604]

The midwife has informed me that the hospital I'm due to give birth at (not for a while yet!) has had a big makeover. Beds are out and mats/balls are in. There is a chair in the room. The midwife said they prefer ladies to have more active births and so do not have beds in the room anymore. They are encouraging birth on all fours. As a first time expectant mum, I'm a little concerned. I'm up for anything that make the process quicker, but it also makes me a little uneasy that this is the only option they're allowing women. Perhaps a bed would be preferred for a rest rather than a bloody mat on the floor. What do you think?

There will be beds, just not in the midwife led unit I would imagine, which makes sense, the mats are effectively mattresses though so it's much the same as a bed

As long as you have a bed to sleep in afterwards, you'll be fine!

There will be beds in the CLU for women who have epidurals or constant monitoring.

To be honest once you are in advanced enough labour to go into hospital you won't be able to rest without a lot of pain relief - if you are able to lie in bed you're better off staying at home!

I think its pretty standard in many hospitals/MLU. Why wouldn't you want to have an active labour where possible? Providing all goes smooth I will do everything I can to help baby out. I'm excited I have the opportunity to use the facilities in the MLU! I'm a first time Mum too

They will have to have places to lie down - not all women can walk and bounce on balls for example(spd or disability) not to mention it would be required for epidurals or some interventions/monitoring for higher risk births.

I very much doubt they've binned all, just given facilities that used to be first-come-first-served in all rooms.

They will have to have places to lie down - not all women can walk and bounce on balls for example(spd or disability) not to mention it would be required for epidurals or some interventions/monitoring for higher risk births.

I very much doubt they've binned all, just given facilities that used to be first-come-first-served in all rooms.

They will have to have places to lie down - not all women can walk and bounce on balls for example(spd or disability) not to mention it would be required for epidurals or some interventions/monitoring for higher risk births.

I very much doubt they've binned all, just given facilities that used to be first-come-first-served in all rooms.

It sounds good to me. :)

As others have said, it won't be all rooms. It will be the low risk/MLU rooms. If you need an epidural or whatever you'll be on a normal hospital bed.

I also agree that, whilst you might spend some or all of your labour reclining, etc, you are very unlikely to be 'lying on a bed for a rest' if you are sufficiently in active labour to be admitted. And hospital beds aren't nice to lie on anyway really.