Hospital labour ward birth instead of home/MLU - making the best of it?

[Plateofcrumbs]

Due to various risk factors I've been advised I should give birth in the labour ward and not the midwife-led birthing centre.

I really liked the idea of the birthing centre, and want do as much as possible with hypnotherapy/breathing/active positions etc (obviously aware this could all fly right out the window in practice but it's my starting point!).

Am worried the labour ward won't be set up to support this or just feel too clinical to relax in. Or that I'll just be made to feel like a hippy idiot woman.

Anyone got any suggestions for how to make the best of the situation?

Go bust the ward and talk to staff if possible????

Sorry- marking place as may be in the same boat if I am induced this week. It's not the induction per se I am worried about but the very dramatic switch to a clinical environment from the MLU. Also would be on pre natal ward with other people when I would prefer to start labour in the comfort of my own home.

All advice appreciated!

Hi, I'm in exactly the same position and would advise making an appointment with the consultant midwife at the labour ward to discuss what you can do. This was brilliant for me, and was suggested by my hypnobirthing teacher. She talked me through our birth preferences, reassured me that we weren't asking for anything outlandish, and said that they'd do everything they could to give us the birth we want. I also got to see a room and she gave us tips on things to bring with us to make it more homely.

Hope that helps!

Ps I'm due this week so I should be able to let you know how it goes fairly soon!!

I had a water birth in the MLU with DC1 but had to go to the main ward with DC2.

I was disappointed but to be honest when I was in labour I didn't much care. The midwives will let you do what you like during your labour, they all do the same job and they won't think you're a hippy! It's just a different physical environment.

FWIW my second birth was faster, far easier and less painful than my water birth but it was a second baby so perhaps to be expected.

Ask for a tour if you can- my hospital's wards do have lighting options, baths in rooms, birth stools/balls and ipod docks so knowing some of these things might help?

I'm in the same position OP.

I had a wonderful home birth with my first baby. I now have to have DC2 in hospital thanks to medical issues.

I'm completely dreading it and have pretty much given up on having a good second birth.

Same boat over here. Had planned to use the mlu but diagnosed with gd last week so now seen as high risk and the mw has told me that means the ward. Cried my eyes out after she'd told me. Seeing the consultant today so will ask for a tour. Thanks squizita for the tip.

Think about the stuff you are worried might happen. Them ser of you can get an appointment with the supervisor of midwives to talk through what hospital stuff you actually need and what standard hospital procedures (internal exams, monitoring, lying down for checks) might not be needed in your case and get her to write on your notes that they are not to be offered unless your circumstances change. Bring your duvet and pillow from home. If you crawl under the duvet, you will be in a dark place that smells like home. It sounds stupid, but you can keep your head under the duvet for most of active labour. Basically, you want to be able to keep moving for early labour, or be in somewhere small and dark that feels safe for active labour. I think electrical equipment had to be checked in some places, but headphones to cancel out extra noise, and limit the number of people in the room/ who talk in the room/ who touch you.

Also talk to your midwife about positions you can be in if you need an epidural, as some can make a vaginally birth easier than others.

Thanks for the tips everyone, and sorry to those in the same boat. I'm sure we can still have a good experience in the labour ward, we might just need to make more of an effort.

I ended up going to a ward. Which was not what I wanted. In fact I was desperately scared of giving birth in hospital. I had a great midwife that was able to just let me do my thing. I did arrive at 9 1/5 cm however so mainly laboured at home using a shower and mooing to get me through.

Our mlu was full both times for me. The labour ward was lovely and they were happy to indulge my inner hippy. Most of them want you to do the recommended keep moving/upright/breathing techniques etc. I took my own birthing ball and had the choice of the birthing pool.

Just have a nice detailed birthing plan to show them your hopes.

I agree with Curiosity on the birth preferences - talking them through with the consultant midwife helped me, she was really open to everything in there.

You might also want to ask your consultant about staying at home for as long as possible - we've been told that we can stay at home as long as I keep my blood sugars under a certain level, so that gives me confidence.

I've had to do this twice now, DC's 2 and 3 were hospital instead of home-births (and possibly with this one too...).

In the end it was the midwives who made it all ok, I felt really lucky as both times I had superb midwives. The first time I ended up having my best birth to date, very active and not even on the bed. The second time was at night and I had the main lights in the room off and music on, DC was being monitored but my MW was totally into me keeping mobile.

The postnatal ward was noisy but I decided before hand that I would make the most of the rest so I took ear plugs and an eye mask. I also packed some nice travel sized shower and body bits, magazines and chocolate brownie treats. DC3 had to be in for 48 hours pp so I was glad to have a few extra comforts.

I was a bit more comfortable with it all because I had been in for DC1 (planned hospital birth) so I knew the drill so to speak. Does your hospital offer a tour? Seeing where you are going may help.