Midwife Led Units - Any experiences?

[Creena]

Hi everyone. I'm new to these boards and so apologise if this is a topic that's been done a million times already! I'm newly pregnant (BFP on Saturday, only 4 weeks into pregnancy) with my third child. As this will probably be my last pregnancy and birth, I would like to make the most of it by choosing the kind of delivery I really want. I have two children already and both pregnancies and deliveries were relatively hitch-free and without complication.

Given my history and assuming that this pregnancy will be similar, I'm really interested in delivering at a Midwife Led Unit. I have found one close to my home by looking at this site here . I really like the sound of these units but don't know anyone who has used one. Are they as good as they sound? Should I worry that "if the adjacent consultant unit is busy, midwifery-led units within hospitals can be understaffed"? Or would I be better off writing a birth plan that includes a private room, water birth and the DOMINO scheme?!

I just want to have the delivery that I feel most comfortable with as far as I can. This is my last one, after all! Any advice, tips or shared experience would be really appreciated.

I went to midwife-led unit and it was fine (although didn't deliver there but that's a different story). They only deliver about 80 babies a year so very quiet. Not linked to hospital so always has own staff. They only have 1 midwife and 1 auxillary on overnight but if a woman arrives in labour, another midwife is called in.

Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about the unit being understaffed. If you arrived in labour, they would still have to provide you with a midwife and by law, they must have 2 in attendance when you give birth (I think)

If you like that unit, then I would go for it. Putting private room on birth plan wouldn't guarantee you that. Your choice but I would go for midwife unit if that's what you fancy. It's always possible to change your mind anyway so you have plenty time.

I'm sure you'll get a few more opinions of some wiser MNers though Good luck

I had ds (my third) in a midwife-led unit and it was fab - really relaxed and quiet. My pain relief choices were limited to pool, gas and air and pethidine but that was fine (just used the pool). I then had to be transferred to the main hospital 2 hours' drive away (!) with retained placenta - all went smoothly and I was back in the midwife unit later that morning

I would probably use them again for my fourth if I have one - that or homebirth.

I gave birth to both my DSs at a midwife run unit and with both I had great experiences. I didn't have any complications and both were born in the water. I found it very calming and quiet and completely unlike the local hospital. The only down side is obviously if anything happens you need to be transferred but I am currently pregnant again and really hope I can go back there. With my second birth I hardly knew there was anyone else in the room apart from me and my husband.

Thanks so much, everyone. I'm really keen on going to a Midwife Led Unit and your experiences have reassured me. Thanks again.

Can I be cheeky and ask another couple of questions to those who have used a Midwife Led Unit, please?!

At what point in your pregnancy did you register with the unit or ask if you could deliver there? Is it better to do this sooner rather than later? Finally, where did you go for your pre-natal care and appointments - was it GP and local hospital or GP and midwife led unit?

Hello,

I am 33 and currently waiting for my second child. Got 2.8 mm at nuchal scan and it was said that the risk for carring a baby with Down syndroms has increased from 1/400 to 1/87. We decided to take amniocentetis test in order to be sure. I was told the quick QF-PCR method could give result within 2-3 days. We did get result from lab, but it said that the result is not informative and they have to now go for the traditional cell culture method so we have to wait longer. Does this mean that our risk is higher? Tried to find more information about how often QF-PCR method could fail but found nothing, what is the reason for that?

Thanks!
Anxious mama

creena,i lived in a small town that only had a midwife-led unit when i had ds1(this was nearly 9 yrs ago,though).i always saw the m/w there if she didnt come to my home.i was admitted to the unit with high bp at 37 weeks and it was like staying in a hotel.sadly,i developed pre-eclampsia so i couldnt deliver there,but i was transferred back after i'd given birth.tbh there were more staff at the m/w unit,at the hospital the staff were rushed off their feet and it was very impersonal.my 3rd and 4th babies were born in a different,smaller,hospital which was much nicer though.

I dont think it matters too much when you register with the unit. With my first ds I didn't even know about it until about 6/7 months as it was in a different county to where i lived. If you know you want to go there, you might as well register. It might mean you get some check ups at the unit.

That's really useful info - thanks again, guys!I really do like the sound of these units and so will probably go for it.

Wonderful places!

I'm hoping to go to mine: they won't let you book in until you're 37 weeks anyway, as you'll have to be low risk, and things can still pop up until then. My unit lets the husband room in, which is one of the biggest factors for us (the water birth is the other).
As for the birth experience, I'm 36 weeks, so watch this space!