Can I choose where I give birth?

[oatybiscuits]

I'm only just pregnant with number 2 but after seeing lots of friends struggling with their birth choices it's on my mind! After dc1 (induction, epidural, forceps) I decided that next time round I'd want to give birth in a MLU within a hospital. This is, in theory, possible in the only hospital in my area but due to staff shortages the MLU is often closed. I'm very rural, so wouldn't consider homebirth.

There is another hospital which is about the same driving distance but in a different health board. Can I choose to go there just to give birth and have all ante natal care my usual mw? Where can I find stats on staffing etc? I'm in Scotland if it makes a difference.

Bump!

Can your midwife not tell you? I'm in Scotland but outside Edinburgh. I have a choice of two hospitals or a home birth which mw explained at booking appointment. I'm happy with ERI as I had DS1 there.

I have no idea if it's different in Scotland but you can choose where to give birth to some extent in England. However I'm pretty sure that it has to be within the same trust. I was offered 3 hospitals but all are the same trust.

Try giving the maternity hospital you want to go to a ring, it might be that you need to book in with that hospital as well as with the trust you want your antenatal care in. But they'll be able to advise you ☺

Also you may be able to Google maternity unit closure rates, otherwise you can submit a Freedom of Information request in writing. Again you can ask the hospital when you phone, as they can tell you who to write to xx

I'm in Scotland and here we can choose ERI (NHS Lothian) or Borders General (NHS Borders) or home so I think the answer is yes, you can.

I think you should be able to. I'm in London and was able to choose any hospital. I'm going to one outside my trust area. I self-referred - they had a form on the website. They can refuse you if they already have a lot of people for that time. Worth looking on their website or giving them a call.

You can choose. Same as any other hospital choice. I've done it.

Contact AIMs if you have any problems

It shouldn't be a problem. I've opted for a hospital outside of my trust area.....It's about an hour from my home

Also Scotland, you can choose but on the day if your first choice is full then you'll get sent where there's spaces. Fairly common here but not sure about elsewhere in Scotland.

Our local mat unit (currently closed due to staffing shortages) is near the health board boundary and often had folk from the other board. Also in Scotland.

Scotland here also ! If you don't mind me asking what hospitals is it your choosing between ? And yes it would be your local midwife then Hv that would come out the Hv's are also changing in this area anyway :)

Thanks all, I'm in south Aberdeenshire so equal traveling time from ARI or ninewells. Aberdeen has had horrendous staffing issues lately and have introduced a new induction policy at 7 days post due date which is scaring me a bit. Also as far as I can tell from the website ninewells Mlu has its own post natal ward which looks lovely! I'll have a chat with the mw tomorrow

I would think you would be able to choose just chat with your midwife

Hello from north Angus Oaty, I did wonder if you were on Aberdeenshire!

I gave birth at ninewells last time but not the mlu.