Where to give birth- worried.

[babydreamer1]

Hi just after a bit of advice. I met my midwife yesterday who was lovely but the whole appointment was very rushed and stressful more about paperwork than explaining options ect. She asked me where I wanted to give birth I didn't know as I'm new to the area so she recommend the local large hospital, she then booked my scan and consultant appointment there. I didn't know I had to chose then and there (only 8 weeks) so hadn't yet looked in to my options I have since looked online at the which reviews and the local smaller unit seems to be much nicer (2000 per year as opposed to 7000 per year) plus partners can stay overnight. While researching I also came across a number of articles from 6 days ago that said 14 baby deaths from 2013-2016 could/might have been prevented at the larger hospital. This is obviously concerning and has put me off even more. Is it therefore possible to have scans and consultant appointment in one hospital but give birth at another? Or should I flag it now and change the appointments?

Don’t worry, you still have loads of time to change your mind about where to give birth. I’d probably just stick with the current appointments and do some research to see which you’d prefer. Maybe arrange to look around them once you’re a bit further along.

Your midwife will have asked you because each hospital has their own set of maternity notes etc so when she did the booking in appointment it will have used that hospital’s forms. It’s not a problem to change though later on - I did at 38 weeks when they realised the hospital I was booked in at couldn’t do a home birth for me. I just had to do another booking in appointment then and do new bloods for the new hospital, but it was fine.

Thanks Doublechoc

You can change your mind at any time, don't fret! I'm 25 weeks & every MW appt i umm & aah about it (opted for a home birth atm). They just like to have something on the paperwork.