Consultant led unit or birthing centre???

[Brunocat]

Which one, from people's experience, is the best choice? I am due to go to Halifax (Calderdale Royal) and the midwife is heavily pushing me towards the birthing centre but I think I'd prefer the consultant led unit. They are both on the same corridor but I really think I might want an epidural and have heard that if you are booked into a birthing unit, and the consultant led unit is full, then you can't have one!

If you think you'll want an epidural, then you are right, the consultant-led unit is the place for you.

Hi Bruno

I think you just answered your own question! We chose consultant-led too, mainly because we're worry-worts and weren't prepared to take any sort of risk. As it turned out I couldn't have gone for the mw-led care anyway cos of a latex allergy. Our experience was OK anyway, mws are mws and I got an active labour right up to the point I couldn't take it anymore and they wopped in an epidural. No point being a matyr was our view!

Is this your first baby?
I never dreamt I would want an epidural with my first, but I really needed it.

I opted for a birthing unit and ended up in a consultant unit (I think that that happens alot). If you want an epidural (I didn't have one but will definitely have one if I have another lo)then definitely book the consultant led unit to make sure you get it!

i would personally look into all pain relief options...

there is massage, water, gas and air, pethidine, visualisation, hypnobirthing, breathing techniques, mobility , changing positions,

and then epidural!!

i had the same choice - both on same corridor. i went for the birthing centre and was luckily fine. if you need a doc or stronger pain relief, it'll be there!

Hello, thanks for the quick replies. Yes, it's my first baby and I would like to think that I can do it by myself with gas and air but realistically know that after a few hours I would like the choice available of having an epidural if I feel I really need one. Also husband is a doctor and he's done Obs and Gyne and it scared the living daylights out of him and he doesn't trust midwives. I don't want him thinking that he has to control my labour, I'd rather a doctor did it. (Really sorry to any midwives out there - it's just the two I've met so far didn't inspire much confidence)

Oh dear, dh who has seen more than his fair share of births going wrong and will have his own idea of how things should go. Are you having NCT ante natal classes?

bruno

look at hiring a doula

also, obs do see the problem births, and the ones that need intervention

on the whole, birth can go smoothly, and often the less intervention , the better

epidural does take your birth into a medicalised level,you will be immobile, on a monitor, with a drip...it can be an absolute godsend in a long, slow, drawn out labour,

but it does have implications

midwives are experts in the normal,

i would read up about childbirth,particualrly Ina May Gaskin, Sheila Kitzinger, Janet Balaskas, Michel Odent

re control of labour...you should be the one in control, not the doctor, midwife, or DH

in an ideal world!

My Mum had an epidural with both me and sis (yes back in the 70's)and we were both born in less than 6 hours.

I had no epidural, but still ended up on a drip and stuck in one position for a labour of around 16 hours! By the time I asked for an epidural the midwife felt it was too late and the baby would be out soon. Fair enough, but I was more exhausted and tired from the whole thing than I had ever expected.

I agree with lulumama that you should keep your options as open as possible, but if you feel you need an epidural make sure you you ask for it!

birthing centre! You can get an epidural if you need one.... but you may surprise yourself. MWs are the ones with the most experience of childbirth.

Personally I'd go with the birthing unit. I've been to lots of births and come down on the birthing unit side every time!

Well Dh may have seen all bad outcomes but thats cos it happens small though the risk may be - I would never take the risk on a damaged or dead baby or dead mum - it only takes miutes for things to go wrong and even down the corrdior may be to far...
DOI 6+5 with second - epidural and vacuum with epis on first - will NOT go to Mw led birthing unit ...

MW's have to most experience of NORMAL births - in my experience they arenot so hot when things go tits up

I gave birth at a mw led unit, and there was no option of epidural, Marslady, or any other intervention such as forceps, ventouse etc. The advantage to me was the availability of the birthing pool and the proximity to my home. (I was convinced it would be a really quick birth but in the event it took 8 hours!). If things had gone wrong I'd have been taken to the big hospital by ambulance. However, if I'd gone to the big hospital in the first place, I doubt I could have given birth to a 10 lb 6 oz whopper and needed no stitches or any drugs.

Agree with Macdoodle

Midwives are great for ante and post natal care and a straightforward birth, but there is no subsititute for the expertise of a full on medical team with equipment when things go wrong. The "birth experience" is just a few hours or days whereas your health and that of your baby is a lifetime consideration.

I would seriously listen to your husband- he's been at the front line.

As for epidurals, mine were great, the only drawback being that you have to rely on the midwives telling you when to push in the second stage.

I dispute that the birth experience is "just a few hours or days" - a bad birth experience can have repercussions well into the future. Breastfeeding failure often starts with a traumatic birth.

But I think we're all agreed that we'd like to avoid a traumatic birth. The trouble is, there's no failsafe way of doing it; it's a leap into the unknown. Even if every one had an elective caesarean without going into labour, there would be risks and drawbacks.

I personally chose to go for a natural birth every time, and got away with it. My cousin in California had an epidural every time; twice she had a very good experience but the third time, the epidural only worked on one side and she couldn't walk without a zimmer frame for several days afterwards.

i had my babies in a birthing centre and i am so glad i did

no doctor - nearest dr was 30 miles away

the midwives were AMAZING - i had complications with dd1 - needed forceps and she needed resuscitated - but i owe my daughters life to the MW's - i feel a dr would have intercepted long before and i would have had an unnecessary Csection, or an epidural

i am a nurse and i have experience of looking after patients with epidurals and i dont like them. i also know how much training and knowledge MW's have - which is why i would trust a MW to deliver my babies long long before a dr

(drs have their place obviously but i felt i wasnt ill, i was pregnant, i didnt need a dr

good luck brunocat, whatever you choose it doesnt really matter, as long as you and baby are fine in the end!!!

Been to that corridor- the midwife led team were GREAT! V. reassuring have the consultant unit the other side of the wall- when they're short staffed they help each other out- an auxillary from the consultant end of the corridor was really great at helping us get started bfing. The birthing pool there is also fab- though if they start filling it and leave it to overflow it takes out the x-ray room downstairs!!! My pal ended up on the consultant end and had a good experience also. I was open to any pain relief I could try, but bear in mind if the anaethetist on call is busy even if you are on the consultant unit you'll still have to wait your turn and it might be too late. I'd go midwife to start with- you can transfer WHENEVER YOU FEEL LIKE IT! that way you keep all your options open, and if anything else develops you can just go with it.Either way, Calderdale is FAB (ensuite private rooms rule!)

Oops just seen the date on that thread- how did I get here?