Midwife led birthing centres

[LauraK85]

Hi, my local hospital is now just a birthing centre with no consultants. If any interventions or emergencies were to happen I would need to be moved in ambulance to another hospital which is 15 minutes away. The birth centre is lovely, really nice relaxed environment with pools, pull out double beds for partners to stay and ensuite rooms. There's 4 rooms with plenty of midwives on hand who seem very experienced. I wondered what experiences people had of having their first baby at a birthing centre? I would like the birth to be as natural as possible if I can manage it but worry if the baby was in distress or something and there wouldn't be enough time to get across to the other hospital I'm classed as low risk so the birthing centre think I will be fine there but just don't know if I should book in at the other hospital, even though it is further away for us. If anyone could share their experiences that would be great, it's my first baby so feeling a bit anxious. I've been practising hypnobirthing which I'm hoping will help a bit.

I had my first at a MLU which is the same sort of distance from the local hospital. At that time the delivery suite at hospital itself was failing to employ even the minimum numbers of midwives. I chose the MLU as I knew I’d get one to one care, which felt like the safer option even if it was far away from the hospital. In the end it was a good experience - the aftercare was especially good. I got amazing support with bf and it meant the world having DH stay over the whole time. I’d check out the Birthplace study if you’re interested in research on the outcomes of birthplace choice.

Midwifery led units are great. If there are any potential risks, you would be referred before birth.
In the relaxed atmosphere and in the hands of experienced midwives, you will be less likely to need any medical interventions. Good luck 💚

Hi, this sounds a very similar set up to us. Mlu at local hospital 10mins away, no doctors. Then there is a bigger hospital another 20mins which has a mlu on one floor (again no doctors) and upstairs has a labour ward with doctors etc. We decided to go with the mlu at the bigger hospital so doctors were one floor away rather than 20min drive away. I was low risk etc and midwives did try to convince me to use the stand alone mlu. In the end, baby was in distress coming out and had to be resuscitated and then ended up in NICU. If I had followed their advice we would have ended up being blue lighted to the hospital 20mins away after his birth. So I would go for a hospital with access to doctors even if you don't think you will need it. You just never know with birth and things can go wrong very quickly through no fault of your own or any one else's.

If it's maidstone hospital it's a no no from me

Loved my MLU. Had no worries about having my son there, assumed they were experienced enough to deal with any problems. Labouring room had a bed, sofa, en suite and bath tub. Across the hall was a huge room with a birthing pool, where I gave birth. I think I just felt more relaxed than I would have on a hospital ward.

I had no choice but to give birth at a mlu with my third baby. I was 2 weeks overdue and the only bed available for inductions was there. I was upset about this as the possibility of not being on the labour ward was not put to me beforehand.

Luckily it was fine , my son was born easily and very healthy. They also took good care of me and my stitches were neatly done. I did want an epidural though (as I was in distress due to something to do with a previous birth) and whilst I was in tremendous amounts of pain dh had to dash off to pack up our belongings leaving me even more scared. By the time they had space for me in the ward I was moments away from pushing. I'd been asking for he epidural for about 90 minutes.

So for me the downside of the mlu was the lack of certain drugs and also the lack of consideration for my potential distress at that particular hospital. I needed the doctors and the traditional ward environment to feel safe and I couldn't have that.

So really I'd say it's about what you think will make you feel looked after and calm. To be completely blunt , if you don't give two craps about the nicely painted walls and the birthing pool then just go with the hospital.

Sorry , that was long.

Similar set up and recommendations to bluesky for us. MLU at local hospital 5 minutes from our house, we also have an MLU a bit more of a distance away at the main hospital which is situated directly underneath the normal labour ward and delivery suite. I, along with most people in this area that I know, chose the MLU at the main hospital which turned out to be the best decision as my labour didn't go to plan and I needed forceps in theatre. When I started to need epidural/more medical attention they just moved me straight up to the ward in a private lift. Do you have an option like this available? I'm due to have my second next week and will be going to the same place. I think for me the anxiety of not being at the hospital would have outweighed the calming effects of the MLU, but I am a worrier!

My local choices are a hospital with a labour ward an easy 15 minute drive away, and a MLU attached to a hospital with a labour ward about 25 minutes drive away.

Although I do not relish the idea of driving for 10 more minutes while in labour, the prospect of being in a place where I’m less likely to face any interventions while also being next to a place where I and my baby can receive proper medical care if necessary is a no-brainier for me.

Does your second hospital have a birthing centre? Or is it just a labour ward?

I would imagine they will be cautious at the birthing centre, and arrange for you to be transferred sooner rather than later if it looks like there are going to be any problems. Probably, the fact that you are less likely to need any interventions in the birthing centre will balance out the fact that it will be harder to get them.

Good luck making your decision!

Two lovely births at the mlu. I didn't even take my top off and no vaginal exams after admission. They just let me get on with it. Beautiful suite too. I felt as if I was in a private hospital. Gas and air in the private shower!

Personally I couldn't relax being so far away from the delivery suite. And being unable to relax due to worrying about how they get help in an emergency can slow labour, making interventions and help more likely.

I don't really care how nice a place looks, I want to know the expertise and equipment is there if I need it!

I don't really care how nice a place looks, I want to know the expertise and equipment is there if I need it!

This sums it up for me. I had planned to give birth in a MLU but this was literally across a corridor from labour ward. In the end I didn't even step through the door and although my birth was successful and requiring very little intervention (constant monitoring rather than intermittant) I didn't doubt for a second that I was in the best place possible of something went wrong.

On the way up to the ward, a woman was being wheeled past us in nothing but a bra and covered in tiny towels, she'd evidently been in the pool but had to be moved. It worried me more than I expected and at the end of the day, feeling safe and being safe is paramount to me.

I've had both mine at MLU's. Both went exactly as I wanted, both perfect. Only difference was that because my first birth I had a PPH, my second one had to be at a different MLU attached to a hospital. But I wouldn't change it (in fact second unit was even better than the first) and I'd recommend them to anyone.
They're relaxed, calm, friendly and let you get on with it which is exactly what I wanted. Plus being in the pool was the best part of both births for me

Thanks for sharing your experiences and advice. It's good to hear positive things about birthing centres. I'd love to think I can cope there but understand there could be problems where I could be moved. The other hospital is really busy and just a labour ward with no birthing centre, so I feel I would get a lot more support at the birthing centre with help after the birth as well. This is why I'm finding it hard to make a decision! I can turn up at either place so once I'm in labour hopefully I will make the right decision.

You’d be far safer at home. If you need transferring to the consultant led unit you would be top priority if you were at home. If you’re in the MLU you’re considered to be in a place of safety so come below all the 999 calls in the community for things like chest pain, collapses etc.

Depending on where you live you could be waiting well over an hour for an ambulance.

Personally I’d go to the hospital, second option home. Our hospital is about to be downgraded to a MLU and our midwives are already wondering how they can sell it to women as they agree it won’t be safe.

Our hospital is about to be downgraded to a MLU and our midwives are already wondering how they can sell it to women as they agree it won’t be safe.

Yes, they make them all pretty and attractive and put the emphasis on the "experience". Covering over the increased risk. Because making them pretty is cheaper than properly staffing maternity services.

It depends on the individual midwives really and how intelligent they are about the limits of their expertise. I would want to meet them before I decide.

Personally I couldn't relax that far away from a obstetrician/paediatrician plus equipment. Kind of defeats the purpose of a relaxing atmosphere so I'd always opt for hospital birth.