Gutted... MLU closed

[Pineapplebaby]

Firstly, I apologise for this being another Covid related rant but just needed to vent really...

I’m currently 33+5 and was really really hoping for a water birth. I know this totally depended on labour starting naturally as if I’m induced, there’s a good chance it wouldn’t happen and I was prepared for that.

However I’ve just found out that the Midwife Led Unit at my local hospital (where all the low risk women go) has been turned into a corona virus quarantine unit! This means that all labours are now happening in the high risk delivery suite (where only two of all the rooms have pools).
Yes it could mean that I’d get lucky, but there’s much more of a chance that I won’t get the birth I’ve been hoping and planning for.

It’s my first baby and I’m scared enough as it is; without worrying about the virus being in the next room or that the maternity services won’t be able to cope with the number of people coming in with only half the facilities available.

Sorry to moan. Just needed to get that off my chest. Thanks.

Sorry to hear that OP. Which hospital are you at if you don't mind me asking?

I'm due to give birth soon and am very scared too.

OP, I sympathise as it’s a worrying time to have a baby. If it’s any consolation though, births often don’t go to plan in less extreme times - I wanted a water birth with both of mine and didn’t get it with either.

Same situation, I’m 36+4 and had always said I’d rather give birth (if it was safe to do so e.g low risk) in the midwife led birthing centre attached to our local hospital delivery ward. It’s now closed and everyone has to go to the delivery ward - although no option for a water birth there.
I’m disappointed- I realise in the grand scheme of things not necessarily end of the world but every choice/idea we had about birth and bringing a newborn home have basically changed or been taken away from us - I think it’s natural and acceptable to be upset by that.

Sorry to hear you're upset. The upside of being on CDS is that as it is your first birth, you dont know how your body labours so you will be in the best place if you need an instrumental/caesarean. I also think you can only have an epidural in CDS, which you might want at the time.

If they have birth pools there is still a chance you can have a water birth, but you'll have the added peace of mind that if things dont go as planned you are in a safe place.

I gave birth in CDS, to be honest I probably wouldn't have noticed if I was at Alton Towers. Once it gets going you will barely notice!

Good luck

Not that it will make you feel any better, but I had this amazing birth plan that went down the drain when baby came prematurely (I had a model pregnancy and low risk and also wanted water birth, and MLU and whatnot). I also wanted an active birth but when it came to it, I could not even turn on my side lol, not even mentioning walking around or bouncing on a ball.

I know it's hard, as we are being told all the amazing things that can happen during the birth and want this ideal experience, but then you never know what may happen; I told my midwife I am not really doing birth plan this time round, que sera sera. I will turn up, see what is available and make the best of it and get it done :)

Thank you everyone for your kind words and not making me feel like a insensitive monster about being upset about this!
In the grand scheme of things, it’s really not the end of the world and we’re still trying to be positive and thankful for everything we do have. As long as our little boy gets here safe and sound, that’s the most important thing.
@ncagainforfeb My local hospital is Colchester. They’re doing a fantastic job in caring for everyone so I shouldn’t complain really; they’re just working hard to keep everyone safe in the best way possible.

I can understand that this is another worry to add to the ones your already have about giving birth for the first time OP, but please take a deep breath (it will be good practice for labour, if nothing else!).

Births rarely go according to plan. I remember with my first having a birth plan and spending ages thinking about how I wanted it to go. On the day, nothing went as planned - literally nothing - so please don't get hung up on your birth plan. What will be will be and literally the only thing that matters is that you and your baby are safe, well cared for and that you both come out healthy. Everything else is window dressing.

It's good that you know you probably aren't going to get your water birth. Accept that now and move on. I wanted a water birth with my second and didn't get it either, because he was born so fast. I didn't have have time to be disappointed about that! Best of luck with your delivery. I'm sure it will be fine

Sorry OP, I can understand why you are dissapointed . As has been said, although it likely won't offer much comfort at the moment, births rarely go to plan. I started at an MLU and had to be transferred to hospital, but it was still an incredible experience. If you would have told me that beforehand I wouldn't have believed it though.

Just to try reassure if your expecting soon my labour went to pot and I was induced and was on labour ward strapped to a bed (mine wasnt a nice experience) HOWEVER the actual ward was really nice they still had pools on labour ward and baths in each room so you could get in there instead they also had birthing balls etc and options for music and to change lighting so even though it was a medical ward it was still quite nice and obv if anything did happen youd be very safe and in the right place x

I had my first in the mlu and wanted a water birth. It was so slow that in the end I had to get out as it was relaxing me too much.

Second time round had to be induced (and like you was worried about going to the delivery suite) but I couldn't have been happier with it in the end. If I could have another i wouldn't do the mlu again.

Just to add a different opinion for you. I totally understand how you're feeling. Best of luck

I tried the pool during labour for dc2, and came away thinking it was the most overrated experience ever.

The MW can’t let the water get too hot and it just felt lukewarm to me. Whatever way the pool was designed, the water cooled unbelievably quickly so all I could think about was the temperature, and my contractions slowed right down! I also could find a comfy way to sit down in it. I saw an ikea sieve hooked into the wall, obviously to fish out poos and just thought “fuck this.”. I asked to get out and things ramped up again immediately.

I’d been excited to try it, but it just goes to show that there’s no birth experience that works for everyone!

Have you had a look around the labour ward you’ll be using? Ours had a virtual tour you could see on YouTube and basically the only difference was a sofa bed in the MLU rooms which the LW didn’t have.

Sorry to hear this OP. It must be a stressful time to be having a baby.

Just to reassure you, when I had my DS I was only allowed to give birth in a doctor led birth suite where there was only one pool due to health reasons. I was thinking it was very unrealistic I would get that room, but I actually did end up in it.

It may be that they move more birth pools to that unit, these are strange times.

That sucks OP.

If it's any consolation my birth plan went completely out the window. Like you, I wanted a water birth in the MLU.

Ended up admitted for increasing blood pressure and induced, leading to an epidural, episiotomy and forceps delivery.

As cliche as it sounds, at the end of the day all that matters is that your LO makes their way into the world safely.

I would mentally plan for not getting a water birth, so that if it does happen it's a bonus!