Can't pick a hospital!

[PlanBea]

Hi all, I'm currently a few weeks away from giving birth to our first and thought I was confident in my birthing plan, and now I'm not sure. There's two hospitals similar drives away (ones further but on quicker roads, the other closer on more residential roads so about the same distance in minutes) and I just can't pick between the two.

I'd like to try a water birth as water has always helped with my chronic pain condition. One hospital has 2 pools across 14 labour rooms, the other has 5 pools across 12 labour rooms. However the one with more pools also has stricter rules on birth partners - not allowed for induction, have to leave shortly after birth, can only visit for an hour a day if you're kept in afterwards. The one with fewer pools, partner is in until either they leave or you do, no in and out but can stay as long as you want.

DH isn't committing to either by saying it's my birth and my call. They each have their own other positives and negatives that balance out but this seems to be the crux of my decision.

Would you go with partner there after birth or greater odds of the birth you wanted?

Would you go with partner there after birth or greater odds of the birth you wanted?

The latter. They are a surplus to requirements after the birth and trust me the wards have been sooooooo much nicer without partners being allowed all the time. Plus if you have the birth you want you'll likely be home in a few hours anyway

( I had an emergency c sections with twins - totally on my own as DH didnt get there in time and I was home after 2 nights)

I would go to opposite to PP.
I had an EMCS, was in for 7 nights, and I would’ve gone crazy without my partner.

In my trust they have 1 pool and I asked if it was always in use. They told me they hardly every used it as so many women can't or won't.
I wanted to use it but had en emcs.
Maybe call and ask the trusts how often they actually have water births ?

I would go for the first one. The chances of the pools being in use are quite small from what I’ve heard. I would rather have the support of my partner for longer even if it meant no pool at all (which is my desired birth plan).

Partner. I wanted a water birth but ended up with an episiotomy, third degree tear, surgery and complications for the baby. I couldn’t have done it without him.

I’d go for the support post natal, post natal wards are hell on earth. Staff are run off their feet.... so yes I wouldn’t be hugely bothered about the more pools or not I’d want DH to be there more after.

Thanks everyone, I'm seeing the midwife on Tuesday and will ask to go to the one where partners are in throughout. As soon as I told DH I'd picked that one he told me that's what he'd hoped I'd pick. I don't think it will be typical postnatal ward experience as you're in a private room the whole time you're there, but having him to hand for baby care/him having some time to bond with the baby before going home outweigh the pool, especially as it's not guaranteed to be available or even suitable on the day!