Do you have to give birth in a room with other people?

[Sunshine1982flowers211111]

I’m freaking out that at hospital you give birth in a ward with loads of other people all around you - what are peoples experiences??

No, it's usually just you, your midwife and whoever you want with you (partner, friend, mother etc) in a private room. All being well, unless you've managed to book a private room, you'll be transferred to the post natal ward which will have other mothers in there.

Of course you don't give birth in a ward full of people. It's exactly as @Shmithecat2 says.

Who has told you that?

I've given birth in 2 countries, public and private systems.

In both cases I stayed in the ward (or private room on ward) until labour was well progressed, moved to a private birthing room for the actual birth, and then back to the ward as soon as I was ready.

There were plenty of people coming and going but they were all there for me!

You're not sharing a room with other patients during birth. Watch a few episodes of One Born Every Minute to get a feel for what goes on

I had my doctor, a nurse, my husband, and a paramedic that needed to watch a birth for the experience, but he asked permission, I said yes.

I didn't care. And I'm a very private person. Very very. That was my first birth, and I didn't care who was there. Random paramedic? No problem.

If others besides the paramedic had wanted to come in too I would have been fine with that too. Come on in!

You really do get to a state of almost altered consciousness/feeling of unreality that you will not understand until it happens. All your focus will be on getting the baby out. You lose all ability to care who sees what. At least I did.

But I agree with the previous posters, it's a limited number unless you agree to more, within reason; the rooms are not all that large.

Why would you think this?

How old are you?

Download / Watch the programme
‘One born every minute’

Thats what it is like in the UK

Haha I’m 39 I think I’m just panicking. I have a daughter already but it was terribly rushed and practically gave birth in an ambulance. Thank you so much for putting my mind at rest ladies x

I've had four children the first birth I shad two midwives, the second I had about 5-6 people in room I consented to a couple of students watching, third birth about ten people again consented to students watching! and fourth birth about 6-8 people no students this time just midwifes and a doctor, early complicated birth hth

I gave birth in theatre (of the surgical kind!) And it felt like there were 15 people there! Prior to things going pear it was me, my partner and 2 midwives. I think I was asked if students could be present at that point but politely declined.

Who on earth told you that? If anyone did then they are talking nonsense.

Delivery units are a set of private rooms off a corridor. You'll have your partner there (if you want one), your midwife (sometimes a couple of them), doctors and paediatrician if necessary.

Nobody will be there who doesn't need to be.

You go to the labour ward for delivery to a private room, people would only give birth in a ward if baby came extremely suddenly.

Private delivery rooms only at my hospital, only medical staff needed are present and birthing partners. I've had 2 midwives to a room full depending on complications.
Some may deliver with others around if they don't make it to delivery in time though.

No, you give birth in a private room and are transferred to the post-natal ward. You will likely hear other women.

I think you will actually deliver the baby in a private room (or theatre) and go to the ward afterwards.

Well, I gave birth in theatre as I had an emcs and there were students, consultants, doctors, midwives and all sorts there (at least 20 up the business end of things at one point, as I lost a lot of blood) and I couldn't have given two hoots who was in the room at the time.

Unless bring induced, very unlikely you'd be on any sort of ward beforehand. You're only admitted to the hospital in established labour and go straight to the delivery suite.

I'd say 2-3 people if things are going fine, up to 15 if you need additional help. I could have had the prime minister in there by the end with DD and I wouldn't notice.

This time I'm expecting twins and it seems to require the presence of every midwife and consultant in SE London .

No don’t worry even in the nhs you get your own room to deliver the baby in. You can be put on a ward with other people until your in established labour (I think over 4cm dilated but I could be wrong) and a ward after you’ve given birth but for the main event your in your own room.

I've got a midwifery degree (although don't currently work as a midwife). Please don't feel worried about this!
Every hospital works slightly differently but you won't give birth on a ward with other women (unless it's an emergency and baby comes too fast to move you!). If you come into the unit in labour then you will be assessed to establish how close you are to giving birth. This is sometimes done in a triage area which can be a small ward area, or you may be assessed in an individual room. If you are in established labour then you will always be moved to deliver in a private room. If you're in the early stages then you may be sent home, or you may be sent to the ward if you need support. In my experience, you're more likely to be sent home as this is better for you physiologically.
If induction is recommended then you will probably go to a ward to start the process and then be moved to a private room once it's feasible to give you the drip/break your waters or if you have gone into labour spontaneously.
Whatever happens though, every effort will be made to ensure you're in a room by yourself when the big moment comes. Good luck!

I had a midwife, student midwife and the consultant was there a bit of the time.
I could’ve refused the student but I was happy having her there, it was actually her final shift before fully qualifying which was nice and she was a student from the uni I work at.
The consultant was there as they were debating episiotomy but I didn’t need it in the end. I was “high risk” due to age and GD.

It will entirely depend on your birth. It won’t be a public place unless your labour is precipitous- a risk if first was fast but still less likely than a calmer birth.

If you have a complicated delivery there may sometimes be a need for many people to be present, but my experience is that by that time you are not in a place to worry about it. I think with my first there were nineteen people present.

With my last just a midwife friend, my community midwife and my husband. There were quite a few people outside the door in case they were needed but they were kept outside by the midwives.

First two were just me, dad and midwife. Most recent there were about 8 in the room but that's because the original midwife and her trainee were trying to kill me. Okay, maybe not intentionally, but it felt that way at the time! However, eventually DS2 was born in front of the anaesthetist, registrar, head midwife, consultant and several midwives. No other patients though! It's usual to be cared for on delivery in a private room, don't worry.

The only time I've seen women give birth in the same room as each other was on American sitcoms. Always for comic effect.

@Chanel05 makes a good point that you will hear other people. I laboured overnight and the ward was very quiet, but the door to my birthing room was open and had a curtain drawn round it. When I was being quiet I could hear other women in labour, it didn’t really bother me though.

I think there were about 6 people in the room when I gave birth - 2 midwives, a consultant, someone there for DD, me, DH. It would have been just the midwife but things got a bit dicey and there was a chance I was going to be transferred to theatre. Never heard of anyone giving birth on a ward with other patients/labouring women.