Pembury hospital or Maidstone Birth Centre?

[ViaRia]

Hi all
I'm approaching my due date and wondering whether anyone has any recommendations for giving birth at either Pembury/ Tunbridge Wells Hospital or Maidstone Birth Centre?

I've had a tour of the Birth Centre but I don't think the same would be available at Pembury. I've read up on their website though, and watched their videos.

I'm looking for midwife-led delivery without an epidural - so either birth place would be able to accommodate that. Did anyone have a particularly good or bad experience at either?

I'm trying to put my finger on what exactly I felt wary about during the tour of the birth centre... I think it was that the I found the two members of staff we spoke to fairly difficult. I'm aware that's just a very brief snap-shot of the whole environment so I don't necessarily want to rule out the birth centre based only on my short encounter with two individuals.

Thank you!

I think we are spoilt around here and both are great options. I had chosen the birth center for DC1 but had to be induced so had to be at Pembury and had a good experience. The birth ended in an EMCS so not great in itself, but I felt perfectly safe and well looked after the whole time. I've also only heard good things about the birth center too, so I think ultimately it's about deciding whether you'd rather give birth in a birth center or a hospital.
Good luck!

Thanks for your response. I agree we seem to be spoilt with these two great options. I’ve definitely heard lots of praise for Pembury but I think I only know one woman who has used the birth centre. Pembury seems to be the first choice for people I know.

I had my baby at Pembury and had an awful experience. The midwives delivering baby were amazing but everything before and after was awful. It may have been COVID related though so things may be better now.

Good luck whatever you choose!

Hi OP - I have friends who’ve delivered multiple babies at the birth centre and absolutely loved it, and I had Dd at Pembury (prem breech birth, went into labour spontaneously and had EMCS).

I’m biased as my sister is a mw there, but we had an excellent experience despite the traumatic situation! DD had to spend a week in the neonatal ward and the nurses there are literal angels.

They have a couple of birthing rooms at pembury that are v similar to a birth centre set up (mood lighting, comfy seating, birthing pools, all the medical equipment hidden away etc) so you could probably have a similar birth there if that’s what you wanted, but obv you can’t guarantee you’d get one of those rooms.

Bear in mind if anything out of the ordinary happens you’d have to go to Pembury anyway - my friend had a lovely birth at the birthing centre but ended up with a retained placenta so had to go to Pembury for surgery. Her DH had to put their newborn in the car seat and drove behind the ambulance .

Good luck whichever you choose!