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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Choose a birthing centre 30/40 mins away?

39 replies

Adele12345 · 13/10/2021 18:34

I am 5 weeks pregnant with my first and need to arrange a midwife/gp appointment. I really want a water birth and we have a birthing centres 10 mins drive from home, but there’s only 1 pool, so you’re not guaranteed it’s use.

There is a birthing centre 30/40 mins drive, with pools in all of the rooms. Do you think that’s too far to drive? As it’s my first I have no clue!

Should say, I do appreciate that when the time comes I may not even be eligible to use the pool…or the centre with pools in every room could be full. It’s just the birthing centre 30/40 mins away have recommended that if I plan on giving birth there that I should also plan on going for my scans/tests there too, and to book in with one of their midwives. Thanks!

OP posts:
Nowisthemonthofmaying · 13/10/2021 18:37

Too far! You really don't want to be driving that far in labour if you can possibly avoid it.

MinaPop · 13/10/2021 20:18

Looking forward to a lovely 2.5 hour drive in labour myself (Highlands nearest major hosp) so to me 40 mins would be a dream!

I'd do it for the pool personally. Could you afford to do the drive a bit earlier and check into a nearby travel Inn to wait until you're ready to go into hosp?

ImStayingInside · 13/10/2021 20:24

My nearest hospital is 30 mins away, so I don’t see why that distance would be a problem. Maybe you would just have to make sure you go in to be checked at the first signs of labour in case yours is a quicky.

thinpigeon · 13/10/2021 20:24

My nearest centre was 40 mins away so we didn't have much of an option. It was fine in the end although we ended up staying for longer as went in too early and didn't fancy having to drive home and drive back again!

FluffMagnet · 13/10/2021 20:29

You're lucky to have 2 centres so close! My hospital is approx. 40 mins on a good run, up to 2 hours if traffic is bad, plus most of my friends in our "catchment" live a further 30+ mins away from the hospital than I do! Its not much fun being in labour in a car, but if you have a partner to drive you (rather than relying on public transport) it's doable.

ISeeTheLight · 13/10/2021 20:31

Considering you'll be sent home if you turn up too early I would go with the nearest one. You don't want a long car journey when in full blown active labour.

PotteringAlong · 13/10/2021 20:33

I would say far too far. The 15 minutes to the hospital in active labour with number 2 (induced with 1 and 3) was the worst 15 mins of all 3 labours.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 13/10/2021 20:35

I spent two hours in a traffic jam on the motorway in labour. It was 50mins on a good day.

With my second, she was born at home but the nearest hospital was 45mins away on country lanes.

40mins is quite a normal travel time really.

PrivateParty · 13/10/2021 20:36

We are that far away from the hospital anyway, so...

SpamIAm · 13/10/2021 20:38

The 10 minute drive to the hospital was horrendous 🙈 I'd go for the closer one personally.

marykitty · 13/10/2021 20:38

My only suggestion is to decide based on the whole package.
Water birth sounds appealing but other things are more important, like how close is the nearest op room in case of emergency

SylvanasWindrunner · 13/10/2021 20:38

We are 45 mins away from the hospital anyway! The drive in labour wasn't great but it was manageable. Don't think it's a massive issue, really.

SylvanasWindrunner · 13/10/2021 20:39

But yes I'd also consider whether it was attached to a hospital. Our MLU is attached to labour ward and the main maternity hospital, and that was a relief when we needed urgent intervention.

stormelf · 13/10/2021 20:40

My nearest hospital is 40 minutes away in good traffic so I wouldn't say that distance was too far, it was absolutely fine when going in with my first. However if I had the option of a ten minute journey I would definitely choose that as I gave birth to my second only ten minutes away from my house on the way to hospital.

2typesofjungle · 13/10/2021 20:51

My nearest hospital is 3 hours away (Highlands too) so frankly 40 minutes isn't really very much, but it's all about perspective.
What are the rest of the facilities like? Where is the hospital compared to the birth centres? Are there any reviews or reports you can read?

The drive will be uncomfortable whether it's 10 minutes or 3 hours, as long as you are happy with the place you are going to, the drive will be fine.

Darceyhemingway · 13/10/2021 20:54

It's a fine distance to the birthing centre but how far is the birthing centre to the hospital in case you needed to be transferred as allt of people do

Megan2018 · 13/10/2021 20:57

Our nearest hospital and MLU was 40 Mins away, it’s fine. Anyone rural is used to that sort of distance.

PiesNotGuys · 13/10/2021 20:59

I wouldn’t have made it if I’d have tried to go 30-40 minutes away with my first, I’d have given birth in the car.

Legomania · 13/10/2021 20:59

My friend had a haemorrhage at the birthing centre and had a 40min transfer by ambulance to the nearest hospital. She was fine in the end, but it didn't help with an already traumatic experience. I wanted the labour ward close at hand.

SkankingMopoke · 13/10/2021 21:14

@marykitty

My only suggestion is to decide based on the whole package. Water birth sounds appealing but other things are more important, like how close is the nearest op room in case of emergency
^ This. DD2 was planned as a VBAC and I had sign off for a water birth in the MLBU. I got as far as the assessment room and being told I would shortly be moving to the MLBU when everything went wrong. It ended in a category 1 cs. They later told me they had had 7 minutes to get her out from when the machines started going crazy (they managed it in under 5 IIRC), and I suspect it wouldn't have been much past that before I was a goner too. Things can go very very wrong very very quickly. Make sure the unit is one attached to the regular maternity unit of a hospital.
StampOnTheGround · 13/10/2021 21:17

Seconding what others have said, my nearest hospital is 40/45 mins away anyway 😊

InTheLabyrinth · 13/10/2021 21:17

Both mine would have been born in the car with that time.
Would you consider a home birth and pool rental? (DS2 was an unplanned homebirth).

fruitsaladyummyummy · 13/10/2021 21:21

Go to wherever can help you quickest if things go wrong. DC1 was born before they even had time to fill the pool, DC2 ended up "high risk" when I was in labour (textbook pregnancy in the lead up including going in to hospital 12 hours earlier for a routine check) and I couldn't use the pool. Both labours were fine and only needed gas & air (even though DC2 was back to back). Saying that I had quick births, always go where they have the option of the good drugs.

ElephantandGrasshopper · 13/10/2021 21:22

How far away is the hospital from the birthing centre? I decided against a birthing centre 40 minutes away from home mostly because the hospital was also back in my home town. I had a home birth instead with a guaranteed pool and a 5 minute drive to the hospital if needed Smile

onanadventure · 13/10/2021 21:23

40 mins was fine for me - first birth too. I turned up 6cm dialated and baby born in a pool 8h later.
We went there when contractions were 10m apart regularly for a whole hour rather than 3 in 10 tho, so gave ourselves more time.our midwife advised us of this on the phone so is used to longer drives.

All hospitals / MLU's near us are 40 mins drive away so no other option other than home birth (which if you want a water birth might be the best option if comfortable with it).