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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Birthing centre VS Hospital

9 replies

springbaby22 · 31/10/2021 19:16

Just wondering if anyone has had experience in birthing centres. I'm almost 19 weeks with dc3 and have chosen a beautiful birthing centre which is about 15/20 minute drive away opposed to the hospital I gave birth to my 2dc.

I've had only gas and air both times with a tens machine and an amazing water birth with my second at the hospital 5/10 minutes away from us.

They have 4 birthing rooms in the birth centre with a birthing pool in each room, seems like a really calm and serene atmosphere and they will only take me if I remain low risk throughout the rest of the pregnancy.

At the hospital they only have 1 birthing pool and as I'm keen to have another water birth I worry that it might be taken when I go in. There was no issues with my last getting in there though and I had the most amazing supportive midwife.

Also I am anxious if anything goes wrong it could happen fast and worry about the birthing centre which is what's making me having second thoughts. Please advise.

OP posts:

SillyBry · 31/10/2021 21:59

I have a similar set up… our local hospital has a lovely birthing centre. Nearest labour ward is in the major hospital 35 mins away.
I was really unsure which I would use for my first birth. I so wanted to use the local centre, but MIL is a retired midwife and said a mid delivery transfer is horrendous. Then my friend laboured and got transferred at 8cm, 20 mins banging around in the ambulance, hysterical before being whisked off for an emergency c section.
So I decided to go to the major hospital instead.

Second time round, the birth centre was shut due to Covid, but I would’ve gone to the major hospital anyway as the first time was a fab experience.

The birthing rooms in the hospital were pretty much the same - and frankly, I liked knowing the labour ward was only round the corner. Second birth, the birthing centre rooms at the hospital were full, so I had to go into a labour ward room. (More clinical, less warm and fluffy.) but frankly, in the middle of labour, as long as I had my gas and air, I couldn’t have given a damn what room I was in! 🤣

AnonymousXXIX · 01/11/2021 09:39

Sounds like we have a similar set up here. I really want to go to the lovely birth centre - but I am so scared that it may be full on the day and they will make me go to a hospital I don't want to be in and know nothing about! I wish there was a way to guarantee they'll have space in a birth centre (provided everything remains low risk ofc).

SpiceRat · 01/11/2021 10:04

So I don’t have experience birthing in a birthing centre as my pregnancy was high risk. But I did request to be transferred after birth. Our centre is known for the wonderful aftercare and honestly it was like going from a hostel to a 5* hotel. The aftercare was bliss and the help with breastfeeding was outstanding.

123feraverto · 01/11/2021 10:17

I had planned midwife led ward in the hospital but what was low risk became high risk once my waters had broken (meconium in the waters)

So was immediately put on the bed and taken to the consultant led ward - it was only next door but wheeling through with contractions less than 3 minutes apart felt like an age!
Ended up needing monitoring , episiotomy and ventouse to assist the birth

I would definitely always birth in the hospital- the midwife led ward looked lovely the all of 5 minutes I was in the room- birthing pool , fancy lighting , little tea lights around the bath and lots of other things to help with labour

Ozanj · 01/11/2021 10:22

@springbaby22

I've had only gas and air both times with a tens machine and an amazing water birth with my second at the hospital 5/10 minutes away from us.

Also I am anxious if anything goes wrong it could happen fast and worry about the birthing centre which is what's making me having second thoughts. Please advise.

If you are low to medium risk and not obese you will probably be guaranteed the birthing pool at the hospital as most will herd medium to higher risk women to more medicated options.

Original poster

springbaby22 · 01/11/2021 12:08

@AnonymousXXIX

I was speaking to the midwife that works at this birth centre who said that on avarage 20/30 women birth at the centre a month! So on avarage that's probably one or two women a day... Have you checked with your Centre? Is it your first baby? My midwife said only 9% of women have transfer to the hospital if it's not their first. Trying to really do my research but it's so unpredictable how things pan out on the actual day.

OP posts:

AnonymousXXIX · 01/11/2021 12:53

Thank you for that info @springbaby22! That's really useful, and I will ask my midwife about it next week :)

Original poster

springbaby22 · 13/11/2021 18:34

@Ozanj that's a very good point actually, was amazing for pain relief using the pool
last time and just don't want to get my hopes too high as so much can change on the day.

OP posts:

T0rt0ise · 13/11/2021 18:40

We have a similar set up here but I decided to go with the hospital. Having had a very easy pregnancy turn into a fairly traumatic birth requiring using every facility in the maternity wing of the hospital I'm very pleased with my decision! The midwife led unit at the hospital (for the brief period I was in it) was also lovely and you can ask to be transferred to the separate midwife led centre after birth so that might be a compromise.

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