Forth Park Kirkcaldy/Home births

[finallypregnant]

If I decide to go down the route of a birth in hospital we'll be at Forth Park in Kirkcaldy which I have heard mixed reviews about plus they only keep you for 4-6 hours after the birth which scares the crap out of me being my first. Anyhoo, I am now wanting to look at the pros/cons of a home birth but I have no idea where to start looking. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks

Hi, I gave birth at Forth Park in April this year and stayed in for 3 nights after a straight forward delivery. They do have a 6 hour discharge but only if you request it. I found Forth Park great, very supportive midwives who were more than happy to be on call night and day to help with breast feeding.
If everything goes OK, you can also request a single 'amenity room' (think you get one automatically if you have a tough time)if one is available which costs £40 a night - pros and cons to this too. Things might have changed in the last 8 months but I would be very surprised if they had changed that much.

Just to clarify - the amenity room is in the post natal ward - the delivery rooms in the midwife led unit and the consultant unit are single anyway. One thing I found really useful was a tour of Forth Park. I also got lots of info on home births from my community midwife.

It was my midwife that said they only keep you for 4-6 hours. Overnight if you have a through the night baby and obviously longer if you have a section.

I just thought that if they chuck you out after just a few hours to have your care at home, I'd be as well staying at home but I will clarify next Friday at my next appointment.

Thanks ladies.

Hi

I've had 2 babies at Forth Park and stayed in 3 nights with both after straightforward births. I actually asked to go home both times - certainly didn't feel they were pushing me out. I'm really surprised your midwife has said this.

I'm due my third in 6 weeks and am actually hoping for the 6 hour discharge this time. When I asked the midwife about it she said it was an option but you have to have the baby checked over before you go.

Like squix I have had 2 good experiences with Forth Park particularly with the midwifes in the midwife led labour ward. Only reason I'm hoping to get out quickly this time is to be at home with my other little ones.

How far are you from Forth Park?
I know some people who have had home births, with Forth Park as their maternity hospital - they were 35/40 mins away if anything went wrong, which tbh seemed a bit far to me.

I am just outside Dunfermline. If I am honest, I am not sure I have the best midwife as this is the second lot of crap information she's given me. The first to do with breast feeding after her mafia talk to me a few weeks back.

ooh I bet you had the same mid-wife as me - awful - v. near Dunfermline town centre. She wouldn't sign me up for antenatal classes and it was my first baby. She told me to watch discovery health! When I complained she tried to get me on to a class but it was too late! My birth was so awful I never got around to putting in a formal complaint.