First time mum here, hoping for some advice on rights around choosing where to give birth. We live right on the border of three different healthcare trusts.
At my booking appointment I was told I would be assigned a hospital to give birth, but could choose another one if I wanted to. At about 19 weeks, I phoned my midwife and told her which I'd chosen. It's technically outside my area, but is actually closer, an easier drive, I've been there for other reasons so know it, it's closer to work for my husband in case things happen early, closer to friends and family and is also a well respected teaching hospital.
Midwife told me it was too late and I had to have switched by 16 weeks at the latest and I couldn't switch at 19 weeks. I'm confused by this because all the info I've read says that we can choose where to give birth at any point during pregnancy, and no one told me there was a cut off point. I also tried doing a self referral but this particular hospital don't accept self referrals.
At my 24 week midwife appointment I raised it again and said I really did want to switch. Again was told no, we can't do that because they can't access all your test results etc because a different trust. I mentioned the info I'd read online and was told that ultimately I can just turn up at any hospital and give birth there, they can't turn me away. But that also feels unnecessarily stressful, and doesn't seem to match up with the guidelines.
Has anyone been in a similar position? Is it worth taking it further or just accept it, suck it up and go with the original option? Would welcome some advice from someone who knows more about this or has experienced something similar. Thankyou!