Any experiences of Birthing Centres/MLU's?

[LookingAtMyBhunas]

Hi all!

Debating between a birthing unit and home birth. The only reservation I have with the birthing unit is it's the next town along (about 25 mins) and I've read that sometimes they can't always be used if there's not enough midwives to open the centre??
But honestly aside from that it looks amazing - like a spa day. 😂

We've not had the best care from my local midwife team and my closest hospital is in Requires Improvement.

Any experience anyone can give would be so appreciated.

I gave birth to my second at a birthing centre. Was a fabulous experience especially the post partum element (like night and day compared to the postnatal ward!). I’m London-based and the birth centre at the hospital I opted for happened to be full on the day so I had to go to the birth centre at amother hospital (in the same trust) 20 mins away. So yes this unfortunately does happen! I had an August baby though so was a busy time of year for births!

I had my first in an MLU which was attached to a hospital. The atmosphere was so much more chilled than my second in hospital. The midwives were really laid back as I was low risk.