Anyone had Midwife led unit birth?

[Bump02]

Hi ladies,

I am almost 24 weeks, so a bit of a way to go still, but I am I looking into birth options. I had ds 8 years ago in Hospital and didn't have any problems, thank goodness. But this time round I see there are many more options available to women and dp and I are looking into possibly having a midwife led unit birth as our local hospital is due to open one in the next few months, around the time our little bundle is due to arrive.

I am just testing the water with this one and would like to hear any of your experiences or views. We have considered home birth but I'm not ready for that, and don't want to be stressing out about it.

Look forward to hearing from you

I didn't strictly give birth at MLU but I transferred to one soon after having my third baby by CS. I have to say the atmosphere was lovely, the MWs were fantastic, calm and efficient and they had a lot more time for me and baby than the hospital MWs did (no disrespect meant to the hospital MWs). My friend has had all three of hers at the MLU and she loves it, wouldn't give birth anywhere else!

My reasons for not giving birth at MLU were that I gave birth to my other two at big hospitals in Leeds, so that is what i was used to. I didn't want to be far away from a hospital in case of complications (which was a good thing as it turned out, as I had a cs!) if your MLU isn't far from the hospital, I would definately consider this option. Go have a look around

DS2 was a MLU birth

It was fantastic. I've ahd four births, 1 HB, 1 MLU and 2 in a CLU and by far the MLU was the most enjoyable.not the fastest or easiest but the most well managed (to be fair the HB was 35 minutes so no time LOL)

would recommend

I had DD in March and started off in a MLU. I chose to go there as I thought that I would find the birth easier if I was in a more relaxed/less clinical environment. Unfortunately due to complications I had to be transferred in to hospital for the delivery itself but went back to the MLU as soon as possible after the birth. The care there was fantastic (2 midwives in with me at 2am to help me establish breastfeeding). I would thoroughly recommend it and if we had any more children I would want to go there again.

I started off in one but ended up having an EMCS. It was lovely, really relaxed and there was a birthing pool (which I was hoping to deliver in but ho hum). If you can I would think about using it

Good luck x

yep had dd2 in the mlu even though wasn't meant to due to own health probs but no room on main ward!
was good nice and quiet and as relaxed as you can be but i had retained placenta which was left for way too long so i ended up having it removed in theatre having a blood tranfusion and missing dd2s first feed/clothes/cuddle,
Haven't a clue whether this would've been different if on the main ward though so i would like to go to mlu again.

I had DS in a MLU and it was great. I was a bit worried in case I needed a C or wanted an epidural but the midwives were amazing and am booked in for baby 2 in January (despite swearing I'd never do it again without drugs!!).
IME they are less crowded (me + 1 other!), mw's have more time, treat you well and don't rush you home. Was also great for establishing BFing as Carikube8 says.

this is my plan for DC2 if my consultant will sign it off

they have double beds, huge birthing pools and all lovely and relaxed

I had DS (my PFB ) in MLU attached to hospital. It was fantastic - really relaxed - and the midwives were great. I hate hospitals and it felt as little like being in a hospital as it possibly could but they still had all the equipment and doctors close by in case anything went wrong.

I'm sure if I'd been in the main maternity ward I would have had an episiotomy and forceps as DS took a while to arrive and the midwives kept having conversations about how much longer to give me pushing before they called in the doctor - I had been pushing for longer than is usually allowed but the baby's heartbeat was fine and I wanted to carry on rather than have forceps - I don't think I'd have had that option on the normal maternity ward.

I'd also really recommend doing a hypnobirthing course (Marion Mongan method). Some of it is a bit but the relaxation and breathing techniques they teach you are FANTASTIC... it also really helped me approach the birth in a positive way and without being frightened.

HTH and congratulations on your pregnancy

Oh and just to compare differences:

on Mat Ward I had ds3 (iron something like 0.5 below their guidelines, these days i would laugh at them- was 4 below for HB but we'd moved) I couldn't eat the food I was given as it was not dairy free, so I went hungry from 3am delivery ntil dh could get a Paed to discharge me at 1pm.

On MLU sister delivered in 3 months later, she was being given a big snack box with choccy, sarnies and biccys for the night times as well as menu choice

Same trust, even had to pass MLU to get to hospital to deliver, dammit!

I'm planning to give birth to this one (2nd DC) in a MLU, its not attached to hospital so slightly concerned about the 20min transfer to hospital if something goes wrong, but hopefully wont.

With 1st DC, I gave birth in hospital, ended up with epidural, failed ventouse then forceps delivery...was a nightmare & had to stay in the hospital for 1st night which was horrble - crowded ward, they didnt tell me where to go to get lunch the next day (they'd brought me dinner & breakfast as couldnt walk due to epidural) so had to get mum to bring me food in as missed the meal time! then transferred to the MLU for rest of my recovery & was great! fantastic food, caring midwives, one small ward plus private rooms etc etc...definitely recommend!! & hoping that because I cant have an epidural in MLU it will prevent the other complications I had with first delivery, plus more likely to be able to use birthing pool (with 1st DC the one in hospital was busy, but when I asked for epidural they told me pool was free bit late by then!!)

I laboured in the MLU - it was lovely and peaceful, big room with a pool, pile of shaped beanbags, en suite bathroom. So plenty of space for my 2 partners. At 4pm they did say the unit might have to close for the night due to lack of staff, but then an hour later said staff had been found. I then had to transfer downstairs due to other medical problems - room much smaller, toilet just outside, but staff equally lovely.

And no food provided in either one - you have to bring your own. And you end up on the same postnatal ward in either case.

I had my labour in a MLU att'd to hosp, though I ended up with EMCS eventually. MLU was fab and I would recommend it to anyone.

I have had 2 deliveries at a MLU attached a the hospital, both water births. The labour rooms were really large and relaxed and the midwife stayed with us the entire time.

After the deliveries both my DH and 2nd birthing partner could stay the night with me in the room.

Much more relaxed than I imagine a ward delivery would be, so maybe not suitable for someone who is very anxious and likes to see a lot of doctors/specialists every 10 minutes.

I think a big reasons why people don't tend to go with MLU is because you are not able to have an epidural in a MLU unit. TENS, gas & air only.

Used MLU, was very happy with it and felt safe as it was on same floor as hospital birth unit in case of any problems. The best thing was that DH could stay overnight in the same room as us, as has been mentioned, although the birthing pool was also ace.

I did for all 3 births- very happy, consultant etc always available anyway if any probs.
To be hionest, I chose midwife led.