Where to give birth

Question

I'm so confused. I want to try a water birth but am fully open to an epidural if it gets too much to handle. My midwife said as I'm low risk I will be in a singleton midwife led unit but I've just read epidural isn't available?! What happens in this scenario? Any experiences? I'm in Kent, and William Harvey is my nearest hospital. Thank you!

Answer

Hey William harvey is my local hospital too! I have birth to my son there, I started on the midwife led unit (which is  amazing btw!) But things didn't progress too well. The good news about that hospital is the main labour ward is just one floor up in the lift. They put me in a wheel chair, had portable gas and air and just wheeled me up. I was then able to get an epidural up there. 
You can book in a tour from about 34 weeks I think but ask your midwife. 
Feel free to ask any other questions! Nice to see someone from the area on here!!

Answer

I was planning to give birth in the midwife led unit at Medway Maritime but due to my daughter arriving early I ended up in the Delivery Suite (consultant led unit) instead.  My understanding was that if I was in the Birth Place (the midwife led unit) and wanted an epidural I would be moved to the Delivery Suite.  As they are right next to each other it wouldn’t have been far to go.  This might be the same at William Harvey?

Answer

Have a Google search for Which? Birth Centre. Which as in the comparison website, its a fantastic resource and you can compare stats etc of every ward and birth Centre.
If you're low risk then statistically a birth Centre is the safest place for you in terms of interventions and problems. But yes, there are limits on what medications are available to you. That said, your midwife will be looking out for you and will work with you to keep a few steps ahead and spot things early if things change.
Sometimes plans change and you might need to be transferred to labour ward, for a number of reasons, including if you want an epidural. Transfer rates can be fairly high, around 40%, because they won't want to take any risks. It's the same sort of thing with home births, as soon as there's a hint of something you would get blue lighted to hospital in an ambulance.
As long as you're aware of that, and be open to the different possibilities, you will be fine and will be able to relax more.
Some birth centres are classed as "alongside units", i.e. They are joined on to the labour ward, so being transferred would mean wheeling you around the corner. Some birth centres as "stand alone" centres out in the community, so as long as you have in the back of your mind the possibility of being transferred if the labour goes in a different direction.
Depends on what type of person you are, some are comforted knowing they are on or near a labour ward, just in case. If you look in to something like hypno birthing you'll learn that the environment you chose to give birth in plays a huge part in how your labour progresses. The more relaxed you are, the better you'll progress and the less likely you'll need interventions, which is why many prefer the birth centre.
Good luck xx

Where to give birth

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