My daughter is expecting her first baby and has to choose between the local cottage hospital or the large county hospital for the birth.
She is considering the small cottage hospital which she has visited but she has concerns because it is her first baby and what would happen if anything went wrong and also pain relieve concerns.
I can only advise her as to my own experience in that my second baby born at the local small maternity unit turned out to me a much more fulfilling experience with wonderful aftercare in a relaxed environment.
I have also advised her to arrange a visit to the small maternity unit with her partner and to ask relevant questions.
Would anybody be able to add to the advice I have given and/or questions she should be asking at the unit.
many thanks
I had both my babies at small units. The midwives were excellent. It was the doctors who tried to scare me! I did need a doctor after number 2, but only to repair a 'tear' - he arrived about 20 mins after baby was born and said that he might need a miners helmet and a length of rope.......... luckily I was still high on the gas n' air, or I would have flattened him!
I had hypnotherapy for pain control - brilliant - really recommend it for your daughter. Gas n' air was there for the 'big push'!!
given a choice I would go for the local cottage hospital - but also what I would want to know is what happens in the worst case senario - would she have to be transferred if she needed an emergancy c section? if so, how long would it take to get to the nearest hospital that could deal?
sorry to sound doom and gloom but I ended up needing a emergancy c section - luckily this was when Hemel still had maternity services
I hope all goes well for your daughter
Many thanks for your replies
Jabba -if you don't mind me asking how did you arrange the hypnotherapy? was it from tapes, if so are there any that you could recommend?
Hemelgirl - Being transferred should something go wrong is what we are most worried about so I am going to suggest she asks the question you suggested
kind regards
Lynn
I went to a local hypnotherapist once a week for 4 weeks. She also taught me how to do self-hypnosis. I drew a 'focus point' - a series of black and white circles, which I stuck on the labour room (actually, I didn't change rooms!) wall - I focused on this during contractions and did the self-hypnosis. It was brilliant. The midwife was impressed too! The only time she had to help me out was during the pushing - gas n' air worked for this bit. I gave birth to a cheerful baby girl (she didn't cry once!), but had to send my husband back to Mothercare, with the New Born clothes, as she was ten and a half pounds and didn't fit anything we had taken with us!!!
If anything had gone wrong whilst I was at the maternity unit, I was 40 minutes from the closest large hospital. New mums were coming into the unit from the hospital - they went in during labour, gave birth, and were then shipped out to the small unit - not one of them appreciated the upset!
Thanks for the reply Jabba - I will suggest self-hypnosis to my daugter as a method of pain relief. Considering the size of your baby you did amazingly well no wonder the midwife was impressed. So glad it all went well for you and you now have a lovely happy baby.
I bought my daughter her first babygros this week (I couldn't resist) 0-3 months - After looking at them she said 'Mum I don't want to have one that big' - that made me laugh but I re-assured her that they were for babies up to 3 months old.
PS - my "happy baby" has just gone to work - she's 18 now! Even thought I had the therapy years ago, I am still able to induce self-hypnosis if I get a bit 'stressed'. I would still recommend that your daughter sees a hypnotherapist, who will teach self-hynosis, rather than rely on a tape.
I would definitely choose the local midwifery unit over the hospital. Our local one only has 2 or 3 deliveries a week so you get great care by the midwives. They will only take low risk cases though.
It's the next best thing to having one at home and being in an environment that feels very nurturing is conducive to a good birth.
I agree with the comments below on hypnosis as well, it is much more accepted now as way of preparing for, and managing, labour. There is research to evidence it and as the posts below say, give you skills that you can use the rest of your life.
I used it too and think it's fab.
Enjoy being a grandmother!
Many thanks for your comments Sophie.
It's the next best thing to having one at home and being in an environment that feels very nurturing is conducive to a good birth.
I agree as that was the experience I had.
how do you define a low risk? that is the problem
my pelvis was too narrow for natural birth and I ended up having an emergancy c section - this was not something picked up in any of my checks or scans