Labour ward vs birthing center

Hi everyone. I'm due in a few months and trying to decide between the labour ward and the birthing center.

I would love a water birth (it's our first) but I guess I'm a little worried about the birthing center due to the lack of doctors / equipment if there's an emergency.

Has anyone had any experience of either the labour ward or birthing center and could you share your experience? Thanks so much!

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This podcast episode might be helpful: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/is-it-normal-the-pregnancy-podcast-with-jessie-ware/id1584474367?i=1000543326593

It depends if the birth centre is in the hospital or is a freestanding centre. If it’s in the hospital, the doctors will literally be down the corridor and you can be transferred really easily. But even if it’s a freestanding birth centre it’s good to remember that even if you were in the Labour ward and needed an emergency c section or needed to go to theatre, it’s still going to take them half an hour to get theatre ready and to get a team of people ready, it doesn’t happen instantly. So if you need to transfer from a birth centre to hospital for an emergency they will get the theatre and team ready while you’re transferring in. Emergencies where they literally have to drop everything and go then and there are pretty rare when it comes to birth and by being in a birth centre you will lower your risk of things going wrong anyway.

Thank you ! I believe the birth centre is in the same hospital so as you say it should be ok. I'll definitely have a listen to the podcast you've shared though.

No worries! Yeah it’s quite helpful, they also have an episode on c sections which is helpful. It also depends on the type of pain relief you would like. In a birth centre they offer gas and air, pethadine, I think morphine but I’m not 100% sure and they usually have birth pools. If you want an epidural you have to be in the labour ward. So that’s also something to take into account.

The birth centre and labour ward are both in the hospital, I had my son on the labour ward as I needed to be induced but the birth centre is really nice. Unlike wjat Harriet has said they are really quick to prepare the theatre if you need it took a max of 5 minutes to get me in there once they saw I needed and emergency cesarean so either choice is efficient it just depends on what atmosphere and pain relief you are planning on having

Most hospitals have two theatres one for planned sections and one for emergencies so there is no long wait unless they are both in use which would be quiet rare I would imagine so I wouldn’t worry about a long wait necessarily. They do say that research shows you have a slightly higher statistical chance of having intervention ( forceps/emergency section etc) on the ward vs the birthing centre but then as a first time mum your chance of needing this are also higher so depends on if you want the peace of mind of having doctors around from the start or think the environment of a birthing centre would be more calming. Can you go have a look at both and see what you prefer?

I am also giving birth at Queen Charlotte’s and keen for a water birth - however I am also keen to be in the labour ward for the same reasons as you. The good news is that there is a birthing pool in the labour ward (although only one).

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Gave birth (vagina) 5 days ago and yesterday morning and this morning getting lot of pain in my right bottom side and lower back

Induction experience

I just wanted to share my experience with being induced as I wasn’t sure what to expect and thought it may help others.

I opted for the foley balloon which was inserted at 8am Saturday morning, I had to stay in hospital due to hypertension and protein urine however usually you can just go home once this has been done. The insertion of the balloon was not painful, was slightly uncomfortable as there was slight pressure. I actually found having the cervix checked prior to be worse (again not painful at this point just uncomfortable) The balloon had little effect and after having it removed I was still only 1cm. Removal also was pain free and hardly even noticeable.

I then had my first dose of the gel and definitely noticed a difference, I started experiencing period like cramps almost immediately however they were light and manageable. After 6 hours I had another cervix check and although my cervix was soft it was still only 1cm and was only open at the front. I had another dose of the gel and felt an increase in pressure and more intense cramping where I now required pain relief (codeine). After another 6 hours I had another cervix check and I had now dilated to 2-3cm however was still quite difficult to get all the way through so a third gel was recommended which I agreed to.

Almost immediately I noticed the difference and was in considerable pain, I had paracetamol and codeine however the contractions had now become intense and a lot closer together (around 3 minutes apart). After a couple of hours I had my last cervix check and was 4cm and taken down to the Labour ward to have my waters broken and an epidural.

I had been in my room for approx 20minutes when my waters broke by themselves and I was now 10cm and actively pushing…. There was no time for the epidural and my beautiful girl arrived into the world within 2 minutes of pushing.

All in all I would say the cramps/contractions were manageable up until the third gel where it became pretty unbearable however it was for a very short time a gas and air helped take the edge off. The worst part about any of it was actually the later cervix checks where after stimulating the cervix my contractions were at their most painful.

If I had to be induced again I would skip the balloon and opt for the gels immediately as thy had a quicker effect and I would have been out a lot sooner if I had done this to begin with.

One more thing, I’ve never believed when people say “you forget the pain once they’re here” but I can honestly say this is true. It’s been 4 days and I would do it all again in a heartbeat.

It’s my birthday tomorrow.

Ok so I am going to be 35 years young. I can’t believe how much this life has thrown at me but it’s okay I’m a survivor. I am truly blessed to be alive. 🥳🧁🎂 The only downside is I won’t be celebrating my birthday because my man can’t take me out. So many emotions right now.