Birthing centre RVI

I gave birth there but that was 3 years ago x

I was 3cm they said they would admit me but I couldn’t have any pain relief as I wasn’t in active labour but they let me in the pool

I would check as it isn’t always open due to lack of staff. I had a tour with my first 8 years ago but dunno if they stopped them since Covid

They would just send you back home if you were too early or if you really struggling maybe delivery suite - and you can’t have an epidural down there

I gave birth there in July 2022, it was absolutely amazing and you have to be 4cm dilated with any hospital unless serious risks are involved unfortunately I got the only room with a broken pool but I ended off with an emergency C-section as far as I know you get to stay in your own room unless you have a section then you get put in with three others x

I also started there with my first but got admitted to the delivery suite as I wasn’t progressing

Also I did have a shared room as I was waiting to be induced then got my own private room but if there is a room available when you are 4cm you get put straight in x

You get checked in a private room and then moved to the room you will stay in for your entire stay as long as you are 4cm. They won’t admit you before 4cm. They don’t do tours anymore but there is a video online. The only thing is, the birthing centre is mainly closed now so this type of birth is not available on the birthing centre in the RVI. I’m not sure when you are due or how quickly the open/closed situation is going to get better.

And you can’t go in birthing centre if your getting induced only if your low risk as it’s only midwifery led

@Becky I was in the birthing centre for my induction in 2022 but got rushed to theatre for forceps which then turned into a section x

Had my own room after - was during Covid but my partner was allowed to stay as I had MH problems in my previous pregnancy

But if your go on delivery suite it’s a shared ward afterwards

@Sky-Marie for my first in 2015 I was there but got moved to delivery for forceps I didn’t think you could get induced down there. Then in 2020 for my second gave birth there

@Becky yeah I was in the birthing centre till I was 10cm but my son was back to back so they took me to theatre for the forceps as he had a big head so we were already prepping for a section of the forceps failed to make it easier x

I’ve gave birth on both birthing centre and on delivery as I was induced, happy to answer any questions xx

Omg thanks everyone this is so helpful. I've just seen the info about it not really being guaranteed to be open. I'm not due til July but I don't feel great about leaving it to chance that I would even be there :( that's really sad, watched the video and it looks great !!

@Becky thank you that's super helpful !☺️

@Sky-Marie is this video not upstairs on delivery suite as the rooms I’ve seen on birthing centre downstairs didn’t look like this x

@Frances yeah it has been pretty much closed for a good 6 months it’s so sad!!

@Sara what a gutter ! I was getting excited about the idea of it 😞 not super keen on going to hospital at all but it looks like such a nice middle ground

@Sara I think they've got a couple of pools up there too so that would be lovely but less chance of getting one I suppose !

@Frances there is only 1 pool on delivery suite upstairs. You also get moved to a 4 bed ward 2 hours after and can’t have partner stay where as on birthing centre you stay in your room, they make a double sofa bed for you and you can have visitors any time and someone stay with you 24/7. It really makes a huge difference and I can’t make a decision about what I want for my May birth myself as I feel like the choices are so slim at the RVI now x

@Frances have you thought about delivering at NSEC? They have a nice low risk unit at Hexham (if you are low risk and can have a pool birth) x

It was closed due to short staff for me when I gave birth on Christmas Eve which I was disappointed about initially. But my birth experience in the delivery suite was amazing and the midwives are lovely. The pool was being used so unfortunately I couldn’t have a water birth but my midwife made me as comfortable as possible and I wouldn’t change a thing. I was 5cm and went straight into my own room. My partner got to stay a while in the room with me after the birth. I had my baby at 4pm and stayed in private room until 1am when I went into the shared ward.

Gave birth at the RVI in May 2022 on the labour ward but was sent to the birthing suite during recovery because it was “empty”. Had a private room and it was lovely! Went into spontaneous labour with my second August 2023 and the midwife who had discharged me from the birthing suite first time round ended up being my midwife with my second, she told me they’d closed the birthing suite due to lack of demand so they were being called up to the l&d ward due to demand! I mean you’ll get the same midwives and if you needed any intervention they can easily (I assume) get you up to delivery ward if necessary!

@Sara this is so disappointing! The centre sounds like it was great 😭

@Primrose thank you, 🙏🏻 I will look into it ! The pros of RVI is im so close ...my partner doesn't drive yet but has a provisional and would feel fine about doing the short trip to RVI with me in the passenger seat 😅 Hexham would be a lot more stressful but I could always get a family Member to drive or taxi 🤔

@Rachael aw this sounds so positive and lovely ! 🥰

@Lizzie yess that's what I'd like but lots of people here are saying it's closed now. Lack of demand :( that's a shame

@Sara let me know If you find out any new info or if you come up with an alternative! 🙏🏻 my friend went to cramlington instead , I've not looked into that yet

I’m planning a home birth as I know the birthing suite is closed more often than not! If I have any difficulties I’d transfer in but I wouldn’t be “low risk” enough for the birthing suite so wouldn’t make a difference. Was induced last time and did not have a good experience!

@Penny this is my back up plan too but I'm nervous about a home birth... the RVI just seems like it's up to chance what kind of room and experience you get and that doesn't make me feel comfortable. At least I'd have more control at home ! Only 5 mins away if i needed transferring :)

I spoke to my midwife a few weeks ago about this, I’m due in June. My first baby in November ‘21 I ended up on the delivery suite as baby was back to back and needed extra monitoring and then theatre to be born. This time I’d wanted to use the birthing centre and was worried with all the closures. The reason it’s closed is lack of midwife’s, there’s not enough to safely open some days. There’s a huge amount due to be starting fairly soon at which point they hope to have it open again all the time x

@Katie thank you Katie! I'll speak to my midwife at my next appt. Hopefully it reopens 🙏🏻❤️

@Frances would highly recommend preparing for free birth - that’s what I’m doing. Learning what to look for things going wrong and trusting my intuition for if I need help. That way if there’s a midwife available it’s a bonus 😂 feel free to message me if you want to chat about it!

@Penny thanks penny I will! Bit scared of free birthing for my first but I know what I'm like and I know minimal people and minimal interruptions is what will be best for me 🩷 hopefully can find a good compromise

I had my baby boy there on 13th December 2023 and I was really lucky it happened to be open, so I was able to labour in there, and ended up having my boy in the pool! It was such an amazing experience and it wouldn’t have been the same without the pool, it was such a godsend. I was only 1cm when I went in at about 1am, but it was really quiet, so they gave me a room after some monitoring to see if I’d get to 4cm within a few hours (which I thankfully did)! I ended up having a really quick labour and had him at 12 lunchtime. I totally put it down to how lush and relaxing the room was, and the amazing midwives (…and lots of raspberry leaf tea!) I really hope it opens in time for you. It’s such a shame it’s so unpredictable.

I wanted to go to RVI but after hearing the stories of the birthing centre being closed alot of the time I’ve now opted for NSECH

@Roslyn omg sounds dreamy 🥰🤰that's exactly what I'd like !! The unpredictability is rubbbish. My partners mum has a friend who is a midwife there so we are gonna try and get the inside info about July ... hopefully it'll open but if there's no guarantee I'm gonna have to pick cramlington instead x x

@Malissa leaning towards this myself now too. When are you due? X x

@Frances Seems the best option, I’m due in August 😍 xx

I gave birth at the rvi on 19th December and the birthing centre was closed. I was really lucky as I managed to get the only delivery room with a pool so I got to have a water birth which has always been my first choice. The staff there were amazing x

I wanted a water birth with my son, back in April 22. I was taken straight into delivery suits. I’m now pregnant with twins and due to being high risk, birthing centre is out the question. Xxx