Where is the best place to give birth in Derby and Nottingham?
When it comes to birthing your baby, you have a few options as to where you choose to give birth.
A Labour ward inside a hospital
A birthing centre, led by midwives
Home birth
There are pros and cons for these options and we will explore these below, but please bear in mind that these are generic pros and cons, and it is important for you to consider what feels right for you. Everybody will have different feelings , instincts and reasons for choosing a place where they will give birth.
At your booking appointment, your midwife may ask you where you plan to give birth, and at this early stage you may not have given it much thought, so rest assured you can change your mind at a later date, just let your midwife know.
Labour Ward, Hospital, things to consider:
Often referred to as an obstetric unit, this ward is ran by Obstetricians (doctors who have specialised in childbirth) and midwives.
Those experiencing a ‘high risk’ pregnancy may have been suggested to birth here. Remember you make the choices!
A clinical environment, often busy and noisy. However you can transform the space into your own little birthing sanctuary!
All pharmaceutical pain relief options are available.
For ‘Low risk’ pregnancies, rates of medical intervention are higher on labour ward, compared to the other options. (Birth Place Study 2011).
Birthing Centre, Midwife Led Unit, things to consider:
Often a ‘home from home’ environment, ideal for birthing hormones and often well equipped for hypnobirthing women, with dimmable lights, birth pools, less clinical.
Ran by midwives, the experts in physiological (normal, natural) birth.
Some pharmaceutical pain relief options available, including gas and air, pethidine/diamorphine.
Home Birth, things to consider:
Your most comfortable environment, you can decide what and who is in the space, optimising your birthing hormones.
Dedicated home birth service in some areas will send two midwives for the duration of your labour.
Some pharmaceutical pain relief options available including gas and air, and pethidine (to be pre prescribed by a doctor).
Guaranteed a birth pool (available to hire or buy) if this is a preference.
In the case of a transfer to hospital, this is usually via ambulance. Transfer is rarely an emergency.
Some women may be advised against home birth, but it is always your informed choice to make.
You can find a link here to video tours of the labour ward, and birth centre at Derby and Burton.
You can find a list of maternity services near you here.
On a hypnobirthing course we will discuss your birth options in more detail and think about ways to make the environment perfect for your birthing hormones, wherever you give birth.
