A home birth has never seemed so appealling (Hospital Births)

Member Name: jd001

Product:	Hospital Births
Date:	18/05/09 (58 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: I didn't give birth in the corridor

Disadvantages: Unorganised, didn't listen to me

I have three daughters all born in Whiston NHS hospital and although the care I recieved with the first two wasn't perfect I felt I was listened to and treated well, but it was the birth of my youngest which was the most distressing and still now 2 1/2 years later makes me feel down when I think about it.

After giving birth naturally twice before I think I was experienced enough to know, after a night of mild contractions that my waters had definately broken ( I heard and felt the pop and well it was obvious).

First off on arriving at the hospital the maternity car park was closed due to building work and the alternative was the new multi story across a busy dual carriage way, so we had to park in a staff car parking space at the side of the maternity unit, only to be told, in not very nice terms by a security gurad to move (so I told him in not very nice terms unless he wanted to risk me giving birth there and then he best let us go) On arrival in the maternity unit of the hospital and being taken into an examination room and without being examined the midwife told me that my waters hadn't broken and my contractions didn't seem to be causing me much distress so they'd observe me for half an hour and send me home, and sure enough half an hour later they were ready to send me hope despite my tears and assuring them that even though the contractions weren't showing on the monitor they were most definately strong and my waters had definately broken and my middle daughter put in a very speedy appearance less than 2 hours after my waters broke. Eventually after me practically begging they examined me to find I was fully dialated and did a swab which, guess what, confirmed that my waters had broken and then things went from bad to worse. I had to struggle round to a delivery suite past many people - partners and birthing partners while I struggled not to scream with each contraction and tried not to push, only to be told the floor in the delivery suite was wet and I would have to wait outside while they got a fan in there to dry it.

Eventually I got into the delivery room and gave birth minutes later and my daughter was quite lucky not to have been born on the floor in the corridor while the floor dried or in the car if I had let them send me home as they wanted.

CONCLUSION - At one of my earlier ante-natal appointments I was offered the option of a home birth and I dismissed it straight away, however given that choice again I would definately give it serious consideration. My advice to anyone is to find out more about the hospital speak to other women who have given birth their so you can make an informed choice.

Summary: Take time over deciding where to give birth-Make an informed choice