Where are you going to give birth?

As you are reading, this women all over the world are giving birth in many different types of places. Some in hopsitals and some in cars on the way. Some in fields and some in birth huts. Some in igloos and some in tipis.

There are as many ways and places a woman can give birth as there are women in the world. Finding the right way for you is a unique decision only you can make with your partner.

The most important features in your decision making is that you feel safe in the place you decide on and trust the people you choose to be there and your caregivers. These factors are essential to allowing the birth process to unfold. The reasons being that when you feel safe, you are more relaxed. When relaxed, the birth hormones flow freely increasing the momentum of labour until the baby is born.

If there is anxiety or inhibition, adrenaline (the fight or flight hormone) is released. Increased levels of adrenaline neutralising the effect of oxytocin. This has the effect of slowing labour which can bring about the need for intervention.

Each woman and partner have a different set of circumstances and will make a choice that feels right for them.

If you decide to give birth away from home, try to visit the hospital or birth centre more than once. The more you feel at home and familiar with your surroundings the more relaxed you will be to surrender to the labour process.

The choices available in Hertfordshire are:

NHS Hospitals

Birth in an NHS hospital with or without a doula

Luton & Dunstable Hospital
Lewsey Road, Luton, LU4 0DZ
01582 491122

Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Welwyn
Howlands, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 4HQ
01707 328111

Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury
Mandeville Road, Aylesbury, HP21 8AL
01296 315 000

Watford General Hospital
Vicarage Road, Watford, WD18 0HB
01923 244366

NHS Birth Centres

Birth in an NHS Birth Centre with or without a doula.  You have to have had a healthy pregnancy and be close to term to give birth there. You have to be under a certain age. Criteria of eligibility vary from one birth centre to another. The nearest ones are:

Hemel Hempstead Birth Centre
Verulam Wing
Hemel Hempstead Hospital, Hillfield Road, HP4 2AD
01442 287460
Type: Stand-alone NHS midwife-led unit.
If there is a problem you will be taken to Watford Hospital

Alexandra Birthing Centre
Watford General Hospital
Vicarage Road, Watford, WD18 0HB
Tel: 01923 244366
Type: Midwife-led unit; also consultant unit.
If there is a problem you go to the labour ward upstairs.

Edgware Birth Centre
Edgware Community Hospital
Burnt Oak, Middlesex, HA8 0AD
Tel: 020 8732 6777/6669
Type: Stand-alone NHS midwife-led unit.
Like a 5 start hotel!. 
If there is a problem you go to Barnet Hospital

Birth at home with a community midwife

You get to know her.
With or without a doula. 
Not all areas encourage this. 

Birth at home with an independent midwife

You get to know her.
With or without a doula.  You don't always need a doula as an independent midwife can offer emotional support as well. 
You pay for her services and she will attend your birth as well as having backup for unforeseen situations  Independent Midwives are usually very experienced and can safely deliver breeches and twins vaginally.

Domino Delivery

An alternative to home and hospital.  Available in some areas.  You stay home for most of your labour, You come home very soon after giving birth, Your baby is delivered by someone you know.  (with or without doula).

Private Hospital

If money is no object you may like to try one of the best: St Johns and Elizabeth Hospital which offers the best of the medical world and a holistic approach.

Resources:

www.independentmidwives.org.uk
www.birthchoice.co.uk - lots of info and stats about each hospital maternity units
www.homebirth.org.uk - lots of info & some research by BMA about home birth shows that it is at least as safe as hospital for healthy women with healthy pregnancies
www.doula.org.uk
http://www.aims.org.uk/pubs2.htm - lots of informative publications about birth

Remember - it is your body, your birth and your baby and probably one of the biggest life changing events of your life.  It is never too late to reassess your decisions if you feel birth will be easier with other choices.

Please call Tamara on 01923 260050 to have a chat about how we can help or email info@womantomother.co.uk