Moving to Nr. Pontypridd - Homebirth or Birth Centre? And local questions!

[Beartime]

We are hoping to move to near Pontypridd in time for my second birth, and I am trying to figure out if I want to give birth in a birth centre or at home. Fron reading it looks like Caerphilly Birth Centre would be the way to go if I did do that option. Can anyone help me with this decision? Also what are the community midwives like with homebirths, and where would I betransferred to from pontypridd etc. Here are my advantages for both sides as I see it:

Home birth:
Don't have to farm off ds (will be 18mths) anywhere, which could be difficult as we won't know anyone there!
Certainty of being able to use birthing pool at ;east for labour - whereas in centre, they might not admit me for a while, and then what if someone else is using it?

Birth Centre:
I Could be spoiled for a little bit after birth which I could have done with more of last time after ventouse and episiotomy,though I don't know how long they let you stay? Oh the thought of someone bringing me meals
Would be more sure of good midwives - had bad experience with homebirth community midwife last time, who gave me no help on labour positioning and other things weren't that great either. And am afraid with home birth that I might get a midwife who isn't experienced inhomebirth, unless I can have the Caerphilly ones, which might be possible - not sure.
If I had to transfer I think I'd be transferred to Newport which is fine, whereas I might be transferred to Merthyr from a home birth which has a bad c/s rate. Though it might be Cardiff - I don't know.
Don't have to worry about what to do with person who will be staying in our house at the time - i.e. how to get rid of him for my home birth!

[Beartime]

bump

[BrummieMomInMerthyr]

Hi Beartime! as you can guess from my nickname, i live in merthyr!! When i was pg [ds is now 8 months] i couldn't praise the midwives and prince charles hosp enough, and i'm a nurse so i can be quite picky!! the support and advice i got ante and post natal was fantastic esp when i had probs bf. i was induced as well, and again, couldn't have been happier (apart from the pain of course) not even a mention of c/s. i think there is a lot of bad press about merthyr and pch, but you do only hear about the bad stuff I think though if you needed to be transferred, it might be to the royal glamorgan in Llantrisant, then perhaps UHW in Cardiff. I personally would go for the birth centre, again, the nurse in me would go on the cautious side!!! enjoy being spoilt!! where are you moving from? good luck anyway, whatever you choose to do!

[Beartime]

Thanks for the info - its good to hear that Merthyr's not bad - I just got my info from the birthchoice website on C/S rates. Hmmm not sure where Llantrisant is - better go look it up Moving from Kent - so improvement for me as I love Wales

[BrummieMomInMerthyr]

I much prefer living in Wales too!! Llantrisant is just a little bit further down the A470 from Ponty, so quite close to you. There are loads of MNers in south Wales, CAT me if you need any more info and i'll try my best to help!!!

[CallieNewYear]

Hi Beartime

The Caerphilly Birth Centre has a good reputation (and also an excellent breastfeeding support group apparently). I think if you went there you may be transferred to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff - a friend of mine was looking into it and that's what they told her, although she lives in Cardiff so maybe that's why. If not, probably Royal Glamorgan - a doctor friend of mine (who lived in Cardiff at the time) chose to have both her kids there after spending time working there because she said it was great, so if you do end up going there, should be ok. I'm sure CBC could tell you their transfer policy if you gave them a call anyway.

Another friend who lives in the Rhondda Cynon Taf council area, which as I'm sure you know Pontypridd falls into, had her first child at home and said it was an excellent experience. Apparently the council or health board in the area are really pumping money into and promoting the home birth service so I don't think you need to worry about getting an inexperienced midwife at home - I would imagine if anything it would be the other way around tbh.

Hope this helps. When's your baby due btw?

[Beartime]

Thanks for all the help! You've put mymind at ease more about the Royal Glamorgan and homebirth there so that's good. I also have done some searching on the Internet which has helped. I still am not sure but leaning more towards home now, especially since I have found that the Royal Glamorgan is good. And after deciding that I'd rather have a C-section and live baby than no c-section and dead baby - as Royal Glam has a higher c-section rate, but Caerphilly has higher stillbirth rate (by intended place of birth). Still not sure whether all midwives at Royal Glam would be water birth trained, but I guess i could always get out for that bit That's a reallygood advertisement that your friend wanted to givebirth there after working there - usually its theother way round!
Baby is due 27th June, so a while yet, but I need to think ahead while I have time to think and notmoving house!!

[tron]

Royal Glamorgan was fantastic for me. I was meant to go to UHW but they were too busy and cancelled my induction twice, i was 12 days over, they made me feel like i was a hassle to them but when i got to Royal Glam they couldn't do enough for me, they were happy just to talk to me and the consultant even drove in from home on a saturday morning in the pouring rain to speak to me about needing a c section. The hospital was clean and staff were so friendly plus they have a really good attitude to promoting breatfeeding, they will help you and sit with you and encourage you and they weren't really strict on visitors and even gave the visitors cups of tea. I think theonly advantage UHW has is tv. plus parking at royal glam is better/easier and the traffic is alot lighter so if you do get transferred in you won't really but stuck for ages

[tron]

can i add i needed cs because i'd prev had em cs. new babe was high up and bck to back and when i'd had sweep the day before my scar was very very painful - i think the hig cs rate is because covers a large area and lots of mlus around now

[jofeb04]

Hiya Beartime,
Just want to let you know that I am a Doula living close to you (going cheaply as well!), or will be when you move!

Email me on

welshdoula_therapist@ yahoo dot co dot uk

I can offer you support through whatever you choose.

[Beartime]

Thanks for the recommendations Califrau and tron, at least I will feel pretty happy either way now - now I just need to hope the Royal Glam Midwives support water birth at home! Apparently they'd be the ones I'd be under.