Water birth MKUH

Has anyone ever had a water birth at MKUK? Was it a positive experience? I had a dry birth (would you call it that?!) with my first but would really like to try a water birth this time. I’ve read there are 2 pools but wondering if it’s just another myth they lead you to believe is an option like a home birth they try to push on you only to then tell you there are no midwives available!! As water births are very low on the monthly stats they release. Thanks!

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I'm not sure about recently but I had a homebirth last May and my midwife assured me that there would always be midwives on call which was the case when I went into labour. My homebirth was absolutely perfect and the midwives were superb. I chose to have a land birth. As far as I know there is a pool or two but obviously those are subject to availability on the day depending on how many women are labouring at the same time. What my midwife and consultant midwife told me is that if the midwifery team is short on staff, they enlist the help of midwives from Bedford and Northampton. Maybe try to speak to HoM or consultant midwife? Homebirth rates are unfortunately quite low in MK but they still occur according to their monthly reports.

There is two pools and when I was in labour with my first she said they weren’t available, this deffo wasn’t because they were taken though as I walked past a room with a pool in and the door was open lol. I would ring labour ward and specify you want a water birth when you’re in labour and due to come to Hospital c

@Bex that's quite unfortunate and shady of them. Every woman has the right of choice according to law/NHS. If it's available they need to put it to use

I didn’t have a pool birth as someone else was in the room when I got there (and I gave birth within 20m pretty much so no option to use it) but I saw the room prior to labour and it was a bloody nice pool, big and looked so comfy, I was devastated I couldn’t use it as was already pressured out my home birth :,) But the pool looked lovely and I was told it’s a rare occurrence for it to not be used as most people don’t opt for a pool birth x

I had a water birth in January and loved it. Everytime I rang triage I reminding them I wanted the pool and they reassured me it was still available so I'd keep letting them know when you call. When I got there they already had the room set up for me. But I know someone who wanted it and wasn't available for her birth so it really is luck if its free. 🤞 for you! x