Big decisions.

We are now only nine and a half weeks away from D-Day!
Since out last entry, we have made some big decisions.
Originally our choice of place of birth had been the Conquest Hospital in Hastings. We chose this place because... well to be honest, the Eastbourne DGH maternity unit is awful!

It's right in the middle of the hospital which means no windows to the outside world, the rooms are tiny and cramped and from our findings the staff there are more interested in what time they are finishing rather then your baby!

But Conquest seemed different. The rooms are larger there, the maternity unit is on an external wall and there is more freedom to do 'YOUR' thing!
So our mind was made up, Conquest it was...

Right up until Nicky sent me a link to the Crowborough Birthing Centre. This is a midwife led unit, It has 6 beds, is open 24 hours a day.

I had a look at the website and loved the look of it right from the start.
We arranged a visit (all you need to do is call about one hour before you want to go) but each time we called they were busy. They advised that a weekend visit may be better.

So, on Saturday 6 Oct, after a well deserved lay in, we called them and they said to come along there and then. We hopped in the car, set the destination on the Sat. Nav. and off we went.
It took us about 35 minutes to get there. We went in and started our guided tour, which really didn't take long as the unit is not all that big, but it is lovely.
The big room we saw had a few crystals sitting on the window sill. This made us feel good.
We were given the tour by a lovely lady called Caroline who is one of the Midwifes there (info: 'Midwife' comes from the Anglo Saxon 'Mid-wif' meaning 'With Women' describing the role.).
After our tour we sat down with Caroline and talked through our plans whilst she looked through Nicky's notes.
We were given a leaflet which advised us of the things to take in and also of the visiting times.
Unfortunately this was where our happy feelings were slightly put out.
Father visiting times are between 7am and 9pm. All fine and well you may think, but I don't want to leave Nicky’s side at all if I can help it!
We asked about this and the reason was that there is no provision for fathers!
As far as I can think, all I would need is a comfy chair!

We said that I would not be comfortable with having to leave Nicky, so Caroline said 'Why don't you have a home birth?'
We explained that so many people we have spoken to have said that for the first one, it is best to have it in a hospital, just in case anything was to happen!
Of course they are right.
Caroline said that as this pregnancy had gone so well there was no real issue with planning for a home birth, only had there been complication during this pregnancy would it not be advisable!

But we live close to the Eastbourne DGH, so were there to be a problem it would take only minutes to get there.
But this would mean that we would end up in the place that we don't like very much.

However...

Birthing at home is our ideal situation:-
A completely familiar comfortable surrounding,
We know where everything is,
Excellent Tea and Coffee Making facilities,
No visiting times to worry about,
We don't have to worry about taking a car anywhere or bringing baby home,
Nicky is completely in control over the birth that she wants.

And in an emergency we really would not care where baby and mum was as long as they were getting the best treatment.

So...

We have decided to have a home birth, with the Crowborough Birthing Centre as our second option.
Now all we need to get are some plastic sheets!