Where is the best place to give birth in Leeds and Wakefield?
You have a few options on where to give birth to your baby in either Leeds or Wakefield, let’s take a look at them:
There are essentially 3 places that you can give birth to your baby (arguably 4), it’s worth doing your research during pregnancy so that you can decide which option will be best for you before you go into labour. This blog will take a look at places of birth and will then detail specifically the places to give birth in Leeds and Wakefield (this is still a useful read if you are not local to these areas). I will discuss some of the generic pros and cons to help you make a start when considering where to give birth.
First things first - It’s worth considering all of the below options and then weighing up the pros and cons that are specific to you. Remember, what might be a con to someone else might be a pro to you, really listen to your gut here and see what feels best for you.
Option 1 - A hospital (obstetric unit / labour ward)
A hospital is sometimes referred to as either an obstetric unit or the labour ward. This is essentially a part of a hospital that is dedicated to pregnancy and birth. For some people, in particular, those who are considered ‘high risk,’ an obstetric unit might have been suggested to you, it’s good to know that you do still have the option of home birth (see below) but a labour ward can be the right place to give birth for some people.
Things to consider when planning to birth on the labour ward:
They tend to be noisier, clinical and busier (however you can still transform your room into a hypnobirthing sanctuary, head to my ‘birthing on a labour ward tips’ blog post to find out how.
If you are considered ‘low risk’ then The Birth Place Study 2011* showed that birthing on a labour ward increases your chances of intervention (for example an instrumental birth, caesarean birth etc). It might be worth considering either a home birth or birth centre (below.)
All pain relief options are available here.
All medical professionals are available.
Hospitals in Leeds and Wakefield to give birth in:
Leeds - The Leeds General Infirmary. Click here for more details.
Leeds - St. James’s University Hospital. Click here for more details.
Wakefield - Pinderfields hospital. Click here for more details
If a labour ward is the right place for you to give birth to your baby, then check out my top tips for birthing on labour ward blog below:
Option 2 - A midwifery led birth centre (MLU) - Attached or freestanding
There are two types of midwifery led birth centres available (attached or freestanding.) An attached MLU is usually connected to a hospital or next to it, a freestanding MLU is one that is separate to a hospital and stands on its own. Both types of MLU are run by midwives only, so there are no doctors present, however if you do decide to birth on an attached MLU then the doctors are usually close by on the labour ward. If you decide to birth at a freestanding MLU and need a doctor then it would be a transfer to the hospital (usually via an ambulance). MLU’s are usually seen as the middle ground between a labour ward and a home birth.
Things to consider when thinking about a birth centre:
There are certain restrictions with MLU’s, not everyone is ‘allowed’ to use a birth centre so it’s worth speaking with your midwife if you would like to birth here.
The birth place study* conducted in 2011 showed that a birth centre was the safest place to give birth for low risk, first time mums and that it was also very safe for subsequent births too.
MLU’s tend to be well equipped for hypnobirthers, with dimmable lighting, birth pools, plenty of space, less medicalised and quieter.
Pain relief options include - gas and air, pethadine / diamorphine. If you were to request an epidural it would mean a transfer to labour ward.
Birth centres / MLU’s in Leeds and Wakefield to give birth in:
Leeds - Leeds General Infirmary (The Lotus Midwifery Unit) Click here for more details.
Wakefield - Pinderfields (Attached Birth Centre) Click here for more details.
Unfortunately, at the moment the free standing MLU at Pontefract no longer operates. There are currently no freestanding birth centres in Leeds or Wakefield - there is a one at the Bronte Birth Centre in Dewsbury.
Option 3 - Home birth
Anyone has the option to give birth at home, you might be advised not to do so but it is always an option. A home birth involves planning to birth your baby at your home. Two midwives would be present for the labour, one for the person who is birthing and another for the baby. You need to let your community midwife know in advance if you would like to plan a home birth and ask if there is a dedicated home birth team in your area.
Things to consider when planning a home birth:
If you do need to make a transfer to hospital then this would usually be via an ambulance. The midwives are trained to spot any complications very early on.
If you buy or hire a birthing pool then you always have the option of a water birth.
You can change your mind - if you book a home birth and then decide at any point that you would prefer to be in hospital, you can head to hospital.
Pain relief options include - Tens machine, birth pool, gas and air, speak with your midwife about stronger pain relief options.
Home births in Leeds and Wakefield:
Leeds - Click here for more details on home birth.
Wakefield - Get in touch with your midwife for more information.
What to do now when planning where to give birth:
Have a read of the links contained within this blog and create a list of pro’s and con’s specific to you for each place of birth. You could also have a chat with your birth partner and your midwife to share your thoughts.
Remember that you can change your mind about your place of birth, it is not set in stone. You do need to give some notice if you are planning a home birth / birth centre birth.
Have a read of the some of my clients birth stories below, we have a hospital birth, a birth centre birth and a home birth.
Positive Birth Centre Birth Story
My very own birth story at Pinderfields birth centre using hypnobirthing.
Positive Hospital Birth Story
A wonderfully, empowering hospital birth in the middle of the pandemic using hypnobirthing.
Positive Home Birth Story
A beautiful home birth in Wakefield, using a birth pool and hypnobirthing.
References: https://www.bmj.com/content/343/bmj.d7400