Anyone out there from Kidderminste area? Do I go for WRH or RHH?

[Pixxi]

Hi there
Sorry, am a newbie to posting on Mumsnet so apologies if I do anything wrong!
Am currently expecting 2nd child (DD 5 1/2), due 2nd Dec. At the moment am booked to have the baby at WRH but DH not happy with this (have had 2 bad in-patient experiences there in last 12 mth - not preg related). My most likely other option is RHH, Dudley but don't know much about it. Anyone else out there want to throw some advice my way?! Would be very grateful. Quite fancy the idea of water-birth if poss, is this an option at RHH? Haven't yet discussed changing with my midwife, but due to see her next Monday.
Many thanks (in advance!)

[TopBanana]

Hi, I've had a tour at RHH and it seems really nice. All the rooms are brand new and ensuite. They have got 1 pool room and they said they encourage women to use it as much as possible.
I'm due a week today so will be able to tell you exactly what its like soon. There was a thread somewhere about RHH, I'll see if I can find it. No experience of WRH though.

[TopBanana]

here is the other thread on RHH.
Hope that helps

[Pixxi]

Thanks for that. Yes please do let me know how you get on. Any idea how often they do the tours at RHH? Ensuite, sounds great!
All the best, hope baby doesn't keep you waiting too long!

[Pixxi]

Thanks for finding the thread, will have a read through

[TopBanana]

They do them evey Sunday morning at 9:45. You can phone 01384 244358 to book one. Its well worth going.
Thanks, I hope she doesn't keep me waiting too, I'm fed up already and not even got to my due date!!

[GeorginaA]

WRH - you mean Worcester Royal? I had ds2 there and had a pretty good birth experience - all the midwives were very good and knowledgeable (I spent a fair amount of time there too as I had pregnancy complications). I didn't stay in the ward though - opting to come home 7 hours after the birth instead.

Mind you, I'm comparing to Mayday Hospital, Croydon which was a terrible experience, and WRH exorcised a lot of birth demons for me.

Don't know anything about RHH in Dudley though, sorry

[Pixxi]

Thanks, will def give them a call.
I take it you know what you're having then? I know what you mean about being fed up - am heading toward that myself and I've still got 12 weeks to go! Ended up being induced at 41+5 with DD, am desparately hoping this one doesn't get quite so comfy inside!

[Pixxi]

Thanks Georgina. Really don't know what to do for the best at the moment. (Probably ought to decide before too long though - don't want to leave it until the last minute!)

[Pixxi]

Have phoned and booked myself in for a tour TopBanana. However, can't get in until 8th Oct (obviously pretty popular!), will probably have to decide one way or another before then but am still going for the tour anyway.
All the best for next week (or whenever!) and let me know how you get on

[GeorginaA]

Try and get a tour of both then make up your mind based on that

[TopBanana]

I'm having a little girl Really hoping I don't have to be induced - I'm looking forward to using that pool!
I agree with GeorginaA about booking a tour at both. As far as I know theres no time scale when you have had to decide by, I assume some people move house and stuff at the last minute!

[Pixxi]

Thanks both.

Yes will get booked in for a tour at WRH as well, and will have a chat with my midwife on Monday. Have got another scan booked for 34 wks (which would be here at Kidderminster), might be useful to wait until after then to change anyway.

Thanks again

[TopBanana]

Hi Pixxi, just wanted to let you know how I got on at RHH. Well the rooms and staff were lovely. The pool room was free so I used that. The midwife stayed with me all through the delivery (although it was only an hour).
The only thing I could find fault with is after I had her we were basically left from about 9am till 4pm. We were told the doc has to check the baby over before we went home and she would be there at 3 but she didn't turn up till almost 5. I was desperate to get home so I was quite annoyed but apart from that everything was fine.
Let me know if you want to know anything

[Pixxi]

Hi TopBanana

Thanks for that, glad to hear it all went well! Can't believe your labour was only an hour so am assuming you probably stayed at home for a while before going in! Lucky you actually getting to use the pool too. Did it make it much easier? Am desparate to get a go this time as I didn't amange to with my daughter, guess I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed. Looks very likely that I will change over to RHH as DH really not to keen on the other option (plus have now established that it's at least 15 mins closer too!)
Thanks for popping back and letting me know. I'm keen to try and stay in overnight anyway if I can so hanging on for the doc wouldn't be a problem (had to at WRH last time anyway before transferring back to my local midwide unit so wouldn't be anything new!)

Anyway take care and all the best to you and your new arrival.

[mumtodylan]

hi there, i had my ds1 (now 2.4) at the alex in redditch as i wasn't keen on WRH and their high section rate, although i have friends who have had babies there and said the care on delivery suite was great, but the postnatal care was not so good. i'm due number 2 in january and i'm booked for russels hall this time and so far have been impressed with the antenatal care i've recieved there...apart from the bl*y parking!!
apparently there is a pool (i'm really hoping for waterbirth this time round too) and most of the rooms you labour, deliver and recover all in the same room, so no post-natal wards with everyone elses crying babies!! you will have to let me know what it's like if you do choose RHH!

[lovelybird]

I had my DS at RHH 10 days after it opened and it was fab, I sed the pool which was great and the staff were lovely and the rooms all private and en-suite and yes you do labour, deliver & post recovery in the same room so no moving about. I posted on the other thread so more details on that but I would definately recommend RHH.

[squally]

Hi
am new to mumsnet so bear with me. I am booked in at alex in redditch for 2nd child (due Jan). given option of WRH but have heard lots of intervention happens there. Had DD in large yorkshire hosp. 3 years ago and had v. bad experience. never thought about RHH but wasn't given option as guess i'm too far away. (bromsgrove area). Mumtodylan - would be grateful for comments on Alex.

[Beauregard]

Hi Pixxi
There are a couple of us mumsnetters in kiddy

[mumtodylan]

squally, i found most of the staff at the alex really lovely and i had a student midwife with me the whole time, who was just a superstar and stayed on after she should have gone home, just to stay with me while i had my son and she came to visit me on post-natal ward too. i paid for a private room (was £90 2 1/2 yrs ago) rather than go on the postnatal ward as i had a really hard 32hr labour and a forceps delivery and i just needed the peace and quiet afterwards. i am convinced that if i'd have had ds at WRH i would have had a section due to the length of my labour and time it took to push him out (5 hours!). i didn't have a great birth experience tho, and i did feel like i was encouraged to have pethidine when i'd put on my birth plan that i didn't want it, although most of the staff were lovely and supportive (i saw so many different midwifes as the shifts kept changing!) oh and btw there is/was 1 male midwife there...i threw him out of the room in hysterics!! just to warn you! so i don't know if that really helps or not, i didn't get the birth i wanted but i don't know how much of that really was afected by the hospital i was in. i couldn't really fault the staff and they were really helpful with breastfeeding, something which i know WRH has a really poor reputation at.
i have chosen RHH this time and i'm in hagley (technically still worcestershire) so i'm sure if you wanted to book for RHH you should be able to, why not go on both the tours and see how you feel? the reason i'm chosing RHH this time is because they have a midwife led birth centre on one wing of delivery and i really don't want to have pethidine, epidurals etc this time and so if i'm on the midwife led side i won't be able to have them, even if i do scream for one!! as i know in my heart of hearts i need to do this one without the drugs iykwim
anyway, sorry for waffling on..i don't know if that's helped or just confused you even more!!

[Pixxi]

Hi

Thanks to everyone for replying. Have decided to def go for RHH this time (and hopefully the midwife led centre if poss), esp since it's closer to home too, now just awaiting my midwife to return my call so we can get the paperwork sorted!
As you mentioned Mumtodylan, found the delivery suite staff excellent at WRH last time (although that was 5 1/2yrs ago!) but not impressed by the ones on the post natal ward, esp with help on breastfeeding. Hence I transferred back to the midwife centre here in Kiddy as soon as poss. They were excellent, shame it's no longer an option. This one's due on 2nd Dec so (assuming I make it to RHH) I'll let you know how it goes!
Squally, I think it's definitely worth enquiring whether you could go for RHH. When I had my booking in I was given the options of WRH, Alex, RHH or Bham Womens so doesn't look like distance/county borders are particularly an issue.
Pelvicfloornomore, thanks for that, it's nice to know there's local people out there! Do any of you ever meet up at all?

Anyway, back to the chores I guess!
Thanks again everyone

[Beauregard]

Hi pixxi,
Yes there is a meet up being planned i think if you look in meet-ups

[Pixxi]

Thanks Pelvic,

Found the thread (I think) and have very cheekily asked if I can invite myself along next time!

[NomDePlume]

I had DD at WRH when it had just opened, 4 years ago, I had a great birth experience.

[squally]

Thanks Pixxi and mumtodylan
I've actually opted for a homebirth this time (because 1st experience was so awful), so it should only be an issue if I have to go in. Having said that i'll probably be screaming for an epidural after 10 minutes!
It feels like a first time in a way because birth of DD was so managed (it was like "have pethidine, have more pethidine, have the drip, have an epidural...have ventouse, have forceps").
The only thing I didn't get was the c-section!
DH has been told not to let me have anything on pain of death...
we'll see.....

[exbury]

Having just been on the tour of WRH, I am wishing I was close enough to one of the others to change my mind!! Mainly because the midwife giving the tour was SO patronising, but also if you had to spend any amount of time on the postnatal ward I think you would go nuts - rooms looked very cramped, and they also cheerfully said that the antenatal ward was closed and everyone crammed into postnatal due to staff shortages . I am booked for an elective C-Section (after emergency C-Section with DS) so not so bothered about the high intervention rates, but I really hope the midwife we met tonight is not typical. Also my community midwife said it was fine to take DS with me on the tour (not that I had much choice as DH is away), then we arrive to be told "you can't bring children with you" - what was I supposed to do - leave a 3 year old in the car?! - we compromised on not going into the labour ward in the end. Anyway, I think you have made the right choice, Pixxi.