Any Bristol bumps?

[Jjspoon]

Any mums to be in Bristol and surrounding areas?

Has anyone gone to look at any hospitals yet and had any thoughts or made decisions?

Where were your scans if you've had them?

Thanks!

[PrincessPlod]

I'm from Weston-s-mare

[PrincessPlod]

Posted too soon, I've had scans so far at Weston General but will be having some at St Michaels later on and intend to give birth there.

[Jjspoon]

Yay, I thought I was never going to get any replies! How far on are you? And why did you decide on St Michaels? I do like the look of their midwifery unit from what I've seen online but haven't been to see yet (too early)

[McBobby1]

Hi, I really like southmead birth centre (can't remember the proper name) it's midwife-led and that's where I had my son and it was a pleasant experience.

[Appletree4]

Hi both,
Just found this thread and I'm in Bristol too!
There's a southmead birth centre in Kingswood called Cossham which is where I'm booked. My friend had her baby there in January and it was beautiful!! The staff are friendly and the partners seemed really well looked after too.
I'm due 24/12/16 so may even get to sample their Christmas menu!

[SpottieDotty]

Yep, due 1/11 and booked into Cossham :-)

[McBobby1]

My cousin had her baby there (cossham) last year and she said it was a brilliant experience. She even compared it to being at a spa! I'd love to go there but it's a tad far.

[Carly321]

Hi bristolian mums to be. I'm in bristol and am thinking about where to have the bubba. Thinking of southmead because they have a midwife led unit and a delivery suite with Drs should you need further support.
Does anyone know anything about antenatal classes or groups!? I just want to talk to someone who is going though the same stuff but maybe I can also find this here! X

[MoonlightMojitos]

Hey Carly.. I'm the op but with a namechange :). I had a mc last time so stopped posting but have just had another bfp so thanks for reviving! When are you due? I think your midwife will give you more info on classes later on. I'm thinking of doing an nct course too though, mainly because I don't have any friends with babies or ttc yet so will want to make some friends.

Thanks everyone else for advice too. I do like the look of cossham but I'm too much of a worrier, especially expecting 1st that it's so far from hospital if anything did go wrong. I think I'm going to go with southmead mendip suite (midwife led unit) so it's close to main hospital just in case.

[Appletree4]

Hiya, I'm in a similar situation, have a small circle of friends in Bristol none of which have babies! I've looked around for some groups near by but haven't had any joy when I've tried to join them - little Om yoga never even answered my texts! I've booked onto a local NCT so hoping that might be the answer.

We went on the Cossham tour last week and it looks really great, they did say there was a 30-40 min transfer to southmead though if needed, which sounds a little long but I trust they know what they're doing.

When is everyone due?

[MoonlightMojitos]

Hi apple and congrats! I only got bfp last weekend, not due til first week of June so very early days for me yet but I got very over excited last time round and researched everything then lol. Glad you liked the look of cossham, I'm too much of a worrier for that transfer (and also a worrier that I won't be able to cope with the pain and will be demanding an epidural lol, although I hope not).

[Appletree4]

Hi moonlight, I completely understand, I'm a bit of a worrier too but I just think ill be so much happier there than at southmead so I'll give it my best and just hope I can make it through!

[MoonlightMojitos]

I went to cossham for first time on Saturday as had to see out of hours gp (didn't actually see the maternity unit) but oh it was lovely! Such a nice clean, new looking place and really relaxed atmosphere. Compared to St michael's and southmead where I've been for early scans that were much more 'hospital' like if that makes sense lol. They are very old school clinical like you imagine them to be (although I personally found st michael's staff alot nicer than southmead ones). Just though I'd add my opinion for anyone interested. Can't wait to actually go and look around properly.

[Wildidle]

I had my DS in July, opted for Cossham but ended up being blue lighted to Southmead (in evening rush hour!) due to meconium in my waters. Whilst it wasn't what I wanted, it ended up being the best place for us, as the placenta required surgical removal and my cervix tore in several places. Cossham is lovely, however you should definitely be prepared that things may not go to plan.

[BristolLFR]

Hi,

Sorry to hear about your MC moonlight, but congrats on the BFP. I went through something similar in Jan, now 31 weeks with the next pregnancy and due in December x

I'm really close to Southmead so debating a home birth. Going to tour cossham and Southmead tomorrow, but have similar reservations about a rush hour transfer from cossham. Ideally I'd just go to mendip suite at Southmead but it's being renovated so there's only one birth pool at the mo and I'm set on a waterbirth.

I'm currently maxed out on the classes! We were on hols in sept so waited til this month to join classes so we didn't end up missing weeks. I'm currently doing aqua bumps on a Monday (very relaxing), NCT on a tues and hypnobirthing on a thurs! Finding the hypnobirthing fab, there's a lot of general chat about anxieties etc so almost like getting therapy at the same time as lessons! I'm learning a lot from that, i'd say more so than NCT which is more for DHs benefit as hes studiously ignored all the books I devoured when I found out I was preg...

[MoonlightMojitos]

Thanks ladies!

Oh let me know how you get on after the tours please! I didn't realise it's being renovated, how long is that expected to go on for and what are they doing? I'll have a Google and see what it says. I also like the idea of a pool but not sure if I want to actually give birth in it yet, or just be in it during labour. Oh snap about the books. I'm nagging dp daily to read the one I got him so won't bother with any more!

[BristolLFR]

Cossham is lurrrvely!

4 rooms all with double beds and pools, and they'll have 2 ladies in active labour at any time (the other 2 can be people recovering). In reality people aren't in there any longer than 24 hrs as they only take low risk births and you'll get transferred to Southmead if there's any complications. They say they rarely have to turn people away. Transfer rate is around 40% for FTM, and only about 4% for those who've birthed before. But the 40% is as much those being transferred after birth (more severe tears, blood loss, help birthing the placenta, baby needs a bit of help or drugs etc) as during labour.

At southmead the mendip birth suite is closed until at least new year they reckon. But they've basically moved it up in to rooms right next to central delivery suite. There were 3 rooms, 2 with pools, and there are now 5 rooms but only one with a pool. The others are basically delivery rooms painted lilac with some mats on the floor. The pool room was lovely, the others were meh compared to cossham. You're not allowed to bring in your own pool. Once you've birthed you'll have an hour or so in that room then be transferred on to the mendip ward where they have private recovery rooms. Again, given its low risk births, you're not going to be in them for long, although min time is about 7 hrs as they have to do checks 6 hrs after birth. Advantage is you are right next to central delivery suite if something goes wrong.

If you're on central delivery suite, the rooms are basic hospital rooms like you see on One Born. You can move the bed out of the way and they'll give you mats/ balls etc for more active labour if you want it. Once you birth you get an hour or so to establish feeding/ have a shower etc then you move on to shared ward. Partner allowed to sleep in a chair (or bring their own camping mat!) the first night but then only come between 10 and 7 if you're in a while.

If baby is in nicu you'll be allowed in and out 24hrs, and probably get a private room on mendip ward.

I'm going to go and have a look at midwife ward at st mikes too. My main reason for wanting a home birth was to guarantee a pool, but after hearing that cossham is rarely full, I may take the chance. Reckon I'd phone Southmead first and go there if pool is free, then st mikes if similar set up to Southmead, then cossham if st mikes pools are taken. The midwife at cossham was lovely and said it's extremely rare they transfer in a genuine emergency, they generally know early if something isn't quite right and there's plenty of time for an ambulance etc.

I also wanted a home birth as I was keen to labour in water and thought if I'm in a pool at home in the early stages, I may as well just stay there. But, the midwife said you should only really use immersion in the final stages of labour so you get the benefit, if you're in it from the start you won't get the same relief when needed. She suggested just being in your bath, or leaning over your birthing ball with your shower running over your back (don't know how big her shower is!) to get the benefit of warm water in the early stages.

[LittleLight42]

Hi everyone, I'm only 5 weeks (oh my god I'm pregnant still can't believe!)...it's our first..and none of my close friends isn't there in their lives yet so if anyone fancies meeting up for coffee (decaf) or tea (ditto), I live in Horfield :)

[2014newme]

Mendip ward...spent some grim times there but did have own room. One shower for whole ward.
Midwives fainting from overworked. Hope it has improved! discharged too soon with an infection and then readmitted 5 days later.
I spent a total of a month in southmead and St Michaels after giving birth to twins. Transfer from St Michaels to Southmead during labour. 2 weeks nicu southmead then back to St Michaels for another 2 weeks.
Good luck to you all!

[Mummy2squish]

Hiya I'm in Bristol this is my second.
I had my first at southmead via c section. My midwife was based at cossham so I saw the unit regularly. It was always very calm! I also have a friend who gave birth there and have heard good things

I found my care was great with my c section I was lucky enough to go home after two days thankfully! Mainly cos I was going stir crazy on the post natal ward!

Will plan to have my next one at southmead as well.

[RasperryInAMelon]

Chippenham but living in London!

[MoonlightMojitos]

Oh sorry I missed your post before bristol thanks for the reviews!! I did think cossham looks v nice.

mummy2squish were on the June dates thread together so we may be giving birth in southmead together than haha

[user1467534828]

Hi all, I live in North somerset and due in may 2017. I am looking Into Cossham as looks and sound lovely. I am pregnant with my 3rd child, other 2 has been low risk. I had both previous births at southmead and did not find them that a great, visiting times are a nightmare and partner can not stay with you. I'm also interested in being in the birthing pool this time round. Can't wait for a tour!

[JunebabyT]

Hi all, I'm in Southville and have picked St Michaels for our DC1 due in June. I didn't look into the other ones in much detail as St Michaels is my nearest hospital and has a combination of midwife led with full hospital facilities so sounds like it has everything. I have been there a few times now for check ups as had some bleeds and the staff seem lovely, so am happy with the choice so far. Has anyone got experience of St Michaels ?

[Johno85]

Yay. Look at this lovely bunch of bristolians! I grew up in Bristol but living near chew valley but technically still classed as Bristol. Am going to st Michael's as need to be linked to haematology and cardiac teams for baby number one. If I had a choice I would definitely be MW lead and choose cossham!