Welwyn Garden CIty QE2

[RugbyWidow7]

Can anyone give me any recent information on this hospital please, with regards to personal experiences. I have read lots of bad reports and am currently scheduled to give birth there in the summer. Was also offered Luton and Watford but opted for QE2. Thanks!

[trixie123]

not quite what you are asking for but QEII is in the same "group" whatever, as Lister in Stevenage. I had DS there and will be having DC2 there soon. They are in the process of opening all new bits of the maternity area too. My friend had a crap experience at QEII but it was 4 years ago. One good thing about watford and L&D would be that you could (if you wanted to) donate the cord blood there to a blood bank, but you can't do it anywhere else.

[Trina82]

I've had 2 at the qe2 and found it all fine. My second birth was horrendous and my baby was rushed to scbu...they were all fantastic! I think every hospital will have people say fantastic/awfull, the thing with childbirth is a lot of what happens can't be planned for and the midwives have to go with the flow. A few people I know that have said they would never give birth at the qe2 again have had something go wrong but that would've happened anywhere...ie baby getting stuck/forceps/ecs x

[olivertulliver]

I had mine there - it was OK, not great but OK.

Luton & Watford would be worse, imo. I would avoid going anywhere near Luton, regardless of what L&D's like!

There's a highly rated birth centre at Harlow, or would that be too far?

[spanky2]

I was born at the QE2 in 1973!! My Dad wasn't allowed in and my Mum couldn't hold me as I was a month early and taken straight to intensive care. No lunch was given to my Mum (I was born at 11.30) my mum had no pain relief but the doctor that delivered me was very good looking. I expect things may have changed.

[FessaEst]

2 of my friends have recently had babies there, both had ok, not amazing, but not awful experiences. One of my friends who delivered at Watford has refused to ever go there again!

[knackered76]

I had my first at qe2 6 years ago which was okay. I felt the midwife I had wasn't confident which didn't help but it was fine. After the birth was a nightmare but that was the registrar who was stitching me, not the midwives.

The only thing I would say to be aware of is the high intervention rates they have there. It's one of the highest in the area. I currently have a student midwife 'following' me in this pregnancy who has recently completed her delivery time there and she also said she was surprised how much intervention took place.

I have friends who had theirs at watford and were all fine, especially the abc there. Good luck with your decision!

[GetDownYouWillFall]

Hi there I had my DD there 3 years ago. Am now pregnant again and won't be going back. I am booked to go to the Lister. Things are winding down there now anyway, as they are moving the whole unit to Lister, although my midwife said QE11 are still taking bookings up until November!

I basically had a 9 day hospital stay after birth of DD so hated the place with a passion by the end. I was forced to deliver with my legs in stirrups despite excruiating cramp in my legs and it still makes me cry the feeling of powerlessness and vulnerability I had during my birth experience.

I felt that the individual staff were all nice people, but they were so rushed off their feet, none of them could really spend any quality time with me. I really struggled with b/feeding and didn't really get much help.

[wilkos]

I had DD there 3.8 years ago and DS there a year ago next week. The staff and facilities were fantastic on both occasions although they were very different birth experiences.

With DD I had a massive panic and couldnt cope with the pain so I ended up with an epidural and a very long, very underwhelming birth. I didnt deal with the labour at all well - but the midwives were fantastic and extremely capable and were so patient with me even though looking back I was probably a massive pain in the arse for them to deal with. having made a big noise at about 2am that there was no way I was going home (despite being 1 cm dilated and really only having mild contractions I was absolutely petrified) they allowed me to stay on the ward. After about 20 mins my waters broke in the bed, so I rung the bell and a little nurse appears from nowhere and bless her says "oh well done dear you are clever!" like I had anything to do with it! Will never forget her, she was lovely and gave me a boost that really appreciated.

With DS however had a brilliant experience, with a wonderful hands off midwife who read my birth plan and just quietly got on with running the birth pool (which I had actually forgotten about requesting ) He was born in about 4 hours from established labour to birth and was born in the pool which was just amazing. It was such a wonderful affirming experience for me that gave me back my confidence after DD's arrival.

I am so glad I demanded QE11 even though my surgery went on about how it was such a ball ache I wasnt going to Watford (living in Bricket Wood at the time). The reason I didnt choose Watford was because I felt very strongly that I just could not have my baby there, I can't really quantify it but I just had this sixth sense that I could not have a baby there. It just made me uncomfortable even though at the time I had nothing to prove why I felt that way.

In the end I was glad I chose QE11, as all 3 of the women from my antenatal classes who gave birth at Watford had traumatic labours ending in emergency C sections, and all of them said it was dirty and unpleasant and they couldnt wait to be home.

Have moved recently and we are considering a third DC, am really sad I won't get to have her/ him at QE11 as well!

[RugbyWidow7]

Thank you so much for all your responses. It's so useful and thanks Wilko for reporting your lovely sounding experiences at the QE11 and staff there.

I'm going to keep my delivery with this hospital I think and am really looking forward to it!

Thank you!

[mouffloncake]

Hi RugbyWidow :)

I'm due to give birth there in June. Like you, I heard mixed reviews & got a major bee in my bonnet that i didnt want to go there.

Anyway. Long sotry short. I dragged dh around qe2, Harlow & Lister on the tours you can do of the maternity units.
Having seen the places, it really helped me to make a decision & as it happened, qe2 was the hospital that, for me, offered the most choices.

Have you been & had a look aroud?

Good luck

(Lister will be amazing btw when it is complete which sadly wont be in time for me).

[GetDownYouWillFall]

mouffloncake do you know when Lister will be fully ready? I am booked in there for September... hoping it won't still be a building site!!

[mouffloncake]

GDYWF
I think they will close qe2 by November. The only areas complete at the moment are the main reception & delivery ward. It's beautiful. Very clean, light & airy, modern. The pre & post natal wards had yet to be refurbished & they are building two more pools I believe. I would have thought mist of it would have been done by Sept.
There weren't builders milling around when we went on the tour so once you're in, it didn't feel like a building site dispute the extensive works in the hospital grounds.
Hth
Good luck :) x

[GetDownYouWillFall]

Oh great, thanks mouffloncake that is great to know!

Good luck with yours too!

[Sierra19]

I delivered at Lister couple of weeks ago. At the moment the ante and post natal wards are still the old ones but the new delivery suite and theatres (and neo natal unit if required) are open and are lovely (as a hospital can be). I was in for nearly a week and even though the wards look a bit crap at the moment, I found the level of cleanliness extremely high.

My nearest hospital is QE2 but went to Lister as it is near to work (better for appointments etc). Some Of the staff at Lister were great, some not so.

Am under QE2 for community midwives though and they have all been fantastic.

[trixie123]

the consultant led new bit of Lister is open now, MW led unit due to open late summer / early autumn. Wards are still the same (but were fine).

[RugbyWidow7]

Moufflon, I haven't been for a look round yet but hope to before too long. Really interesting to hear your thoughts on those you viewed. The Lister sounds great but is a good distance further from us I think. I feel quite encouraged about QE11 and will look forward to looking round to make a final decision. I'm due late August, so sounds like the Lister won't be fully ready by then (thanks everyone for the info) but I'll do some further digging.

[PinkFondantFancy]

I just wanted to re-activate this thread to see if there's any more thoughts? I'm going to be moving to WGC (fingers crossed!!) this summer and my baby is due in September. I was thinking about going to the Lister, and am planning to have a look around in a couple of weeks, but am interested in people's comparisons of QEII vs. Lister. I was told that the MW-led unit at Lister won't be open in September unfortunately.

[GetDownYouWillFall]

If you wanted a good Midwife led unit PinkFontdant then Harlow (Princess Alexandra) may be an option for you? probably only a 25 min drive from WGC.

[PinkFondantFancy]

Hey getdown I remember you from the TTC threads!! How are you?? I still love your name

[gillykins2011]

I had ds1 there 3.5 years ago and qeii was fine - it's not the most modern hospital and bits of it (not the maternity unit!) are truly disgusting in terms of decor/cleanliness but the care I received was great and I like the fact it feels like it's mw led but there is a lot mire behind the scenes if you need it. I was left alone with my husband for alot of my labour which worked for us but might nit work for everyone! For this preggo, ive had a few more complications and have been very well looked after in terms of monitoring/care and again the nice bit is that they know me which you don't get in a larger hospital. I have to go in a lot on my own as my dh works away and they are so lovely to me, making sure that I am never on my own for too long.

I have had 2 ECvs there too where they looked after me like a patient rather than a piece of meat - the only thing I have had an issue with is a couple of the registrars who I found to be really disappointing in terms of competence and decision making but again cos its a small unit I then got straight to talk to a consultant who I now know too. The lister unit is supposed to be awesome and will be fabulous when it opens but it doesn't feel like the qeii is dropping it's standards of care until then.

[RugbyWidow7]

Just to hop back in, that's really interesting GillyKins, thanks for the info.

To update, I recently had a tour of the QE11 maternity ward and labour unit and it was fine. As you say, not the most modern, but I feel really happy about giving birth there. The staff have always been very friendly and the facilities looked good. I haven't seen the Lister, but am pretty happy with the QE11 now. It would obviously be good if it was all brand spanking new, but hey ho. It's clean and friendly with good facilities. (may try to avoid the registrars though! )

[PinkFondantFancy]

Thanks gilly that's v interesting as my worry was really that the standards would start to drop now that it's known things are going to the Lister.

Rugby can I ask-did you need to book your tour? I tried to call them yesterday and after the switchboard put me through the phone just rang for 15 minutes unanswered before I got bored and gave up

[RugbyWidow7]

No you don't need to book PinkFondant. They run the tours from 3pm on Saturdays and Sundays. You do need to ring up in the morning to check they aren't too busy to do the tour though. I was asked to call back to check at 2pm, then the tour took place at 3pm. Hope you get in to see it soon!

Gilly, if you're still around, do you know if the QE11 do mobile epidurals? Thank you!

[GetDownYouWillFall]

Hi there pinkfondantfancy I remember you too! I am doing well thanks, 27 weeks now! Time is really flying. How are you?