Anyone given birth at Peterborough City Hospital? Also, general birth questions!

[yelyahyoung]

Hi

This is my first baby and I’m not entirely sure what to expect. I am 35 weeks now and it’s gone so so quickly. We are planned to deliver at Peterborough City Hospital and I have a few questions about facilities since I don’t really have a midwife at the moment and just want to know stuff since labour is pretty imminent.
If anyone on here has given birth in this hospital and has any answers to my questions, I would appreciate it
So...
*Does this hospital have a birthing pool? I know that these are not always available but it’d be good to know that it could be a possibility. I don’t want to birth in the pool, but I quite like the idea of labouring in it to help relax me if I feel I need it.

*Are there rooms available that allow my partner to be able to stay with me if we need to stay overnight? I am aware some hospitals do not allow this and to be honest that scares the crap out of me lol, plus I don’t want him to be away from our new baby girl.

Are there birthing balls available for use or should I bring my own?
I think that’s all for now, as far as specific hospital questions go.

My other general questions are:
If you have an epidural, do you have to have a catheter? The idea of it freaks me the out... does it hurt/feel uncomfortable? Can you feel it being ‘inserted’? Lol!

*If you are induced, do you have to have the catheter? And if you don’t get induced, are there any other needles or drips that you need to have? I bloody hate needles, even after being prodded so much during pregnancy lol. I thought my phobia would have improved!

*How long is typical to stay in the hospital, provided you have a ‘normal’ uncomplicated vaginal delivery? For example if I gave birth at midnight or something, would we be going home within the day?

*What did you pack for your baby? I’ve finished my hospital bag but reconsidering it now! I have 2 short sleeved vests, 2 long sleeved vests, 2 sleep suits, 2 outfits, 2 pairs of socks, a pair of knitted booties, a cardigan and a couple of hats. Oh and a snowsuit and obviously a couple of blankets. And a few nappies and a pack of travel wipes.

I think that’s all for now...? Lol. Thanks SO much in advance for any answers

[katee90]

Hi, it's nearly 1am and I'm exhausted (only awake because baby is awake) so sorry that this is short - just wanted to say that you've really under packed for your baby. He/she could get through two vests and sleepsuits in a matter of half an hour (wee, poo, sick) related. Don't bother with a snowsuit - you definitely won't be putting a baby this young in one just to go home, especially because they can't be worn in a car seat. Bless you OP, so much to learn but very exciting times a head. Congratulations!

[yelyahyoung]

Thanks @katee90. I totally thought this. There are people who will say ahhhh you’ll only be there for 5 minutes what more could a baby need! But I really was worried about how much I actually had! You never know what might happen and how long you might be in there I guess! Defo gonna pack her some more today and thanks, I didn’t know that about the snowsuit. My mum had her baby in one in her car seat but didn’t think too much of it. She was a preemie so maybe it was ok to bulk her out a bit lol, I don’t know. So as it’s going to be fairly cold, what would you recommend instead of a snowsuit? I.e. I’ve packed a nice cardi for her, so she would have that and would blankets be ok? Or a coat? Nobody has told me anything regarding all this LOL. I’m guessing it will be fairly cold as she is due on 25th Feb.

[katee90]

@yelyahyoung yes absolutely you can end up being in longer than anticipated but even just your standard admission is likely to take up a handful of vests and sleepsuits. They can roll up really small so better to take too many than too few. What sizes are you packing? Re the snowsuit, it can compromise your baby's car seat safety. In order for a baby car seat or toddler booster seat to function properly, the straps need to be tight against the child's chest. Winter coats and snowsuits change the way a baby fits into the car seat. I'm assuming you'll only be moving from a warm ward to the car and into the house so a long sleeved vest, sleepsuit, cardigan hat and blankets on a cold day should be fine

[yelyahyoung]

@katee90 that was actually one of my questions, maybe you might able to answer (if you want lol) - how much time should I perhaps expect to be in the hospital? If all goes ok and with no complications of course.
The sizes I think are newborn but the short sleeve and long sleeve are different brands so the size variances are crazy lol. I was meant to pack some 0-3 too just in case she is tall or big.
Thanks so much about the snowsuit/coat info!

[Selfsettling3]

If the baby grows has feet in you don’t need socks and you definitely don’t need booties for a baby.

How are you planning on feeding? They will want to know the baby is feeding well before you go home.

There are different types if induction, it’s common to have a drip of fake hormone.

[yelyahyoung]

@Selfsettling3 ok thank you. I am planning on breastfeeding so hopefully that will go ok so they can see we are ok to go home. I have nursing bras and pads in my bag already. And some nipple gel should I need it. Regarding that kind of induction, do you have to have a catheter for that? It frightens the life out of me! Same as needles! It frightens me more than the thought of birth LOL

[yelyahyoung]

Also, I haven’t even started on a birth plan yet lol. Do I really need one? I’ve heard they don’t get read most of the time.

[TheGreyInThisCity]

Hi OP, I don’t know Peterborough City Hospital myself but I did some digging and I found this about their facilities which might answer a few of your questions: www.nwangliaft.nhs.uk/maternity/im-pregnant/place-of-birth-option/place-of-birth-options-at-peterborough-city-hospital/

Then for you other questions, in my experience with an epidural you would generally need a catheter unfortunately because you won’t be able to feel when you need to wee. Depending on how numb your legs are you might not be able to walk to the loo anyway and if your bladder is too full it can actually get in the way of the baby’s head descending through the pelvis. Normally it’s put in after the epidural so you shouldn’t be able to feel it. If you don’t have an epidural you probably won’t need a catheter. If you do I promise they aren’t that bad, the thought is worse than the reality!

If you’re induced with a pessary that may be all you need to kick labour off, but if that’s not enough you’ll be offered the drip. That goes in through a cannula, normally in the back of your hand. If there are any issues (eg heavy bleeding during the birth) then they may want to give you medication to help, and in some cases fluids, also through a cannula. In most uncomplicated births that’s not necessary though. The other thing is that you may be offered an injection to help deliver the placenta, info about that so you can make up your mind here: www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/labour-birth/labour-and-birth-faqs/do-i-need-injection-deliver-placenta

In terms of a birth plan, I think it’s helpful to have gone through the different scenarios and have thought about what you might want to do if that situation arises. It is also good to think about things like do you want skin to skin, are you happy for the baby to be given a vitamin k injection, if you need a caesarean do you want them to lower the curtain so you see the baby being born etc. There are some resources here that could help:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/how-to-make-birth-plan/

www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/labour-birth/making-your-birth-plan

Sorry that’s such an essay, but I hope it’s useful!

[Selfsettling3]

If you are planning on breastfeeding then stay and get as much support as you can. When you come home you are under midwifery care until day 10 - you can ask each day for them to come out the next day. Read the womanly art of breastfeeding, join local La Lache league Facebook group. Get lanshion nipple cream. Breast feeding is a skill that both you and your baby need to learn. Without good support lots of people really struggle.

I don’t have the answer about catheter but I’ve had one 3 times. First time time was as part of emcs, second was when I had spesis and I couldn’t wee and they need to check if I was not producing wee or just not able to wee and the third was because I retained placenta and emptying the bladder can help give it more space to exit. The last two times was just for a few minutes oppose to over night. I couldn’t really feel the catheter when it was and putting it in and remove felt odd but didn’t hurt. It was more comfortable and felt less invasive than a smear test.

[Selfsettling3]

I would suggest you either do positive birth company hypnobirthing and/or read positive birth book by Milli Hill. The course and book have the same name and are not related to each other.

Definitely do a birth plan. There is a great visual one that you can download for free and choose the ones you want.

[UnalliterativeGeorge]

Ooh I've given birth at PCH but have no idea about your questions as I had an EMCS!
I don't even remember them putting a catheter in but I had one.

Anyway you must be local ish to me so hello and good luck everybody was lovely when I was there!

[firstimemamma]

I'd forget the socks and also the 2 outfits - sleepsuits, vests and a hat is all you need clothing wise for newborns. I packed a few bits in tiny baby, a few in newborn and a few in 0-3m as you never know what size baby will need.

[firstimemamma]

Also I gave birth at 10pm - all straightforward and we only stayed for one night. We were home by 3pm or so the next day, mind you different area.

[mummymathsteacher]

A friend of mine gave birth there two years ago. It was a complex birth before 30 weeks so she was transferred there rather than her local hospital. She was very complimentary about the staff and care she received.

[AgathaVanHelsing]

Snowsuits are useless op, not just for cars but pretty much anywhere! The trick with babies is layers.

If I were due to give birth now I would be dressing baby to come home in a car in; long sleeved vest, socks, babygrow, cardigan/jumper, hat, mittens and a couple of blankets.

For outdoors in the pram I would add a coat and a third blanket.

Layers mean you can add and remove as needed. I learned this after spending loads of time one shopping trip constantly zipping and unzipping dc1 in and out of his snowsuit and we went in and out of shops and shopping centres.

It's a learning curve! 😂

[firstimemamma]

In our hospital my fiancé spent the entire night sat in an arm chair next to my bed and the little hospital crib thing just staring at the baby! Very little sleep for either of us (I was in a bed but not comfortable/ able to sleep).

My big tip would be to wake baby every few hours through the night for feeds for first couple of weeks (if breastfeeding, no clue about FF). We let baby sleep through in hospital and were told off by midwives for doing so! We then had a stressful couple of hours trying to get baby to breastfeed! We got there in the end and I ended up breastfeeding for over 16 months but I wouldn't wish that initial stress on anyone!

Good luck, you'll be brilliant.

P.s not always possible I know, but we packed olive oil and managed to rub some onto baby's bum soon after he was born. The big sticky first poo slid off his bum like a dream with the tiniest bit of cotton wool! Made things much easier for daddy!

[Clangus00]

Snowsuits and jackets shouldn’t be used in a car seat as they prevent the straps working correctly and render the car seat unsafe.

[Selfsettling3]

Get a star wrap for in the car seat.

[Spam88]

I had an epidural with my first. Didn't have a catheter, was given a bedpan to wee in but I wasn't able to so she used and in-out catheter (literally just goes in long enough to empty your bladder). Couldn't feel a thing. She even used anaesthetic gel despite me having an epidural, just in case! (FYI, she was the loveliest midwife ever). I did have a 6 hour catheter in afterwards but I honestly have no idea if that's because I'd had an epidural or because I had a tear next to my urethra. I ended up needing various things via IV (fluids, antibiotics, antipyretics, oxytocin). That was a spontaneous labour so you just can't predict it really.

Second birth was an induction. There's no reason to have a catheter if you're being induced (although I needed an in-out one to empty my bladder because my placenta didn't want to budge - that was a bit sore with them poking around after I'd given birth). If you get as far as needing the hormone drip then there's obviously a needle, but not if the pessaries do the job for you.

There is the injection in your leg to get your placenta moving to consider. I didn't even know they'd injected me so don't let your concern about the needle influence your decision about whether or not you want to consent to that.

[Spam88]

Oh also, you can't feel a catheter when it's in (and frankly I was grateful for not having to walk to the toilet 😂). And my second was a straightforward vaginal delivery - born just after 8:30pm, placenta took a while to make an appearance then my stitches took a fair amount of time, but we left about 1:30am I think. They wanted to see baby feed and for me to do a wee (they didn't need to see that!) before they discharged us. They possibly need to see that baby's bowels are working properly as well? Not sure on that one because my babies like to poo as soon as they make their entrance into the world 🙄

[AgathaVanHelsing]

@Selfsettling3 ooh is that the adorable thing the baby on the tommee tippee advert is in?

I just wanna smoosh them up!

[Selfsettling3]

I’ve not seen the advert. Here is one

[Mammabear31]

Hi OP, I've had 2 births at PCH and I cant speak highly enough of them. They were overworked and understaffed but couldnt do enough for us.

And in answer to your questions, they have 2 birthing pools, many balls and recliner chairs for parents/husbands to sleep in.

Hope that helps! 🙂

[peachespassionfruit]

I had one birth at PCH and unfortunately didn’t have the best experience- some good care but some really bad care too and I found my experience very disrespectful and undignified and was not listened to. This was 8 years ago however so perhaps not entirely relevant. I had my second birth 3 years ago at Hinchingbrooke and they were absolutely amazing and it was a wonderful experience.

At PCH I believe there are facilities for partners to stay overnight now and also the option to pay for private rooms.

Regarding length of stay- you cannot be ‘made’ to stay if you don’t want to. It’s up to you when you choose to discharge yourself and can do so against medical advice. However there can be multiple scenarios after having a baby where staying longer may be the best option.

Have you read any books on birth? I’d really recommend The Positive Birth Book by Milli Hill (it’s on Amazon)- it gives a really good overview on what is and can be involved in birth and all your options and choices in different scenarios.

[IrishPeaches]

Just to share my PCH experience... I have had one birth at PCH 4 years ago and am about to have another there too. With my first, I received the most amazing care during labour and after. The midwives that were with me during the birth were absolute angels and cared so much. They listened to me and made me feel empowered. I have also had a stay in the maternity ward during this pregnancy and I couldn't fault them then either. I must have come across around 15 different midwives during this pregnancy at the hospital and each one of them has just been so lovely and kind to me. I really love PCH and feel totally confident about having my next one there in next few weeks! Xx