Giving birth at a hospital not in your area?

[dinny]

God, am totally thinking ahead, but what are the chances of me being able to give birth at a hospital in London when we live in East Surrey (want to go to St George's, about 19 miles away) - can I insist on it?

thanks

[BadHair]

I'm not sure about London hospitals, but I was meant to have ds2 at Shrewsbury and requested that I had him at Chester, which is in a different county and therefore a different health authority. I had my ante-natal care under Shrewsbury then switched at about 30 weeks to Chester. I think it's an administrative nightmare for your midwife, but other than that then I can't see why you couldn't go to your choice of hospital.

[Ewe]

I was booked in at Kings as it was where I lived at the time of booking and then moved to Epsom. I was allowed to stay at Kings if I wanted - I was at one stage going to be having an elec CS and I was keen to stay at Kings for that.

However, I was then told I didn't need a CS and didn't fancy the car journey in rush hour. Although only 9miles it takes about an hour when busy! What hosp are you wanting to go to? And if you don't mind me asking, why?

[Ewe]

Sorry didn't read your in brackets bit. St Georges, St Helier and Epsom are all in the same trust and you have the choice of birthing at any of them if within catchment ~(as I understand it).

I had my DD at Epsom and she needed SCBU and was then transferred to St.Georges. I would say though that St.Georges can get VERY busy so it's worth looking at your local hospital just in case. It shut twice in the two weeks I was there visiting DD.

[dinny]

Ewe, East Surrey is my local hospital now. Have heard horror stories about it, plus had my previous two children at St George's, so would like to have this one there too, if I could

but obv the journey is a worry (19 miles)

[dinny]

hey, Hatrick - any sign of ds yet???

so if you lived here you'd go to St George's? What about getting there in time?

And have you any idea how I do it? ask mw/dr/who??

take care, lovely xxx

[dinny]

How long can you go over before they induce? have you tried reflexology? did the trick with ds...

right, will speak to midwife when I next see her.... can you send me your mob nmbr when next on FB? xx

[dinny]

really, try it, midwife did it on me when ds was 40 wks exactly and went into labour that night, SO sure it was that!!

yes, you are right...chances are it'd be nighttime anyway, so traffic wouldn't be too bad...

[1dilemma]

congratulations

[dinny]

thanks, 1dilemma