Moving to Ascot area - where to have baby?

[twosofar]

This is all totally hypothetical as we are not yet moving and I am not yet pregnant, but we are looking to move to the Ascot Sunninghill area next year and I would like to try for another baby at the end of this year/beginning of next. DS1 and DS2 were both born at Kings in London and I was lucky enough to come under the care of the Oakwood midwives, who are attached to my GP practice and who did all my antenatal appointments at my home, brought gas and air to the house while I was in labour, then accompanied me to Kings where they delivered my babies (they are NHS). After such great continuity of care I am a bit apprehensive about going somewhere unfamiliar with a system I am not used to..and then finding out it's the worst hospital in the world!
Any advice gratefully received

[weaselbudge]

I had DS at St Peters, Chertsey at the end of last year and had an excellent birth experience. There wasn't any continuity of care beforehand though - but I didn't mind this as straightforward pregnancy. i even got a private room afterwards. Much cleaner and better than any london hospital I've been to (although have no experience of Kings). Only issue was they were really shortstaffed after the birth so took ages and ages to get paracetamol, drinking water etc - I checked out as soon as I could for that reason.

[twosofar]

Thanks Weasel. I also know someone who had a prem baby there and had a very good experience. Didn't realise this would be an option for me from Ascot - great.
I went home with DS2 from the delivery room 2 and a half hours after he was born, so fingers crossed things would go as well for me and I wouldn't have to go onto the ward at all. Was exactly the same for me with DS1 in Kings by the way - my midwife gave me some strong painkillers she had in her bag before she left me there and told DH to leave me paracetamol so I self administered every 4h - was by far the best option!!

[vinblanc]

If you are in Berkshire, your principle hospital is Wexham Park in Slough. You may be able to opt for Heatherwood, Ascot if you are definitely low risk. There are nearby hospitals in Surrey - St Peter's in Chertsey and Frimley Park in Frimley Green.

I had a baby in St Peter's and it was a good experience. I also have friends who have had babies in the other three hospitals I mentioned with equally good results.

[LadyOfWaffle]

Try and get into Frimley Park. Heatherwood is forever being closed and although midwife led and friendly, they do not have the facilities of a larger hospital and from my experience and alot of other people it's an awful place. Wexham isn't very good either, but at least it's larger. Frimley is far and away the best in the area, excellent care there. If they don't let you go there , Reading is better than Wexham. Avoid St. Peters like the plaque.

[LadyOfWaffle]

plague, not plaque!

[vinblanc]

Yikes, Royal Berkshire is miles away from Ascot. And St Peter's is fine. No need to scaremonger.

Wexham is fine too, although not particularly handy for Ascot. But Berkshire is a strange county.

[twosofar]

Bloody hell ladies, I think i might stay put! Why is Heatherwood being closed? Do you mean because it's full? The births of DS1 and 2 were both very straightforward - no drugs, no intervention, 7h active labour with DS1, 3 and half hours with DS2 so I'd hope to be low risk for DC3. Whay is it awful - do you mean short staffed, dirty??
Why avoid St Peter's like the plague? Frimley reminds me of the darts - DH would love that.
Makes me realise I haven't a clue what the hell i am doing!

[LadyOfWaffle]

Short staffed I think was the reason it closed last time - it opens and closes, not sure if it's open at the moment. I will ask my mum about St. peters, she works for the NHS in clinical audit and is always saying how bad her reports are for St. Peters, not exactly sure why though. On a national level Wexham is fine, but I really would chose Frimley, then secondly Reading

[LadyOfWaffle]

Heatherwood midwives have been not very good - because I live in bracknell, I am in their area so had ante natal and post natal care with them, though gave birth at Frimley. I have had SPD missed , then diagnosed too late for treatment at Frimley, was left 4 days with no midwife (baby born Thursday - too short notice for Friday visit, they don't do Sat and Sun, and Mon was a bank holiday) and had a temp of 40 on the Friday night and was told they would check me out on Tuesday. Rang Frimley ( where I delivered) and they had me and my baby on a drip within half and hour of the call. Again, bad reports from my mum, not good facilities, not sure you can get an epidural 24 hours etc. Frimley recently got the highest grade possible on a nationawide survey, one of only a handful nationwide. I cannot stress enough how great Frimley is - to the point if they refuse to let me birth there with no.3 (due to where I live, near Frimley but techinically under Heatherwood care), I will sell and move.

[twosofar]

Farking hell - so glad I have found this out... very useful thanks Waffle

[NewPenName]

Well I found heatherwood to be fantastic! Not modern (and yes, does close when full but not so often), but lovely midwives, lovely chilled atmosphere (so different from unfriendly London hosp where dc1 was born). I had no problem with the midwives whatsoever. Nowhere's perfect but good luck!

[littleducks]

Heatherwood hosp is ok, but is is an old TB hosp (think lots of wards in small seperate buildings where you have to walk outside in the corridors) The only issues i had is that is a small mlw unit, but if any probs occur the send you in ambulance to wexham 20min ish drive

I had dd 3 yrs ago at the birthing centre at Wexham Park, it was good the unit was clean and comfy. If there are probs there is a labour ward you can be moved to and there is a scbu. I was going to have ds there also (although birth cert says Slough)

I had ds at home delivered by paramedics, after a 3hr ish labour with dd so I would strongly consider the time to get to the hosp when making the decision. I have friend who have babies in John Radcliffe etc. and rave about the care and facilities but i would never book into a hosp too far away as i wouldnt last the journey

[NewPenName]

Heatherwood also offer good support for homebirths, know several people who've done this.

[LionstarBigPants]

I've heard horror stories of Wexham and Heatherwood (from work colleagues), but had nothing but a positive experience at Frimley - the care was excellent (even if the decor is a bit shabby in places)

[twosofar]

Thanks everyone, very useful - glad to see i'm not the only one who is concerned about what it says on the birth cert