maternity hospitals Hampshire?

[blushingmare]

Hi
I'm moving to the Petersfield area soon and need to decide on a hospital to have DC2 in in April. Can anyone tell me good or bad things about Portsmouth, Southampton, Chichester or Winchester? I need a hospital rather than a midwife led unit, although will still be hoping to use a birth centre if they let me. Thanks.

[bugoven]

I have chosen Queen Alexandra Hospital. I have heard good things from friends who have had their babies there and there is everything you need if things don't go to plan. There is a virtual tour and guide online through the NHS website I think.

[Newsofaarrived]

We had ds at Southampton as he needed an operation to save his life the day after birth - we had known since the 12 week scan.

Princess Anne maternity for the birth, then he was taken to Southamoton General (next door) the following day for his op. He was in the NICU for 13 nights then home.

If we had asked to have him in any other hospital from Cornwall to Brighton we would still have had to have an emergency transfer to Southampton.

They were lovely - great induced birth, really looked after me including automatically putting me in a private room so I didn't have to be with the mums who had their babies with them.

Highly recommend them. There's also midwife led units locally, including one at Ashurst which feeds in to Southampton if needed.

[vj32]

We had a choice of Southampton or Winchester. I chose Southampton as it is very marginally closer and I know neonatal etc is very good - they are the regional specialists for complex births so get people in from all over the south and south west. I thought they were brilliant in labour, postnatal ward was awful at night due to lack of staff but I think you will find that where ever you go unfortunately. I also ended up in the day unit a few times for different complications and they were great every time. Ashurst looks lovely if you are allowed there (I'm not!), went there for DS1's first check - lots of staff, lovely setting with beautiful garden and I seem to remember some deer nearby - may have just made that up though, was still on strong pain killers at the time so my memory of that period is a bit interesting! I know someone who gave birth there and was the only woman there at the time so had more than 1-1 care the entire time!

A friend chose Winchester and was happy with the service there - enough to choose to give birth there a second time, I haven't heard anything bad about it.

I have heard bad things about Portsmouth - know of two women who have chosen to give birth in Chichester even though they live in Portsmouth so personally I would never go there.

[Jo1984uk]

I had my dd at Southampton last year and I had a brilliant experience. I had a midwife with me the whole time and the postnatal care was much better than expected.

I have 2 friends who had awful experiences of Winchester. I had booked there myself but parking was a nightmare and I was told I could only have one birth partner when I did the tour. There was also only one birth pool at the time, but I believe this has now changed.

Good luck with your move and big decision

[Blueberry234]

First time I could choose between Southampton, Winchester and Salisbury I chose Salisbury and had a terrible time, really poor post natal and breast feeding care. This time I am going to Southampton and so far I have been really impressed.

[gruber]

Petersfield comes under Portsmouth, so if you need a hospital I believe it would have to be QA rather than St Richards (Chichester). You may not get to Southampton, it's quite a drive from peters field if you travel already in labour! QA has a midwife unit next to the labour ward so you can start in midwife led care (the Mary Rose unit) and transfer if needed. I recommend the virtual tour too, it's on the website.

I had my first DS at QA last year, after hoping for a midwife unit birth. It was absolutely brilliant. I was induced and in for a while, but had one to one care while in labour and brilliant post natal care. Spotlessly clean too.

[Mrscupcake23]

My daughter went to Portsmouth and thought it was brilliant .

[K8eee]

Chichester has gone downhill from what I've heard. I'm nearly 24 and was born there but I don't think the maternity unit has changed much apart from technology wise

[bLooming2]

I'm also due in April and going to qa Portsmouth had my son there 2 years ago and could not fault them one bit was brilliant also if you live in petersfeild they have the grange there wich is a low risk maternity unit so you have that option too and all your follow up appointments will be there

[Toptack]

I went to Winchester and it was lovely - massive room with pool, caring staff. I can see how parking directly outside the unit could be a problem, but I went in twice during the wee small hours and didn't have any issues.