Rosie Birth Centre

[rosegoldie]

Hi ladies,

I am hoping to use the Rosie Birth Centre in Cambridge to have my baby who is due next month.

I was wondering if any of you have recently given birth there? If so, I would love to hear your experiences.

Or similarly, if you gave birth on the delivery unit there, I would also love to hear!

If I end up getting epidural I don't believe I will be able to stay in birth centre so will probably be transferred to the delivery unit.

Thanks!

[CinnabarMoth1]

Place marking as I'm also interested... Not pregnant yet but would hope to use the Rosie as I was born there! It was great 27 years ago by all accounts!

[Paddybare]

Both of my children were born at the Rosie, one in the birth centre and one on the delivery unit.

The birth centre is amazing and still feels very new. All the rooms are huge, each with a pool, ensuite bathroom and a pull-down double bed. Some also have direct access to a courtyard. It's true that having an epidural would rule you out of giving birth in the birth centre though, as would any other complications, perhaps even minor ones. You really do need to be a straightforward case to be admitted.

The delivery unit is much more functional than the birth centre and although there is at least one pool, it feels much more hospital-like than the birth centre. That said, it's still a pleasant environment.

I couldn't fault the care from the staff with either birth. The midwives were truly fantastic.

Happy to answer any specifics if you want to PM me.

[Clairejessica123]

I got induced at the Rosie and gave birth in the delivery unit, followed by a baby in special care and a night in the transition ward.

Ladies on induction ward were friendly but not always helpful. Very much depended who was on shift. Induction took 5 days and they messed up booking me in!

My midwife was awful! Really really awful in delivery! For months afterwards I couldn't talk about it. We ended up in theatre and the team there were great.

Special care baby team were amazing! Can not fault them! We went home after when baby was 5 days old.

I've heard great things about the birthing centre but I would be put off using the hospital myself. However it is not my local hospital I a, closer to bury st Edmunds however we needed the special care unit there and knew that would be the case ahead of time

[Emz32]

My DS was born there 2 years ago. We chose it on the good reputation which for me, it doesn't deserve. I had hoped to use the birth centre but my waters went unexpectedly at 34+6. No prior warning & had been a low risk pregnancy.

I went straight into the main hospital at 1am. I was seen to straight away & told I'd be monitored to see what happened. I was then left for hours in a boiling hot room. We had no bag or anything as it had all been a panic. they were severely understaffed. Every few hours someone popped their head in but didn't stop to talk or reassure 2 first time parents who were worried. I had had severe morning sickness throughout my pregnancy & they kept promising medication (that I hadn't got with me), but it was forgotten so I spent hours vomiting, which meant I was severely dehydrated by the time I came to give birth. I was passed round the midwives & saw 4 in the space of 8 hours. It was a chaotic atmosphere that only made things worse for us. The midwife who delivered my son I met for the first time as I was wheeled in to push. She was amazing & was the saving grace. However I was informed she didn't deliver babies anymore as she was the head honcho. My DS was whisked straight off in an incubator & I didn't see his face for 5 hours until I'd showered & got changed. He then spent 2 weeks in NICU. The NICU nurses are fantastic! Thoroughly overworked, underpaid but they all care & do an amazing job. I stayed one night on the ward & although I asked for help expressing multiple times, had no help or guidance. I managed to express using YouTube videos & guidance on the Internet. I discharged myself the following day as it was just awful. It's taken me a long time to be able to think about having another baby & im now pregnant & going to a different hospital. Iv also been to the EPU for 2 early miscarriages & those experiences were bad as well resulting in me having to go privately to get the care I needed. You will find people who have good & bad experiences at every hospital so this is just my experience. However Iv given them 3 chances & not once felt confident in the care.

[Boomies]

I had to have some antinatal care under the Rosie as its out nearest specialist centre. I could not praise them enough, their care was exceptional and all the staff we met were lovely.

[Luckystar1]

I had DS there 21 months ago and DD there 2 weeks ago. I love it there. In saying that I have had 2 quick, straightforward water births with no intervention or pain relief and home a few hours later so I can't comment on anything beyond that.

Good luck with everything.

[septembersunshine]

Reading interest because I have a planned section there in five days! We live about 7 miles outside of Cambridge so it really was our only choice (the other hospitals being miles and miles away). Doesn't sound that positive but hopefully they will be good. Best of luck op on your birth.

[VeryPunny]

Both my children were born at the Rosie. DD was breech so was upstairs at the DU, DS started off at the birth centre but we transferred up to the DU as I wanted an epidural.

Care was fantastic, although the postnatal ward with DD was a bit hellish. Housekeeping staff came round with food to my bed to make sure I ate after DD'a section and the food was lovely stodgy sponge and custard!

There is a pool on the DU as well. It did bug me that the Birth Centre rooms are enormous, yet the delivery unit rooms are tiny and we had to fit an anethetist, two midwives and an obstetrician in there at some point!

Doctors on DU were very anti intervention and were well and truly hands off until absolutely necessary (as per my wishes), and when DD got distressed there was no drama and we were whisked off to theatre. Both births ultimately positive experiences.

We were out v quickly though - just over 24 hours post section and about 7 hours post DS.

[rosegoldie]

Thank you all for taking the time to share your experiences with me - I really appreciate it

[nagchampa1009]

@rosegoldie hope it went well, would love to hear about your experience as planning to deliver there in 9 weeks! X