Belfast- Royal or Ulster hospital?

[Ro84]

Hi all,
I am 8 weeks pregnant and my GP asked me where i want to be referred to for antenatal care. I am relatively new to the city so i don't have any friends i can ask for opinion... I live in East Belfast and i have been reading a lot of reviews online (even though the most recent ones are from 2012!) so i said the ulster hospital. However now i am in doubt. I work in the city centre so the royal will be more practical for all the antenatal care app (it can take more than 30 mins to get to the ulster, especially with all the caos of the new bus lane XD, that could mean having to take the morning off for an appointment!). Is the royal as busy as I've read? some say you are treated like cattle. Do they give you freedom to decide during birth (ie sitting in gymball, choosing posture)?

Convenience-wise for work would the the Royal. I just don't want to be in a very busy ward or having an overly medicalised labor.

TIA, first decision i have to take and i am stressing myself already

[SpadesOfGlory]

I'm in NI too and have decided to give birth at the Ulster, though I'm having my scans and antenatal appointments at the Lagan Valley. The Ulster is a new unit so all fresh and modern and from what I've heard they are much better at allowing you to be mobile during labour. What I've heard from the Royal seems to be more medicalised and they seem to discharge you before you might be ready.

Could you have your appointments in the Royal and give birth in the Ulster?

[FlaviaAlbia]

I went to the Ulster. Aside from lack of experience diagnosing tongue tie and them being a bit busy due to a sudden group of premature births I had no problems at all. The food is pretty good too.

My SIL went to the Royal and said never again.

Unless you choose or need consultant lead care most of your midwife appointments will be at your local health center, only the scans will be at the hospital.

[DioneTheDiabolist]

Ulster OP. They have a brilliant new maternity unit. I gave birth in the Royal last year. I was in a 4 bed bay on a really busy, not very clean ward.

[DioneTheDiabolist]

Congratulations on your pregnancy.

[FlaviaAlbia]

Oh, and both times I've been in the Ulster I've been moved into a private room on the main wards. The home away from home suites are lovely but my first birth I had a pph and was moved to the wards and the second time I was induced so couldn't use one.

[jusdepamplemousse]

Given birth in the Ulster twice, can’t fault it. Last time was 3 months ago.

If you’re in east Belfast it’s going to be so much easier to get there during labour; traffic / parking round the royal can be a total and utter nightmare.

Plus you have the option of labour ward or home from home. As far as I know the royal has no HFH unit?

Other than that - both units are very busy maternity hospitals, so manage your expectations of waiting times and continuity of care. I think if can be quite the shock first time just how unusual it is to see the same person twice! But the Ulster is a newer facility and a little smaller.

[jusdepamplemousse]

Also would say I was given private rooms both births in the Ulster (I abandoned plans for drug free labour the second the contractions began in earnest so no HFH for me!!!).

[Ro84]

Thank you all, i think the consensus is quite clear! i asked my GP to send the referral to the royal this morning (he might think i am crazy if i change again?). He never explained to me how many appointments i would have or where. If only the scans (so 2 in total) are in the hospital it is not bad at all. i hate to be one one of these annoying patients who can't make up their minds. I should have gone with my first gut feeling

[Ro84]

If i change from the Royal to the Ulster mid way (lets say after the first appointment it wouldn't be bad, would it?

[LivLemler]

A friend of mine changed from the Royal to the Ulster, she didn't have any problems as far as I know.

I had a great experience in the Ulster. Even got hypnobirthing classes, and the active birth workshop where you tour the hfh unit was the only one that actually reassured me about the birth.

In the end I had a failed induction and EMCS and couldn't fault my care. They kept me on a four bed bay the first night to keep an eye, but it was fine. Lots of people to help with the baby and I was expressly forbidden from lifting her or changing nappies etc. She was lifted from her cot and passed to me for feeding etc any time I wanted.

On the second night I got a private room.

Couldn't fault the care we had.

[dinosaurkisses]

I had DD in the Royal- it was fine, the staff were nice and the facilities were grand, but it doesn’t have the shiny new birthing suites etc that the Ulster does.

This time I’m going to the Ulster- it’s a trek for us, our nearest hospital would be Lagan Valley but I was very impressed by the virtual tour of the Ulster MLU and labour unit on YouTube- I’d really recommend giving it a watch as it sets out everything well and shows both the MLU and the labour unit.