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Original poster

Living in st Albans, where to give birth?

28 replies

LouBriggs · 01/09/2019 15:37

Hello everyone,

I am 20 weeks pregnant and moving to st albans next week. I have heard mixed reviews regarding Watford, Lister and Luton and Dunstable. Where is the best place in peoples opinions?

Thank you in advance

OP posts:
F1rstt1imer · 01/09/2019 21:02

I had my DD at the L&D last year and couldn’t fault the MLBU. All the staff were brilliant. Was also reassured that they have a Level 3 NICU should DD have needed it

MissCherryCakeyBun · 01/09/2019 21:23

L&D would be my vote......Lister is an absolute pig to get too from St Albans way ( we recently moved from Harpenden and had to visit my dad in Lister a lot ) when the A1 is messed up ( as usual) it can take ages.
A downside to L&D is the parking issues
Care wise L& D gets good reviews

MissCherryCakeyBun · 01/09/2019 21:26

Have a look here too for more info
www.cqc.org.uk/what-we-do/services-we-regulate/find-hospital

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Families
InvisibleToEveryone · 01/09/2019 21:28

Misscherrycakeybun..
What parking issues are they?

Cherrysoup · 01/09/2019 21:28

L&D, a friend has had 2 there, will have her 3rd there too. She couldn’t fault it.

Roozy123 · 01/09/2019 21:30

I had my daughter in Watford in the birthing suite and my experience was amazing.

I'm due my 3rd baby in March and will be going there again.

GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal · 01/09/2019 21:38

Honestly, none of them are great. I went for Luton & Dunstable and they were ok, I suppose.

If we ever have a third we'll go private though!

Liefster · 01/09/2019 22:06

I had my baby at Watford and I wouldn't go there again as the after-care was very poor.

A friend of mine had her baby there 2 weeks before me and had an amazing experience though so I think it can vary hugely depending on your situation.

I've heard good reports from friends for the Lister, L&D and Barnet if that helps!

EachandEveryone · 01/09/2019 22:09

Barnet?

Original poster
LouBriggs · 01/09/2019 22:51

Thanks guys...its so hard as so variable!! Has anyone else looked around first before they have decided to go there?

OP posts:
tqui · 01/09/2019 22:56

Hi Lou,i have 4 children (all 6 and under so not 'older and had them all in watford and there's not 1 thing I could fault them for. Any problems they were there!!I am pregnant with my 5th due in Feb and am planning on going there again. Where abouts in stalbans are you moving to? We've recently juat moved out of stalbans to garston x

ItIsWhatItIsInnit · 01/09/2019 23:56

I have heard really good things about Lister from people who've given birth in the last year, but don't know what it's like to get there from St Albans.

Original poster
LouBriggs · 02/09/2019 00:05

Thank you guys. We will live (moving next week) near city station. I can drive but not driven since passing my test 8 years ago as moved to london...so not confident to drive to hospital for maternity. With watford is it right that some of your appointments are at st albans?

OP posts:
wendz86 · 02/09/2019 07:11

Had both mine at Watford and had good care (was 4 and 8 years ago though). I did do a tour of the hospital but don’t think that tells you much about actual care .

TowerRingInferno · 02/09/2019 07:21

L&D - fantastic care, particularly if there’s anything out of the ordinary (which hopefully there won’t be).

JustLikeJasper · 02/09/2019 08:24

Had mine at Lister last year, cannot fault the care from midwives drs etc whilst in labour and after (he was in scbu for 5 days) however i did get an infection as did 4 others ladies i know that had given birth there in the previous months so seems quite a lot to be coincidence

Mistybee · 02/09/2019 11:04

I gave birth at Barnet general hospital

I have nothing but praise for how each of my 4 deliveries went

Liefster · 03/09/2019 18:29

@LouBriggs if you go to Watford generally your midwife appointments are in St Albans. My booking appointment was at St Albans hospital (as was my 28 week one where they take bloods again) but scans were at Hemel. All other midwife appointments were at my local surgery, which was the main reason I chose Watford as it's convenient.

A hospital tour is useful so you know how to get there/your way around it etc but on the day you won't remember so take your birthing partner with you and get them to take in all the info! I agree that the tour doesn't tell you anything about the care though.

Original poster
LouBriggs · 03/09/2019 18:33

@Liefster thank you! Did you like Watford?

OP posts:
Roozy123 · 03/09/2019 19:12

@LouBriggs
I had my daughter in Watford and all my apps were at Watford or the children centre near me in Watford.

Liefster · 03/09/2019 22:51

@LouBriggs not really, I wouldn't go there again to be honest! Nothing wrong with the staff at all, everyone involved was brilliant but the after care really wasn't good - I think they're just massively understaffed in that area so being on the ward was awful in my experience.

Not sure if you saw my previous post but a friend of mine had her baby there just before me and had a wonderful experience so I think it varies per person.

I'm sure you'll choose the right place Smile

Original poster
LouBriggs · 03/09/2019 23:01

@Liefster that's the thing it's so varied and needs to be right really. Hearing so many mixed reviews. Its a vulnerable, invasive and overwhelming experience so I am scared I'll make the wrong choice. But you just never know. I understand peoples experience vary. Did you give birth on the midwife led unit first? If so how was that experience?

OP posts:
InvisibleToEveryone · 05/09/2019 16:11

My daughter recently gave birth at Watford ABC .

Perfectly happy experience, we had antenatal classes there too, the free ones, they were ok.

On the ABC there's no major pain relief, its G&A or pool basically.
You have a room that's yours for the duration of labour, it has it's own en suite.
And you stay in that room for labour and birth and after.
It's yours till discharge.

You can move to the other delivery ward, where you get epidurals etc and after delivery go to a ward.

Newgirls · 05/09/2019 16:16

Have your appts in St Albans as nice little hospital you can get to on bus from town centre or quick taxi. I’d choose hospital on which you can get to quickest. Watford is a nightmare on Saturdays (shops, football), lister is very new and swish tho further I think and terrible public transport, all the mums you meet in st a will be able to sympathise!

Original poster
LouBriggs · 05/09/2019 16:52

So you think Watford is a good choice as easy to get to and I will have appointments in st albans?

OP posts:
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