Newly PG with DC3, with a gap of five years between each.
Sorry if it's long, I'm very worried.
In recent years our local maternity services have been reduced and then cut entirely. Meaning 3 local boroughs including our own now have to go to one hospital. It is as it sounds, a complete and utter nightmare.
DC1 was born by emergency c-section, DC2 was born by elective c-section and so will DC3. My previous DC have all been born in what was our local maternity unit (the one that has now been shut) care was excellent all the way through and because of this, chose to have my ante-natal appointments there.
I've not used this new hospital and hadn't really been concerned about it until the last couple of years. Pretty much every single female relative/friend who has had a baby there has been treated awfully, suffered with dirty rooms, missed medication and midwives who don't come when called. I've heard stories from those being induced, those who had straight forward natural births and c-sections... all grim accounts :(
I thought they might all be overreacting, until my sister had her DC there by c-section a few weeks ago. Was given a private room with a toilet that didn't work for her whole stay, I arrived to visit that day and her room actually had blood specks on the wall, floor and bed that weren't from her :O (I really wish I was making this up.) This was cleaned up, at our request.
So to my AIBU, which is also more of a 'Can I' as well. Can I request another hospital for my care/c-section to take place at? The next nearest one has a great reputation and specialises in this area. Can I even request this? I've always just been happy to go with the flow previously so am not sure if I can actually choose or not.
I feel that my family will think I am being precious about this.