Royal Glamorgan Hospital or Cardiff Heath

[Julezboo]

Help!

I need to decide which hospital to have my care transferred to. I live in Bridgend but had an awful experience early on in pregnancy with my youngest so had my care transferred to Cardiff. The antenatal care there was great, went for my section and arrived at the hospital at 8am he was born by 10am. Coming out of surgery though into recovery, I was then put in a little room, from what I can remember it wasnt a patients rooms, it was an empty waiting room because they didnt have a bed for me on the postnatal ward.

When I was taken to postnatal ward I was generally left to it, had to scream out for pain killers and it was so noisy we didnt get any sleep for the two nights we were there, was glad to be home.

If i go back to the heath I will be requesting a side room, does anyone know if you can do this? I think this way DH will be able to stay with me as long as possible and help me with the baby after my section.

But then the Royal Glamorgan is closer and have only heard good things about it. Was hoping some of you had first hand experience?

Hi - you can request private rooms at the Heath, but it's totally dependent on availability (if they are busy or not), and you generally have to pay if they have one for you. I'm not sure how much, I'm afraid.

One problem with the Heath is that they are undergoing renovations to the whole maternity care area, and C1, the consultant-led ward (which may be where you were before?) is a temporary arrangement while new facilities are being built.

So it's a crowded 'barn', with a lot of beds, and is very noisy. No one I know speaks well of it, patients or MWs.

The MW led unit downstairs is much more luxurious - it has double bed rooms with ensuite bathrooms, like a hotel - very private, and DP's can stay as long as they like. Unlike when you are on a ward, when they have visiting hours.

Generally, if you have a CS or other theatre procedure, you're consultant care and so end up on the consultant ward. It might be worth asking if you could transfer for at least the second night to the MW led unit if you are having a CS? Then you'd get some sleep, at least.

(PS lack of painkillers post CS is not good. I had the same at the Heath. It was looked into, and I was under-medicated by mistake as MW's didn't check my records. Not impressed.]

No experience of Royal Glamorgan, although like you I've heard only good things! I believe the post natal wards are much smaller, so far fewer beds to a room.

I'm having my baby at the Royal Glamorgan, two close friends recently had theirs at the Heath and they both had similar bad experiences and have vowed never ever to go back there. However, when I mention the Royal Glamorgan to colleagues and friends they have nothing but positive things to say and comment on how lovely the staff were and how nice the environment is. Maybe they are just trying to be nice and ease my mind but I would personally go for the Royal Glamorgan, their care for me so far has been faultless.

Whatever you decide, good luck x

Thanks both,

I think I was on C1 last time and it was so noisy all the time. I dont think I will be able to switch to MLU after as I have a clotting disorder so will be medicated after the birth as well. Cant really fault the before and during op staff, they were all great but afterwards was horrible.

I think I will contact Royal Glamorgan and ask for an appt to be made to look round and discuss my concerns before making a decision.

By coincidence I signed up to mumsnet today to ask this exact question!

I'm planning on going to the heath at the moment because someone told me the midwife-led unit is like a hotel but I'm a bit concerned about what happens if I end up needing consultant care as I've seen a lot of bad "reviews" of the care there.

I've had my scans at the Heath - presumably I can just change my preference for then birth to the Royal Glam can I? Will they show you round if you just call up? I live in Barry so it might actually be closer to me.

This is my first baby and I feel completely clueless and I've suddenly got major fear about the birth and want to feel as confident as possible before going into labour! Any advice on hospital choice is appreciated. Thanks

You can change your choice of hospital, its not a big deal.

I moved to Cardiff when 37 weeks pg with DS1 and changed from the East Glam (shows you how long ago!) to Llandough. (Llandough was dreadful - but this was 10 years ago. Also had to change GP and community midwife team at the same time.

It was no bother to change the hospital. however if you leave it that late to change then you may miss out on any hospital tours/antenatal classes.

Unfortunately I had such bad experiences at the Royal Glamorgan hospital gaenocology ward & antinatal clinic during our 2 neonatal deaths in the past 2 years that I have been put off wanting to ever go through another pregnancy under their care & would prefer to go back to the Heath in Cardiff where I had my other 3 children in a flash.Others I know who gave birth at the Royal Glamorgan recently didnt have much better experiences than me either.Does any body know what area team 2 midwives cover or dont cover please ?

Wow, am facing this exact dilemma now! I notice this thread started back in Aug - what did everyone decide & how did it go?

I'm wondering why Julezboo didn't use Princess of Wales in Bridgend!!
I'm due to pop any day (due date yesterday) and that's where i'm headed so far all my experiences there have been really good.
Cardiff doesn't have a very good reputation for Antenatal care my friend has had a shocking time but i don't know about the Heath itself.
I have also heard that the Royal Glam is very good but i was under the impression POW is too.

Laurie - decided to go with Royal Glamorgan in the end. I am 33 weeks pregnant now and can honestly say that the care I have recieved has been excellent! Section is booked for 7th Feb, but due to having too much fluid i may not make it.

Smoggi - I had a bad experience with my DS2 there, during my ppg with him after 5 previous mc's, clexane injections daily and a very problematic previous pregnancy where I almost died - pre-eclampsia and stroke after he was born at 31 weeks! I bled really heavily from week 5 to week 18 in my preg with DS2 and they refused to se me until 13 weeks when I turned up for 13 weeks appt it had ben cancelled and no one had bothered to tell me!

Even this time, I went there from 13 weeks, I spent FIVE hours with severe hyperemesis sitting in the waiting room. Then they said they didnt want to see m until 36 weeks. I felt I wasnt getting the best care given my ds1 was born at 31 weeks and DS2 my waters leaked from 30 weeks.

Royal Glam have been seeing me fornightly grwoth scans done regularly (both boys suffered IUGR) and I am happy with how close an eye they are keeping on me up there :)

Thank you for letting me know, sounds awful. So far my pregnancy has been straightforward and they have been very good. I'm sorry you had such a bad experience with them, i'm guessing i'll find out what they are like during labour pretty soon s i'm 40+6 at the moment eek.
I'm glad that the Royal Glam have been so much better for you and that you've been able to get the care you need x Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

I am only 15 weeks pregnant and been into hospital 9 times due to having TB. I have gone only to the royal glam and they have been great. I started to worry about the baby due to health reasons and asked to have a early scan and was given one within half an hour probably quicker. I have to go there twice a week and they are always checking everything is fine with and the baby and that im comfortable with everything im taking and whats going on. I would recommend the Royal Glam and my friend had her son there and said they were lovely.