So what hospital did you give birth in?

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Following on from the epidural thread and seeign that sometimes your level of care can depend upon the area you live in, I thought it would be a good idea to start a thread on which hospital you have given birth in, or are going to give birth in and any comments ie - good, bad, excellent, etc

I often wonder if women get a rougher deal if they live say for instance, in a bigger City. I remember looking after a woman a few years ago who was having a ELCS after a really traumatic delivery in London and her after care on the wards made me so sad for her. She moved to the country and her next baby was born here, and she said it couldnt have been more different.

So fire away

Lewisham Hospital for both:

DS - straightforward birth at 39+6 days. Care during delivery was pretty good although they were noticeably short staffed and we were left to ourselves for much of the delivery. I did ask for an epidural but didn't get one because it was too late. But it was a speedy birth and I think MW was as shocked as me when she turned me over to examine me and a baby popped out! Post-natal was rubbish. The ward is appalling, and community MW care was pretty average too.

DD - induced at 42 weeks. Really fairly dreadful experience. Felt swept along into an induction without being given info or choice except that they felt I was irresponsible for not having an induction at 41 weeks. 41-42 week active monitoring was very upsetting and badly done. Much sulking when I presented at hospital at 42 weeks for an induction as I'd been told
I 'must' but wanted them to explain things fully to me before I consented. Left on the monitor for long periods

Posted before I'd finished. Bloody iPhone! Here's the rest:

Much sulking when I presented at hospital at 42 weeks for an induction as I'd been told I 'must' but wanted them to explain things fully to me before I consented. Left on the monitor for long periods of time despite my obvious distress at being monitored. Sweep and gel given (incredibly painful internal) at 9.30am and told I was not dilated at all, would be 'hours and hours', and that I would need the drip so should just 'accept it.' This was despite the fact that a different MW had given me an internal the previous evening and told me I was 2cms dilated, and that my previous birth had been really quick. Went into established labour very quickly on the ward but was basically ignored because they clearly thought I was a whinging cow. The only positive care I had was from a student MW who I think felt a bit sorry for me and wheeled some gas and air near to my bed. DD arrived after 3 hours and DH basically caught her! It was only at that point that any staff arrived to help (despite DH trying to convince them I was pretty advanced on a couple of occasions and my use of some fairly 'choice' language to get their attention). This was on a ward full of people. Fairly undignified for me (i was pretty loud!), and unpleasant for other patients I should think.

Post-natal ward as shitty as last time and I noticed some complete fabrications in my notes after I'd been discharged - '6.45am: patient is well and feels that BFing is established.' Fine except that I was asleep at 6.45am and no one came near me the whole time I was there.

In Lewisham's defence, it does have a sparkly new birthing centre which has a fab reputation and which is where I would have been had DD not been so late. Also I had an MMC last year and the staff/care from the MW team and EPU was completely outstanding.

Both of mine at George Eliot in Nuneaton. Both times I couldnt of asked for better care. The first time the midwife was suitably bossy enough to get me through it and the second time the midwife was absolutely lovely she stayed after her shift to see me through to the end.

Weird though but my sister had a completely different experience there.

durham -

Birth not good, understaffed very newly qualified midwife at latter stages of birth, husband felt panicy bless him as she appeared worried and nervous etc [not her fault, but not fair on us either] lots more.

however! on a positive, aftercare fab in 3 nights too establish BF.

like others seems to be a shortage of midwifes

I had DS at Royal Lancaster Infirmary, care was excellent, one to one mw all the way through, (3 different ones due to LOooooooong labour) all amazing women, will have the twins there in June/July too

A long time ago now ,so probably not relevant, but Carlisle for the first -c sec great but post natal not great, so Whitehaven for next even though it was 30 miles away .As long as it wasnt carlisle.
Whitehaven lovely.
Looked around cresswell dumfries which was just what i hoped a mat hospital should be.Still plumped for W/haven though.
It obviously hasnt changed so thats good news.

Great thread

I'm due to give birth in the next couple of weeks and so pleased to hear the positive stories about Grimsby Diana Princess of Wales maternity unit.

This has really put my mind at rest.

Another customer of Queen Charlotte's birthing centre here. I also had a male midwife (but not Scottish one) who was brilliant - calm, matter of fact and also good for a few jokes along the way! When we arrived at the hospital DH asked me whether I minded having a male midwife, to which I replied (and I quote) "I don't care if it's bloody Big Bird as long as he can get this thing out of me!"

DS had to go to special care due to an infection and was brilliantly card for. The MWs on the birth centre were so kind to me too, keeping me in a room there for the five days that I had to stay in so that DH could stay with me.

All in all I was a very happy camper!

Sharoe Green Preston.

DD VB with retained placenta delivery room and staff were fantastic. Ward staff not too helpful wouldn't respond to buzzer when my drip was beeping and blood was backing up into it. Put my DD out of reach when I couldn't move due to spinal, and pointed her head sown so I couldn't see her and forgot to switch compressor things on when I got to the ward. Also no help whatsoever with breastfeeding even after paed requested midwife do a check for correct latching before I was released due to low birth weight of DD, this was not done but was ticked on my notes because she looked round the door and saw me feeding (long story short I had major problems with feeding and my DD lost a lot of weight).

DS EMCS (brow) delivery fantastic, ward staff wonderful really helpful throughout.

me too nunnie- cs, got own room because Ds poorly. Had morphine drip so all seemed fine even if it wasn't. Next one was at Lancaster Infirmary. VBAC not great care.

William Harvey, Ashford. 10 and 11 years ago. Before the shiny new MLU was built.

Would definitely go back, in the MLU if possible, if I ever had another baby. Well, unless I could have a homebirth.

Royal Bolton Hospital

Harrogate hospital, 2.5 weeks ago. Very positive experience from first booking in, to delivery to when we were readmitted on day 5.

Harrogate Hospital, 3.6 years ago. It was great, overall. My midwife was fab and even stayed behind after her shift ended to finish the job off. BF support was excellent.

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Damn phone, posted too soon!

I have birth at the Whittington hospital 7 weeks ago today! Uncomplicated pregnancy but a car crash and other very random problems appeared around my due date and to cut a long story short, I had emergency section.

The care I received was second to none; there was a constant and continuous staff presence, my husband practically moved in with me in the 2 weeks I had to remain in hospital and the staff were amazing. I had endless and unlimited support regarding my breast feeding and if it wasn't for this, I can categorically say I would not be bf'ing now or planning to continue long term.

I know there are good/bad/ugly stories regarding every hospital but I can't recommend the Whittingtonfor ore and post natal care enough.

Whips Cross -East London

Gave birth on Saturday and had been extremely anxious due to bad reports -inc on here and in media. Can honestly say the staff were so professional, kind, caring and cheerful that they completely made my experience -I couldn't have asked for more.

My delivery was extremely quick (under 3 hours for 1st baby) but placenta was retained; the midwife allocated to me stayed with me in theatre to hold my hand and keep me calm -as did the anaesthetist -they also continued to visit me until I was discharged to see how I was and ask if I would change my experience at all of the theatre process. They were all amazing and made me feel safe and that I was their only priority -which judging by how busy the hospital was was amazing in itself -the staff are run off their feet but still make you feel like their main priority.

Any member of staff from midwife to registrar to cleaner who I came into contact with went out of their way to congratulate me on becoming a mum, take an interest in the baby and generally make me feel like they cared -again -astounding considering the amount of patients they have.

Cannot sing their praises enough!!!
Please don't believe the bad press that is place gets -the staff really care and work their socks of for you (either that or I was extremely lucky and only came into contact with the best staff each time I visited antenatal dept/ the labour ward throughout the pregnancy!)

Like limelight, Lewisham Hospital for DC1 (before shiny new MLU). Amazing care during birth, including from the student MW who stayed hours after her shift to help bring DD int

Like limelight, Lewisham Hospital for DC1 (before shiny new MLU). Much of it in the room allegedly designed by Lawrence Llewelyn Bowen - think disco ball and quirky lighting.

Amazing care during birth, including from the student MW who stayed hours after her shift to help bring DD into the world via a birthing stool (rather medieval but effective). I was the first punter she had booked in and delivered; she wrote a lovely letter thanking me afterwards (tho I thanked her more!).

Aftercare on the ward was bloody awful. So DC2 arrived at home - brilliant experience thanks to the amazing Faversham (and Herne Bay) community midwives.

2007, 2010 and 2012 at the John Rafcliffe in Oxford. 3 different births, but all very good experiences.

First was a 24 hour back-to-back marathon, second was a 0-birth in 1hr45min, he was born in the pool in the main delivery suite and third was induced at 14 days over, first contraction to delivery was 45 minutes.

Fab care all three times.

Had my 1st in st Mary's Paddington! Horrible experience and will never ever go there again.

2nd was at whipps cross (leytonstone East London) had a amazing time there the care was wonderful and had the most amazing midwifes just made it the best experience I could have asked for

My 3rd is due beginning of next year and will be giving birth in basildon so any stories would love to hear x

John Radcliffe in Oxford, 2011. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! Great care all the way through.

The thing that has stuck in my mind the most was the kindness and helpfulness of everyone on the postnatal ward. The cleaners, the lady who came daily to change the bed, the lady who brought my meals to my bedside for me (I was in for 3 days after the birth) were all so lovely and supportive, it sounds silly but I'd been pretty phased by the birth and the kindness and gentleness of these lovely ladies made such a difference to me!

Also great care and great bf support from the midwives and HCAs, who were unfailingly calm and lovely even when obviously rushed off their feet.

It was so busy when I was in that they'd had to close to new admissions (apparently this never happens at the JR) but you would never have known it from the staff's behaviour.

Baby number 2 is due to be born there early next year and so far it's been 100% positive.

Royal Bolton hospital three years ago. Delivery care was fantastic, other than them insisting my waters weren't leaking (they were, for two days!) so ds ended up in SCBU. Ward care was pretty dismal, although there were members of staff that went the extra mile. Had a terrible mw in there who thought the way to teach a first time mum and a newborn to bf was to grab head a tit and slap them together. Needless to say, it didn't end well. SCBU was incredible, nurses in there are wonderful.

2013, Tommy's, london
Ante natal was mixture of at the hospital and at local health centre. My mw was fab and she visited me on post natal ward.
Actual birth was mixed, 2 lovely midwives for most of the time. Problem came when a dr was supposed to break my waters but failed to and this wasnt detected for another 2 hours. Ended up with an emcs.
Post natal wasn't great. All very friendly and clean but no help in terms of how to look after ds. I had to get up and find a bowl to use to wash him.
Going back there for dc2.