Just moved to High Wycombe and looking for advice on where to give birth?

[Tinyeyes]

Hi all! I've just moved close to High Wycombe and am due in October. This is my first pg so looking for any advice on birthing centre vs hospital, or any good local hypnobirthing classes?
Thanks so much for your help! X

Hello. I live in High Wycombe and I gave birth in the Birthing Centre in Wycombe General Hospital 3 years ago. Overall, I had a great experience there - the midwives I had when I gave birth were absolutely fabulous and really made me feel at ease. The only problem I had, was with a night nurse. I had no experience of babies and asked a question and got quite a rude reply. But she was just one nurse out of many who were patient, kind and understanding.

I know many people who have given birth at Stoke Mandeville. They have said very positive things about the rooms and staff.

Thanks so much, that sounds really positive and when I went there for my booking in I thought it seemed lovely!

I thought it was lovely. The midwives I had during my labour were fantastic, I can't rate them high enough. I had a quick labour, with no painkillers (I gave birth about 15minutes after getting to the hospital and so was unable to have any pain relief apart from gas and air which didn't really have any effect on me) and I gave birth during the shift changeover but one midwife stayed 30minutes after her shift ended just to give me continual care.

Argh no pain relief! That's what I've been a little bit nervous about with the birthing centre, just in case something went wrong and I needed an epidural.

Fingers crossed though, I'd much rather have the sort of care it sounds like you had, and I've read that being transferred doesn't really delay epidurals etc as they'd need time to get ready anyway. I loved the fact they only seemed to have one or two people at once there, rather than full wards!

You'll have to ask about the pain relief. When I gave birth, it wasn't completely a birthing unit - it was going from being a labour ward to a birthing unit so C-sections etc were performed there on a regular basis. I did have different types of pain relief listed in my birth plan but the birth was too fast. Nothing they could give me apart from gas & air would take effect in time and they couldn't wait around.

Thanks abcinthia, I'll ask next time I'm in. Have a lovely evening and thanks for taking the time to answer all my questions! X

I gave birth in Wycombe in 2009 when it was still a proper maternity hospital. Care and staff were both excellent. Maternity services have now moved to Stoke Mandeville, although I believe there is still a midwife-led birthing centre remaining in Wycombe. The only problem with that is that if you need a c-section unexpectedly, like I did, then they have to take you on a 25 minute ambulance ride up to Stoke. So you may as well start off in Stoke in my opinion. My second is due in a few weeks and I'm booked in there. I think that the same midwives who used to work in Wycombe are there, so I'm expecting it to be good. I have various friends and acquaintances in this area who also say it's good. Only heard one bad report so far.

Gave birth last year in Stoke Mandeville at the midwife led unit - really fantastic experience and you have the reassurance of the consultant led unit being on the floor above if you need it. I did the hypno birthing CDs and found they helped. Congrats.

Thanks ladymetroland and thefatladyscreams, I think I'll ask if I can go and have a look round Stoke as it sounds like it could be the best of all worlds!

Best of luck with DC2 ladymetroland!

I'm also really interested in hypnobirthing - which one did you go for thefatladyscreams and did you go along to any classes as well? And did you get your DH/DP to listen to it as well? I'm a bit worried that mine won't be able to take it seriously if it's too happy clappy but I've read great things from people who've used it before.