Watford or QEII Welwyn?

[KittyAnne]

My delightful GP didn't ask me which hospital I'd like and put me down for Watford General. However I can change it to QEII in Welwyn Garden City. I read conflicting reports about Watford, but almost nothing about the QEII. NHS website reviews equally inconclusive. I would be most interested and grateful to hear of your experiences with either. Thank you.

QEII now closed for maternity. Lister in Stevenage is the "local" alternative.

WOW!

Was just about to say QE2's gone for Maternity.

Will be a travel up the A1M for you if you do change. Local my arse

Sorry, I was just taken aback that despite living in the most expensive bastard area in the London orbital, my nearest maternity unit is 40 mins drive away, minimum.

I'm not looking forward to the travel to Stevenage when I go into labour with this one. Last time my exh got caught in the rushhour traffic and only made it for the last hour of an intense labour.

Lister has a spankey new mat unit.

Hoping I go into labour at night this time lol.

Sorry it was such a short message. We've lost Welwyn, Hemel and St Albans in the past few years. Probably more I don't know of too.

My local would be Harlow but I can't get through the doors without a panic attack! Vile place of horrors to me. Other people who have used the maternity unit loved it though. You'll always get mixed reports on NHS units as it's so depends on how busy, staff ratio etc the time you are in.

Watfords ok but busy. You could always use the birthing unit ABC lot more relaxed if everything normal or Homebirth. You dont have to go any where then.

Where are you OP? I'm in Harpenden and got choice of QEii, Watford or Luton & Dunstable for Sept birth. Went with L&D and was really pleasantly surprised.

Started at Watford ABC but ended up on Delivery Suite due to meconium in waters when they broke. Had good experience on both, the midwives were amazing. DS born in October and is thriving.

I just had a baby at Watford by EMCS they were brilliant I'd have loved abc but wasn't allowed

I'm St Albans - so is the choice literally Watford or stevenage?

In St Albans you should also be offered the L and D. Not been there myself but not heard anything negative.

Just wanted to add I gave birth at Watford last week. Was so much better than qEII. Clean you and clean sheets after the birth!!!! Without asking! Excellent.

Gave birth in the ABC June this year. MWs were lovely couldn't ask for better. I'd go with that option if you can.

Had DD on the delivery suite 4 years ago and spent 2 days on Katharine ward which I hated. The MWs on the delivery suite were great but very very busy. Infact the whole unit was total chaos! Seriously I know the post natal ward is meant to be full of tiny babies but OMG the din! The babies were the quietest people there. ABC was much more tranquil

Can we not go to Barnet?

At my GP practice they only offered Watford, L&D not even discussed as an alternative. I transferred my booking to Stevenage as from my side of St Albans it's easier to get to than Watford. I had a homebirth in the end. All of my NCT group had horrible experience with Watford. I would seriously consider Stevenage, L&D or a homebirth if I were you

May I recommend the Edgeware Birthing Unit?

People come from as far away as Northampton to use it. It is more like a birthing spa and the midwives there are very highly trained in pretty much anything you could want to do.

I 'arrived' to a dimly lit room and a filled birthing pool with underwater lighting - all waiting for me. I dropped down on my knees for a contraction on arrival and as soon as it had passed a lovely cushiony mat was placed under my knees.

There is no-where like it and they perform 85% of the countries waterbirths despite only having 3 rooms. DH and I 'retired' to an en-suite room with a double bed, underfloor heating, private garden and a glide chair.

Hi - I work for the Trust that runs the QEII and Lister hospitals (and I'm a mum too!). Just to hopefully help clear things up, there is no longer a maternity unit at the QEII in Wlewyn. However, at the Lister there is a brand new £16 million maternity unit with separate midwife-led and consultant-led units, 3 birthing pools and dedicated theatres in case you need them. If you'd like to book to have a look around, speak to your community midwife who can help you arrange it. Hope this helps!

I agree it is a truely appauling situation. I chose a homebirth and I am really glad as I am sure that my baby would be born in the car.

What I found even more shocking was the lack of postnatal care compared with 10 years ago. I was expected to attend the hospital for a postnatal appointment. My poor neighbour had a traumatic birth with heavy bleeding. She was expected to travel by public transport with a new born baby in the snow because her family did not have a car.

Cr@p is too kind a word to describe postnatal care in Hertfordshire.

Hi, i have given birth twice at lister stevenage. Once 5 years ago and couldnt praise it highly enough in the old unit. However i gave birth in June this year in the new unit and it was an awful experience. The midwifes were overworked and sometimes rude. Im glad that i have my 2 little ones and wont be going back there. Lovely unit, just a shame that the staff were so busy. I had to have an emergency c-section following failed ventouse and at times it took over an hour to get pain relief

I have had all my three at Lister and would recommend it highly. However I do agree with CatB76 that they are overworked. Was left alone (with DH) for most of my labour with DC3 becuase they had three emergencies come in at once, and when DH noticed that I was crowning he had to run down the corridors looking for help! They were brilliant though, and quite rightly asked me to complete a complaint form about my treatment as they need to highlight the lack of support/staffing too. Aside from that, all three times they were caring, helpful and supportive.

wish i'd been asked to fill in a complaint form. Mind you i would have been there a while !!! Midwife was a complete dragon the second time round