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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Can you recommend good maternity units in the Midlands?

20 replies

xenialuv · 04/01/2012 10:23

I am due to deliver my first baby in May and would like to have some recommendations for good maternity units in the West Midlands.

Heard that Solihull was good, but now is only midwife led.

Thanks very much!

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JiltedJohnsJulie · 04/01/2012 13:24

Would midwife led meant that you discounted it xenialuv? And have you seen this website?

Original poster

xenialuv · 04/01/2012 16:33

I wouldn't, but being my first birth I don't know if I could put up with the pain and might ask for an epidural, which they do not do. Thanks for the website, will have a look.

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JiltedJohnsJulie · 04/01/2012 16:44

You never know but you could always ask them what their transfer rates are. Lots of women manage their first birth in a midwife led unit, including me, and lots more at home.

Also, being in a more relaxed atmosphere might help you to deal with the pain better, therefore you probably wouldn't need the epidural.

Have you spoken to your midwife about where she recommends?

BackforGood · 04/01/2012 17:01

'The Midlands' is a big area - surely geography is quite a big factor in where you go? Birmingham Womens Hospital is somewhere you could look at.

Original poster

xenialuv · 04/01/2012 17:23

You're right, I hope that being in a more "homely" atmosphere will help me, as I would love to have a natural birth with no drugs. I will speak to the midwife in my next appointment.
Many thanks again!

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Original poster

xenialuv · 04/01/2012 17:27

@ BackforGood, I live between Solihull and London, but have chosen to give birth in the Midlands, but don't know the area at all and this is my first baby.
Thanks, will look at the Women's hospital as well

OP posts:

JiltedJohnsJulie · 04/01/2012 18:11

xenia I take it that you mean you split your time between the two and not that you live geographically half way?

If that is the case I'd seriously look at Solihull, you may not want to travel far once the contractions have started.

As well as finding out what their transfer rate is you could ask where you are transferred too.

Have you had your booking appointment yet?

chocoroo · 04/01/2012 18:18

I gave birth at the Women's hospital but have heard good things about the midwife-led unit at City hospital.

A few friends have given birth at the Solihull midwife-led unit but a lot have been put off by the fact that you have to transfer to Heartlands (although I don't know specifically what their problem was with that). The people who have been put off Solihull have gone for either the Women's or Warwick.

HTH.

JackiePaper · 04/01/2012 18:22

If you want 'natural' i wouldn't go for the womens. Don't get me wrong, fantastic hospital, but they specialise in high risk. They are the place to be if things aren't going to plan, but if you're normal, low risk and want a natural birth i'd look at solihull, or the birth centre at city - serenity i think it's called, or there is a midwife led unit at Russells Hall which is Dudley.

Bue · 04/01/2012 20:30

Warwick is very popular in my circle (I live more towards Coventry). It's a small unit, you can use the birth pool etc and have a pretty low key birth but it is consultant-led so epidural is available.

beancounting · 04/01/2012 21:32

Midwife led unit at Birmingham Women's was the perfect compromise for me with Dc1 - very pleasant delivery rooms with birthing pool, calm atmosphere, aromatheraphy etc, for natural drug free births, but right next door to the delivery suite with access to doctors, epidurals, theatre etc in case anything went wrong! But if you're outside the city then it make take a while to get there in a hurry at rush hour etc.

ATruthFestivelyAcknowledged · 04/01/2012 21:40

Serenity Birth Centre at City Hospital is lovely. Decorated like a hotel, has double beds that pull down from the wall so that DP can stay with you and LO after the birth and has aromatherapy wafting the halls. Gorgeous.

It's midwife led and the consultant led unit is just upstairs so if there are any complications then you can be transferred very easily.

Disclaimer: I didn't actually give birth there, but I wanted to!

ATruthFestivelyAcknowledged · 04/01/2012 21:48

Oh, just read that you're not actually in Birmingham. Neither am I and that's why I didn't give birth at Serenity in the end. Is this your first? Before the birth I was very worried about where I was going to give birth, visited several units, booked a home birth, etc, in the event the choice was taken away and I ended up at the nearest hospital. I honestly couldn't have cared less, I was just relieved that LO and I were both OK. Next time I will 'book in' at wherever's closest and not spend so much time worrying about it (the colour of the walls and aromatherapy was the last thing on my mind )

TotallyKerplunked · 04/01/2012 22:57

How about Redditch? The Alexandra hospital is quite close to Solihull and the MW and consultant led units are together. The delivery rooms are nice and there are 2 pools available and nice large wallowy baths available for the antenatal/postnatal wards.

It is not as busy as some of Birminghams hospitals (I was refused at the Womens hospital) and the care I recieved was 95% fantastic 5% . Despite the 5% I would give birth again there tomorrow.

Jupiter118 · 06/01/2012 22:08

Would recommend the Womens 100%. Had two there and excellent care (was high risk both times though). S.O i know is a med neg lawyer and used the womens saying it or warwick were the only ones she would have been happy with. HTH

blackoutthexmaslights · 06/01/2012 22:12

well i would really avoid walsgrave in coventry, warwick is lovely

would really recommend kettering but maybe thats a bit far

golemmings · 07/01/2012 20:43

I had both of mine in shrewsbury. Its a fair way from you but has one of the lowest intervention rates in the country and has the advantage of being a midwife unit with the consultant unit next door. The building's a bit tired which is why its going to close in the near future but the staff are excellent. Breast feeding support is fab. Linda the breast feeding support midwife is lovely.

MrsCog · 08/01/2012 11:56

Ooh totallykerplunked I'm due to give birth at Redditch in 8 weeks - have you got any advice about how to avoid the 5% or any advice in general?

stegasaurus · 08/01/2012 12:19

SIL had her baby in the new MLU at City in Birmingham. It was lovely and I was jealous that I was not having my baby (born 3 weeks later) there. I have heard that demand exceeded all its expectations in its first year though so it might not be easy to get them to agree to you going there as you don't live near enough. You could always ask though. You might also want to consider the travelling time at different times of day from Solihull. I had my baby at the Womens as it is my nearest hospital and I was higher risk due to a medical condition. I managed to persuade the MLU there to bend the rules and let me in by getting my consultant onside and meeting the midwife in charge. There wasn't really time to appreciate the facilities as it was a quick labour, I was 8cm dilated when I got there and ended up being transferred to the consultant-led delivery suite after a while due to blood loss. Both City and the Womens Hospital have the advantage of having a nice MLU (City being much nicer) but then having a consultant-led ward on the same site if needed.

startail · 08/01/2012 12:44

Mrscog
Have a HB
Sorry not helpful, DD1 was born at the Alex a long time ago (14 years) they were lovely. The delivery was fine.
I just like my own space to do my own thing so I find ante and postnatal wards stressful. Didn't want showing how to feed and bath a baby just wanted to get home, cuddle up with DH and do it my way.

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