Giving birth at ninewells hospital in Dundee?

[Funnyona]

Has anyone given birth at ninewells hosp in Dundee recently? I'm due 31st March and currently live in Suffolk but we are planning a move in the next couple of weeks, just weighing up my options about where is best to give birth and if ninewells is ok or if I should try and hold out here, I know Perth MLU is supposed to be very good but as its my first think I would feel more comfortable in a hospital(a bit daft I know). Thanks in advance! Any reviews would be great!

I don't have personal experience (well I do, but it was 26 years ago and I don't remember being born) but my sister, who had planned to give birth in Arbroath MLU ended up in Dundee CLU with an EmCS. She said that the medical care during labour, cs birth and recovery was excellent but that the ward was hellishly busy and she was glad to be transferred to Arbroath as it was calmer and she got more personal care/help with baby.

I think that Dundee also have a MLU and I don't know how good that is. If you are expecting a low-risk birth it's experiences of this unit that would be most helpful.

I am hoping to give birth in Montrose MLU as it is local and has a great reputation. Am scared that I'll end up in Dundee as likely to be classified high risk. But it's more about wanting Midwife led rather than Consultant led care and wanting minimal intervention than about the specific hospital.

I'll be interested in any responses others have too.

I had dd1 in the labour suite at ninewells, and dd2 in the mlu. The facilities in mlu were fantasic, as were the staff. When admitted to the ward after having dd2 there was just me and one other lady. All the benefits of a mlu, on site of major teaching hospital. I would recommend it.

Had my daughter in ninewells mlu and also found the facilities and care to be excellent. Small wards post-birth and midwives couldn't have been more helpful. Liked being in mlu but with comfort of knowing labour suite just down the corridor in event of complications rather than an ambulance trip from Arbroath/Montrose. Have also heard good things about perth from family and friends but not sure if you would have choice between ninewells/Perth depending on where you'll be living - think come under different health board areas.

Had DD in MLU at Ninewells, was absolutely brilliant. Staff and facilities were all lovely. Had a water birth with minimal interventions and then stayed for just over 24 hours in a small, quiet ward. Midwives were really helpful but also let you get on with it IYKWIM. Also had to go back in for a stay in SCBU a few days after going home, again everyone was so fantastic and helped us so much.

Ninewells is marvellous!
I had a wonderful ELCS there. The staff were just great, very caring and attentive. They were very patient with teaching me to breast-feed. There were also lots of demonstrations of baby bathing and bottle preparations.
I spent 2 nights in hospital and was very well looked after. Even the food was quite good!
My recovery was so easy, which I put down to the excellent standard of clinical care.
The post-natal care was outstanding too (although this might be specific to my area rather than Ninewells, so do check this out). In the first ten days out of hospital, a midwife came in every single day. I also had 4 visits from breast-feeding counsellors in the first 10 days, and there were 2 phone calls on days they didn't come in. My health visitor arrived at my house on day 11, and visited weekly for the first few weeks.

I can't praise the Ninewells team highly enough; I actually enjoyed my hospital stay, and I'm not sure many people can say that!

I was rushed to Ninewells, Dundee after the birth of our son in Arbroath Maternity Unit due to me having a bad tear and a high temperature. My partner and newborn son weren't allowed to come in the ambulance as there was no space so they followed in the car. When I arrived at Ninewells I was taken into the labour suite and the midwives attended to me straight away - connecting me to drips and getting me pain relief. My partner and son arrived not long after and were brought to my bed side straight away; the midwives took one look at my son and felt a bit concerned as he had a red, angry looking bumpy rash all over his face from when he was born and his breathing rate was fast. I was taken to theatre for a spinal and stitches and our son was taken to see the baby doctor then back to the labour suite. Around 4.30am our son and I were taken up to the midwifery unit (ward 38) - again we were attended to straight away. We were told that our son may have an infection and he was put on antibiotics and would have bloods taken every 12 hours by the baby doctors. The midwives also did checks ever y3 hours, each time they would stand and talk to my son and I, and were always up for offering him cuddles. Being in the ward for a week we crossed paths with many of the midwives. Most of the other new mums were only in over night if not released the same day as giving birth. As we were there for so long I got to see a lot of what goes on, the midwives didn't only just attend to mums and babies but the list of jobs is never ending from changing beds, supplying jugs of fresh water (even through the night while I was sleeping), cleaning toilets/shower rooms, constantly stocking up the unit where all the towels/bedding/ nappies/cotton wool etc were kept. Some days the ward was under staffed but again the midwives never seemed phased and still would attend to everyones needs. By day 4 I was getting cabin fever and the midwives could tell, they kindly took our son to their station and looked after him and let us go a walk up to the shop. Next day they surprised us with a pram that they'd gone out of their way and borrowed from another ward and we got to take the little man up to the shop with us this time (needless to say how grateful we were that we could finally venture out as a family even if was only up to the shop). When we were finally told we could go home on the Saturday the midwives went out of their way to come and say bye and get a last cuddle from the little man. I genuinely cannot thank all the staff enough for everything they did for us, not all heroes wear capes and Shona, Cristen, Bryony, Alison, Lauren, Veila and the rest of these ladies are living proof of that!

I had my DC2 at Ninewells MLU. It was a good experience for the most part.
I guess it depends partly on your expectations. I had my DC1 in a MLU on the West coast of Scotland and was able to have a private ensuite where my DH could could come and go as he pleased.

At the Ninewells MLU I made use of the birthing pool and had a decent birth, but unfortunately it was in the evening (10pm) so my DH was only allowed to stay for about an hour or less while I got stitched up etc. I then got moved to their small ward (only one other lady), but no partners allowed in the evening, so ended up alone rather quickly. I wasn't expecting that so it threw me a bit. I hadn't showered properly and the toilet is just out of the bays (2 of them). I guess I like my privacy and not having to leave my newborn alone when using the toilet. The staff were great minus one lady I could have done without.

All that said, I'm due our 3rd and am hoping to use the Ninewells MLU again... I know what to expect/plan for now! Just hoping lil one comes in the daytime

Aish... This is a zombie post!!