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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

How did you find Wythenshaw Hospital?

13 replies

Bellared · 29/04/2012 12:13

Mostly the staff, food, parking and whole experience.

I've read some women's experiences on the place and I can't see any recent ones.

I'm due to have DC3 there in September (if he/she comes on time) and was wondering how you found it. I had the last 2 at Wigan and had very different experiences.

Good or bad let me know!

Thanks/.

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kdiddy · 29/04/2012 20:34

Staff I found great, in labour. I was discharged at 3am, 3 1/2 hours after giving birth to my first baby. So yes I was hugely fortunate it was straightforward but I wasn't ready to go and felt a bit abandoned as soon as I'd had DS. Breastfeeding support zero; they didn't even watch him feed.

kdiddy · 29/04/2012 20:46

Sorry posted too soon. I was on midwife led unit and am led to believe its. better postnatal care on the ward. I'd go again but be much more demanding of my postnatal support

Original poster

Bellared · 30/04/2012 10:57

Thanks for replying. 3am?! I thought they would've waiting til later on. I will be more demanding, hopefully the birth will be as straightforward as the last one.

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SoozleQ · 30/04/2012 11:28

Arrgh, just written a massive reply which has disappeared.

Short answer is:

Admin awful - I was booked in for ELCS due to breech and when I got there they'd crossed me off the list as they thought I'd already give birth. Sent me home because they'd given someone else my place and were then too full.
Waters went as soon as I got home so had to go back in. Did have some monitoring but no-one did an internal and they were still umming and ahhing about being too full and not being able to fit me in.
Eventually after 2 or 3 hours some bright spark did do an internal and realised I was fully dilated, DD's leg and hand were presenting and there was a real danger of cord prolapse. All hell then broke loose and I had an emergency CS immediately.
Post natal on ward was hit and miss. One good midwife who really helped with breast feeding and expressing, one so awful I was scared to buzz in the night in case I got her, one who was pleasant enough but didn't really help with feeding and took DD off and gave her formula even though I didn't really want her too but wasn't in a fit state to argue at that point.

Delivery staff great in emergency but there wouldn't have been that emergency if the admin hadn't been so bad and if someone had checked me earlier. A doctor friend of mine was horrified they didn't do an internal as soon as I got there given DDs presentation and my waters having gone so explosively.

Pregnant with number 2 at the moment and booked into Wythenshawe again because it's so close but defintely prepared to move hospitals if I encounter the same shit again.

SoozleQ · 30/04/2012 11:32

Food awful. Couldn't work out what the hell half of it was supposed to be. Take lots of your own in if you think you are going to be there any length of time.

Parking - expensive for short visits but for delivery you can get a two day ticket for about £5 (18 months ago - probably more now).

Lots of friends had good or okay experiences at Wythenshawe - I think if you're a straight in, push the baby out, kind of person it's fine. If you need additional support you have to fight for it. If there's an emergency, they're good.

Original poster

Bellared · 30/04/2012 19:56

Thanks for a brill, honest reply. At least I know what to expect. Are you there in September ish? At least I know what to expect now and will be taking my own food in as hospital food isnt the best.

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busyboysmum · 30/04/2012 20:24

I had ds3 there in November - in a birthing pool in a lovely room with soft lights and a brilliant midwife called Cathy London. Recommend her and that experience, but prior to that not brilliant.

I was on the ward as my waters had broken at 3am, so as not to wake anyone up I was in the day room breathing through my contractions. Basically we were just left in there till 7am when everyone got up - then I got a bed but no-one would examine me until I really pressed them. They kept telling me to let them know when things got unbearable - once I did, things happened really quickly, my baby was born an hour later.

I thought the food was OK actually.

I was discharged two hours after giving birth - wasn't quite ready to go really but staggered out and was glad to get home really.

Original poster

Bellared · 30/04/2012 20:47

I quite fancy the sound of using the pool. I'll make a note of her name

I'm in 2 minds about getting discharged so soon after. I think its great as I'd want to get home straight away then I think discharging you in the small hours?

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busyboysmum · 01/05/2012 10:09

I don't think they do it at night - I gave birth at 3pm so left at 5pm, I think if it's after 8pm (my ds2 was) you have to stay the night but I might be wrong. That was 7 years ago so may well have changed.

The rooms with the pools in are great and have their own ensuite, a kitchen so you can make your own cups of tea and toast, one of those bubble lights in the corner and the major plus is if you have a water birth the midwife isn't allowed to leave you along for a second. Ask them to show you the rooms - I was desperate to have one and actually stomped up and down the stairs for about an hour to make sure my labour progressed enough to use one - as my waters has broken if I had gone 24 hours I would have had to have a drip so couldn't have gone in the pool.

Original poster

Bellared · 01/05/2012 12:15

I'll definitely be asking for a water birth this time round. I think we'll be going to have a look round anyway as We've only ever been to Trafford General (I still call it Park) so need to know what route to take etc.

I remember stomping round the grounds at Wigan and up and down the stairs determined to make DS2 hurry the chuff up so know how you felt.

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kdiddy · 01/05/2012 12:24

I was definitely discharged at 3am!! We even had to use a different way out as the main one was shut As it was my first baby, on hindsight I should have pushed to stay as I had no clue and wasn't really ready to go. Had massive trouble feeding DS and got no help from the hospital. Got the impression if labour went well, they don't have the capacity to support you after. Birth room was lovely though and I would highly recommend it - criteria pretty strict for using it I think and there are only 2, but more opening soon I heard.

MotherofPearl · 01/05/2012 16:27

I've not had personal experience of Wythenshawe but a few people I know who have describe it as pretty huge and impersonal. I had DD at Trafford General 4 years ago (maternity unit has now closed down there), and 5 months ago I had DS at Stepping Hill in Stockport, which I loved. They have a brilliant MWL Birth Centre as well an ordinary delivery suite, and it's quite small and I felt really well-cared for. The parking at Stepping Hill isn't great, but otherwise I really found the staff great and the level of care very good indeed. There's a cosy sort of atmosphere which I liked.

Original poster

Bellared · 01/05/2012 20:34

I can see myself helping the first timers (I cant help but mother people) cos of the way you've all been treated. The young girl across the road from me (just turned 18) is due the same day as me and has been told she can't go to Wythenshaw and has to go to St Mary's! TGH is much nearer but obviously now its unit has been shut for a good few years but hey ho. My cousin had hers in Stepping Hill and loved it too.

I'm glad for all the honest answers and now know what to expect. I'd have this one at home but DH is a worrier.

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