Watford General vs Lister Stevenage

[DeeDee196]

I've been told by my midwife to choose between the two hospitals and I was wondering if anyone has had any recent experience from either of the two maternity units (both childbirth and the ward)?

I've been reading some terrible reviews of the watford maternity ward from the last couple of years and I was wondering if things have changed for the better...

I am due early January and live in St Albans, so the distance is a bit of a problem also - any help please?

Which one is easier/closer to get to?

The Luton & Dunstable university hospital is also an option distance-wise and might be worth considering. It has a MW-led birthing centre in the same building as the normal delivery suites, which only opened in 2010 and is verrrry nice.

My only bad experience of the Lister is third hand from a friend of a friend, who got sent home again and again because she wasn't dilated enough. She was in so much pain that she ripped the radiator off her bathroom wall Other friends who have had babies at the Lister have been fine.

I was at Watford in Feb for an induction and everything was fab. Only thin was my DP couldn't stay with me on open ante-natal ward overnight while i was in early labour. However, staff were wonderful really and while things didn't go according to plan they were so supportive and clear. We then stayed in the private rooms post the birth. Expensive but my DP could stay the night and it made it extra special with DD2.

I had DS in Oct 10 in the ABC in Watford (the midwife unit). Couldnt fault it at all. Not sure if this is an option for you. Can't speak for the hospital part and the ward but my experience was great - had my own post natal room and en suite.

You can also pay for a private room if you deliver in Watford General. It's called the Nutford Suite - worth a look?

I had DS in Watford last year and generally all was very good. I started in the ABC but had to move to the Delivery Suite and then was in theatre after to be stitched and on the post natal ward for the night. The staff were generally excellent and lovely. I would go there again if I had a second DC and I live near Hemel Hempstead.

I had DD1 in Watford ABC (the midwife centre) in 2008 (when I lived in St Albans) and DD2 in the ABC 12 months ago (now I live in Watford).

I would choose the hospital you are closest to because you really don't want to be driving in a car in advanced labour, travelling on all fours on the back seat, while contractions come every 3 mins for very long (bear in mind they won't let you come in until you are in established labour). So unless you are really far to the north of St Albans, then that means Watford.

I know many people who have given birth in Watford and although not all of them had the perfect birth (whatever that means) I don't know anyone with a complaint against Watford per se.

Are you interested in using a midwife led centre? Does Lister have one? Watford has a midwife led ward only one floor apart from the consultant led ward. Also has two birth pools.

Last suggestion - have you considered a homebirth? Quite a good option if you are in St Albans, simply in order to avoid the drive to Watford (or Lister).

I had DD at the Lister in January, and it was a very mixed bag. My treatment of the pre-labour ward was enough to make me write and complain. HOWEVER the new delivery suites are fantastic - huge and shiny - and the mw's there are just wonderful. I had to have an epidural and then the discovery that my baby was very poorly all on my own and my mw was amazing, and they strung out my emcs for a few more minutes until DP could arrive, and the emcs was so calm, professional etc. Then I was stuck one the post-labour ward for 5 days as DD was in SCBU - the ward was a bit shite, but the SCBU was just incredible.

The Lister does have a mw unit so its worth investigating. You will probably hear some bad things about the Lister and I have to admit I struggle to sing its praises but I haven't heard anyone complain about actually giving birth in either in the mw or consultant unit (or not since its revamp at the end of last year). The problem is with the wards. So, realistically, its not a problem with having babies at the Lister, its a problem with the care for mums after the birth.

Can you go and look at both before making a decision?

I gave birth at Watford last week, and it was fab. It's definitely improved since I had my previous baby there in 2010. I can't praise the midwifery staff enough, both on Delivery Suite and Katherine Ward (post natal), and the nursery nurses and doctors in the SCBU.

I've heard Lister is very new and shiny, which Watford is definitely not (especially Delivery Suite), but it is quicker to get to from St Albans (we did test runs). And they didn't have a problem with me coming in with contractions 7 mins apart after just 3 hours of labour, so you don't need to wait until you are in agony on all fours on the back seat! In fact they are reluctant to give pethidine once labour is too established, which suggests some people must be coming in < 5 cm dilated.

They also have an excellent new transitional ward, so that babies who need a bit more attention but not full-on SCBU can stay with their mums.

Not sure about the Lister's policy on this, but I know that Watford don't as a matter of course do an episiotomy if you have a ventouse delivery. That for me would be a big benefit - I had DS by ventouse at Luton & Dunstable and they insist on doing one. That's a sore point for me because mine wasn't stitched properly and had to be re-done a week later.