Royal United Hospital, Bath - anyone willing to share their experiences?

[Coops79]

I've recently been told that I need to be in hospital rather than having a homebirth. Bath is my local; anyone able to tell me anything about it? I'm hoping to visit it sometime this week but it would be nice to get an idea of what to expect. Are they reasonably "active/natural" birth friendly? What are the chances of me getting the birth pool? Is there a handy hospital shop? Would I be able to take in a laptop/speakers? Any/all information much appreciated!

I had DS at the RUH 13 weeks ago

I found the care of the midwives and health care assistants very good, both in the delivery suite and the antenatal /postnatal ward.

They only have one birthing pool, but If you let them know you want the pool when you call to say your on your way you'll more than likely get it, alternatively all the delivery rooms have a large corner both that you can ask to labour in, just requires a bit more help getting in and out!

They usually don't like you to plug anything in, the same room as the birthing pool has a cd/tape player radio thing which your welcome to use but I would take laptop and speakers and hope for a midwife who'll turn a blind eye to it!

They promote active birth and even tho I was on a ctg monitor for DS's heartbeat I was still up and wandering around, bouncing on a birthing ball that the midwife provided and up on all fours on the bed, only once I had to have an epidural because he was back to back did I have to lie flat / sit up to have him!

There is a good sized hospital shop that's open 9-6ish I think, sells drinks, snacks, newspapers sweets ect.

The food isn't bad, but you can always skip the lunch and go down to the hospital restaurant (and leave your baby with the midwives) also all of the local takeaways deliver to the postnatal ward!!

When you phone to say your on your way if ask if you need to pay for parking before you come into delivery, I was already in on the antenatal ward when I went in to labour so I'm not sure!

Hope this helps! If there's anything else I can answer I'll try good luck!

That's fantastic - thanks so much for the detailed advice. It's nice to hear positive things (not that I've heard bad things; I've not heard ANYthing!)

And congratulations to you on your new addition. :)

I've had all 3 DCs in RUH. 1st one 6 years ago, most recent 2 weeks.

It's a really really busy place but at no time did I feel uncomfortable, ignored or rushed.
All the staff are really friendly and helpful and responded quickly to any calls.

The only issues I had were that it was really hot in there so I'd recommend taking a hand held fan (although they got me a large one to go next to my bed).

The other thing there is that your partner is allowed to stay on the ward overnight with you. Mine didn't but this did tend to make the ward a bit louder than it was before they were allowed to stay. The couple opposite me were very noisy until after 11pm which I could've done without!

Fantastic - thanks for the top tips littlemissnormal (and congratulations!)

You can buy a 5 day parking ticket from the main entrance which is a short walk through the hospital from Maternity and it's only £10, that's probably your safest bet...

I'm due in a week and going to RUH, have had to have lost of monitoring and every time I've been in it has seemed very efficient and the staff are very experienced, even when it is extremely busy. But as said above, it does get v warm!!

Oooh, blondiedollface might see you there then! Best of luck and thanks for the parking tips. :)

Hi
I had both my dc in Bath. Most recently 13 weeks ago - might have seen you Chester!
Both times I found time pre and in labour to be amazing. Really caring and attentive. First time I was there for a while in labour and then over night. Second time I was in and out in an afternoon!
My only concern was post natal care I found to be not brilliant - they are so busy and rushed. So I never saw the same hcp twice (nightmare trying to establish bf with dc1), took ages to discharge us (as so busy), never got drugs when asked etc. all understandable as just really busy but not great when as a ftm I had no clue. So second time round I just went home as soon as the baby was out.
That doesn't sound great but really they were - and so attentive when I was actually in labour. I would recommend not hanging about on the postnatal ward any longer than absolutely necessary.
Good luck!

I agree with the ward being busy.
I sort of felt like I was left to it. A young new mum with a tiny newborn who didn't have a clue. It scared me.
I couldn't take anymore than one night in the ward, I asked them to transfer me to my local hospital asap!
I had to stay in for a few days because ds was a few weeks early and they wanted to keep a eye. So much better once I was out.
Its just constant go go go there. I couldn't relax!

The midwife who delivered my ds was amazing though!

Had DS in the RUH 8 months ago. Agree that there are very attentive staff on the delivery ward, especially the obstetricians & anaesthetists that managed my EMCS. Only thing I found was that after being told repeatedly that my DH could stay with me on the ward I was unprepared for the fact that that meant after the birth only - I was induced & went into labour shortly after DH had been sent home and was then told that he could not return until I was in established labour (4cm dilated) - I was lonely & scared on the upstairs maternity ward during my intense early contractions and found it very stressful.