Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals??

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Hi there, My partner and I are moving to Newcastle (coastal area) with his work. I'm wondering if anyone can advise which maternity hospital would be a good choice. I guess if I were at home I'd have any number of suggestions from friends but I'm afraid I won't know a soul there! When we move I'll be hitting week 22 ish . Many thanks for any advice or shared experiences.

I had both my children at the RVI in Newcastle and received excellent care. There's a new midwife led unit there, which is where dd was born. Its all private rooms- no need to visit the labour ward unless you need medical intervention. I gave birth with jsut my dp and one midwife there and didn't see anybody else until the next day.

Depending where you're moving to you might be closer to North or South Tyneside hospitals though- I don't know what they're like.

I'm booked into the Queen Elizabeth in Gateshead which has a good rep. Also the RVI,which is central newcastle is supposed to be good. I'm 20weeks but I'm expecting to have a c-section so this bump is coming early :D

I had my DD at the RVI and couldn't fault them at all. Mind you it was 14 years ago

Friends have since had babies at the RVI though and had no problems

RVI are very very good. I don't know about the new midwife led centre but I would recomend them - especially if its not all straightforward and you do need any intervention.

It sounds like you might be nearer North Tyneside though. I don't know that one but generally all the local hospitals have a good reputation.

I had ds1 at the RVI. the new midwife led birthing centre has an excellent reputation and the consultant led unit upstairs is also good. If you are in north Tyneside the MLU at Rake Lane is very convenient. It depends what kind of birth you are looking for, if you want an epidural or need cs then you will need RVI, Wansbeck or QE. I live at the coast (Tynemouth) and just had a home birth for ds2, the care and support was amazing. Happy to offer any advice about antenatal support if you are moving anywhere near me as there are some brilliant options in this area.

Wow, thank you all so much for your speedy replies, this is really encouraging! Being a first time Mum this was all looking a bit daunting so your advice has very much put my mind at ease.
downbytheocean I think I may need your advice about antenatal support, closer to the time, thank you!

I had DS at the RVI, they were fab. I had a difficult pregnancy & labour due to a pre existing condition and the pre & post natal care were amazing + they really looked after me throughout my 4 day labour. Can't thank the MWs (loads of them) who took care of me + all the Drs too. Only thing is the RVI was the warmest place I've ever been and I had DS in a particularly hot May but this is a common theme of maternity units.

I had my DD at the RVI 7 years ago. She was pre-term EMCS and they were absolutely fantastic. The other hospitals up there are good too, depends where exactly you will be living for convenience. I am currently nearly term with DC2 and tbh wish we were still up there (moved for DH's job last year) as I don't have the same confidence where we are now. That said, i have a lovely consultant here, who did suggest I could book an ELCS at the RVI if I wanted - bit extreme though!

I had my son last December at the QE in Gateshead and have nothing but praise - it was a reasonably complex birth (he wasn't breathing when he came out and needed to be resuscitated) but they were fabulous at every level - even small things like they cut the cord long (they needed him out!) so my husband could cut it again when they clamped it, they went and took a picture of him on my iPhone when we was born so I could see his face before I could hold him.

Good rooms, birthing pool etc and lovely staff!

I'm booked into university hospital north Durham, but am considering moving to the RVI given all this positive feedback on it Although I don't fancy the trip down the A1 whilst in labour ....

I have friends who have had babies at UHND who also speak very highly of it :o

I had both DS (EMCS) and DD (VBAC) at the RVI and both experiences, while very different, were great. I would recomend it to anyone!

I missed the new Birthing Centre by a couple of weeks but a couple of friends has been there and said it was fantastic.

I can wholeheartedly recommend the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead. I found the RVI very impersonal and felt like I was part of a factory production line. The QE is smaller than the RVI but much more personal. Staff remember you and are very friendly. It was voted the second best maternity unit in the Country.... and its much easier to park

I had DS at Wansbeck hospital. Was booked to deliver at North Tyneside but there were complications during my pregnancy which meant I was unsafe to deliver in the midwife unit.

I had an horrendous delivery, but the consultant and midwives at Wansbeck were lovely, especially the midwives on Delivery Suite who had to continue looking after me long after I had delivered DS as I was too ill to be moved to postnatal ward straight away.

They also have more options for pain relief with it being consultant led, and I found myself wanting more pain relief than I had thought I would, which is worth bearing in mind.

I had DS at Wansbeck hospital. Was booked to deliver at North Tyneside but there were complications during my pregnancy which meant I was unsafe to deliver in the midwife unit.

I had an horrendous delivery, but the consultant and midwives at Wansbeck were lovely, especially the midwives on Delivery Suite who had to continue looking after me long after I had delivered DS as I was too ill to be moved to postnatal ward straight away.

They also have more options for pain relief with it being consultant led, and I found myself wanting more pain relief than I had thought I would, which is worth bearing in mind.

Oops, sorry for the double posting!

I know lots of people who've been to UHD and had nothing but praise! A collegie had a baby around the same time as me in similar circumstances and while I would never go back to the hospital I used last time, she said UHD was wonderful!

I've had 2 babies at UHND and while the deliveries were absolutely fine the postnatal experience wasn't great. The breastfeeding support was terrible. However, postnatal is a bit of a weakness of care everywhere I suppose!

My sister had her DD at QE in Gateshead 2 years ago and her DS in the maternity led unit at the RVI last month. She was very happy with both experiences but favoured the RVI for the personal, homely feel. Her DS was born late evening and her room was equipped with a double bed so her DH could spend the night with them after delivery. The maternity led unit is right next to the consultant led maternity unit so in the event of problems you can receive appropriate care quickly. If I wasn't a 7 hour drive away I would chose to give birth there.

I had two babies (4 and 2 years ago) at the RVI- both section and both lovely experiences with great care x

Thanks so much for sharing and advising!