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Childbirth

Had anyone given birth at cossham birth centre in bristol?

32 replies

QuietNinjaTardis · 30/07/2013 16:17

What was it like? Is it as nice as it looks? I'm thinking of giving birth there for my second baby due in December and just wondered what people's experiences were. Tia.

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ACookie125 · 05/03/2014 18:03

Hi, I know it's long after the original post, but for anyone wanting info on Cossham :) I had my son there a year ago tonight!! It was an amazing and faultless experience. I'm in my mid 30s and this was my 1st baby, I arrived with my birth partner already at 8cm, I had a water birth in the huge tub within hours with 2 different midwives as there was a change over. I needed stiches which were done in the room, was assisted to naturally deliver the placenta and to latch lo on. The rooms and facilities are amazing and we got a colourful hand knitted hat and booties

LaurenLeigh90 · 18/02/2014 11:22

Also, had to add.. If I had opted for a birth at Southmead, I would've given birth in the car (like I almost did with my son, was stuck in traffic as Southmead road was blocked off for the olympic torch!! Lol)
I went into Labour about 1pm, had a bath etc, did a bit of diy, then at 4pm told my partner to take our son to my mums. He got back at 4.30, contractions were so close i didn't even have time to stand between them. Finally got down the stairs, in the car and to Cossham for 5pm. Was checked at 5.10 and was 8cm. She topped up the bath and I got in at 5.30, waters broke at 5.50 and she was born at 6.11 lol
Transfer time is only 10 mins, much faster than i'd have been able to get out there. And for me, Cossham was literally down the road, Southmead just wasn't an option on the day anyway x

LaurenLeigh90 · 18/02/2014 11:18

Hi QuietNinjaTardis!
Congrats on the baby girl!
Am so sorry I took so long to reply. I infact, when you replied to my previous post on the 9th Sept at 7.30pm, I was in Cossham with my baby girl in my arms! Had her at 6.11 that evening :)
You have already experienced it yourself, but wasn't it amazing there? I couldn't rate it any higher. I want another baby just to experience it again aha, but I think 2 is enough for me atm! especially with only a 15 month age gap!
Hope all is well x

QuietNinjaTardis · 06/12/2013 20:10

Well thought I'd pop back and say I had my baby girl this morning at cossham. Went in yesterday as thought I was in established labour as my midwife had checked me and said I was 4-5 cm already. Unfortunately after being checked by the midwife at cossham at 5pm I hadn't dilated any further so was advised to go and rest which we did.
Went back at 3am this morning and gave birth in the water pool at 4.02am. My midwife was fab. Very encouraging even though I was screaming bloody murder other midwives who looked after me were fab, told me not to worry about anything and just helped to contribute to the lovely calm atmosphere there.
It was so nice to be able to rest with Dh after in bed with no noise of other mums and babies. Much easier to rest. Basically it was bloody fab. I thoroughly recommend cossham if you want to give birth there. Total contrast to my experience in hospital with ds.

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Astralabe · 12/11/2013 18:54

We considered Cossham for our second birth but as someone upthread has put out there, you might want to consider length of time for transferral in case its needed to southmede. We weighed this against where we actually lived (Horfield) and decided a home birth would make more sense for our low risk birth this time - we'd be closer to SM in case of transferral and all the same pain relief as offered in Cossham. Plus, for us, it meant less worry with what to do about DC1.
Looks fab though and as someone said earlier I cant believe more people arent using it - if we'd been nearer we'd have definitely gone for it (HB was fab though - recommend it!)

QuietNinjaTardis · 11/11/2013 22:40

Ooh knight that's good to hear. How lovely and congrats on your dd.

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Knightcm · 11/11/2013 18:15

I gave birth at Cossham in August and I couldn't fault it! Such a nice environment, wonderful midwives and so nice that my husband was able to stay with us for out first night. The next day out visitors were able to come and go, no time restrictions which was nice. I genuinely believe that all this and such a positive start had led to out little girl also being very chilled as well as us as parents. The staff could not do enough for us and really looked after us. I would definitely go there again when we have baby number 2!

QuietNinjaTardis · 20/09/2013 21:38

That sounds fab abiieex, congratulations! I really like the sound of cossham.

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Threetofour · 16/09/2013 11:02

That sounds so lovely congratulations! I am dead set on going after visiting & have had 3 pretty standard births so far so hopefully all will go well! I love how relaxed they are about visitors etc especially my other children and no set visiting hours! Did you and your husband stay the night there then? Sounds amazing & hopefully I will be following suit shortly :)

Abiieex · 16/09/2013 10:44

I had my first baby on the 11th of this month at cossham hospital and I would advise it to any mother to be who wants a natural birth! The rooms are lovely and the midwives are amazing! I couldn't have asked for a better labour, as far as labours can go mine was pretty perfect! The midwife Helen supported me through the whole experience giving me the encouragement I needed when thing we getting too much! Alas soon as she was born she was put on my chest so me and my partner could see her and she stayed there till after a delivered the placenta and my partner cut the cord! That give us precious moments bonding with our newborn straight away without her get whipped away! After they were a real help with learning to breastfeed! They made both my partner and mum (2nd birthing partner) feel really welcome and made them part of the whole experience! It was lovely after everything was sorted around 2.30 to be able to get into the double bed with my partner and our gorgeous baby in the crib next to us, so our family could start from the first night!
Like I said at the beginning I would recommend this to any mum to be! I truly believe I would not of had this experience anywhere else!

QuietNinjaTardis · 09/09/2013 19:30

Ooh have seen this quite late. Assume you've gone overdue? Or possibly had baby and too busy to let us know. Would be interested to hear your experience.

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Threetofour · 02/09/2013 23:00

Good luck! Can't wait to hear how it goes.... Is it your first?

LaurenLeigh90 · 02/09/2013 22:47

I am due on Sunday and plan to go to Cossham. Will let you know how it goes and what it is like :) Am so excited, it looks amazing there!

QuietNinjaTardis · 21/08/2013 20:00

I'd be interested too Joanna though I have pretty much decided to give birth there.

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Threetofour · 20/08/2013 22:41

Joanna can you elaborate on what happened at all as interested to hear if you don't mind sharing....was it something the fault of the birth centre or unexpected problems?

Joannajmiller · 19/08/2013 09:08

PS. transfer took alot longer than 10 mins. Ambulance took 45 mins just to get to Cossham to start transfer.

Joannajmiller · 19/08/2013 09:07

I know two people who have given birth there and unfortunately both had bad experiences.

Personally, I wouldn't take the risk myself. St Michael's sounds like a better option to avoid lengthy transfer.

QuietNinjaTardis · 07/08/2013 16:16

Fab. Definitely let me know and tell me what it was like.

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Threetofour · 06/08/2013 23:11

Can't believe more people aren't using it! Result for those of us who want yo I guess, will let you know if I get to use it!

QuietNinjaTardis · 06/08/2013 22:21

It looks great. Definitely aiming to give birth there. So quiet as well. Fingers crossed.

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Threetofour · 05/08/2013 16:11

How was the tour? Are you going for it?

QuietNinjaTardis · 02/08/2013 18:22

Oh thanks three, that sounds reassuring. Have got the tour tomorrow so will ask lots of questions.

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Threetofour · 01/08/2013 21:56

I am due oct & booked into cossham, apparently if anything goes wrong it is 10 mins to southmead and your midwife goes with you. Tbh I had such a shit experience in the birth suite at southmead last time I really want to use cossham, this will be my 4th, the first 2 at southmead were excellent but unfortunately last time not so great.... I will let you know how it goes if I get there!

QuietNinjaTardis · 30/07/2013 18:07

Thanks twin. It does look nice. Maybe ill look there too.
Anyone actually given birth at cossham who can say what it's like there?

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twintrimum · 30/07/2013 17:41

St michaels new mlu is really nice. Well worth a tour there as well if you are open to going there. Best of both worlds, I think.

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