Swindon Great Western or Bath RUH?

[littlekittens]

Does anyone have any experience of giving birth in either of or both of these hospitals and could tell me about it? Would you recommend?

TIA!

I was in RUH - they were lovely. It was massive and you did get the feeling there was a bit of a conveyor belt of babies but all the midwives were efficient, compassionate and knowledgeable. They were very respectful of my birth plan. There is only one birthing pool but it isn't used much. I'd recommend it!

I had dd in the delivery suite at GWH. It was busy but there seemed to be enough staff during labour. Postnatal care not great tbh. Complete lack of breastfeeding support. It was ok, and I'm choosing to go there again but if I need to stay in after the birth I will be pushing to be transferred to Stroud cottage hospital for postnatal care.

I haven't given birth yet so just sharing some info, in case it's helpful.

Bath is currently undergoing a refurb after a bad CQC report, which highlighted staffing levels and cleanliness as problems. The refurb will sort the cleanliness issues (basically it was in too bad a state of repair to keep clean), and they have also addressed the staffing to a point by closing a local MLU temporarily to bring more staff in. Not sure what the longer term plans are for staffing. The refurb includes two new birth pools.

Two friend who gave birth there in the past six months had very good things to say about the delivery suite, less enamoured with postnatal (seems to be the case for a lot of places).

Had DS2 at great western in the white horse bit. Would highly recommend, but it was 2 years ago!

Had DD at great western and was impressed but would recommend paying for a side room if at all possible. We planned for the white horse unit (lovely) but ended up being induced so had to go to delivery suite. Staff lovely- midwives, obstetrician & anaesthetist . Did get breast feeding support- 3 midwives and then a special breast feeding person but had to press my buzzer and ask for it (couldn't get out of bed).
Good luck!

I had ds at gwh 3 years ago and am having dc2 there due in next couple of weeks.
I had a great experience, was very busy when ds was born and was on the anti natal part of the ward in my own room after fs was born. I wouldn't have known they were so busy didn't feel rushed etc.
I also had great support for breastfeeding from midwife and a specialist person who came to see me.
I actually look forward to my birth as had a great experience and hope to be able to go to the white horse birthing centre.

I gave birth at the GWH just over 3 months ago to my first DD.

I was induced, and had a horrible nightmarish difficult birth. BUT, it wasn't due to the lack of care, they were extremely busy when I was there but I felt like they tried there best to take good care of me.

The midwife who was at my birth was great, she asked at the begging what wanted, I told her I was terrified of the thought of having forceps used on me.

Unfortunately, towards the end it looked like forceps would be needed. The Dr's wanted to go ahead and use them, she stopped them, explained to me that I needed to push and gave me the chance to avoid them (at this point of been in labor almost 3 days and was completely out of it, so I wouldn't have been able to protest if she had they just decided to proceed).

I got her out without them in the end, thank God. I was in the hospital for a further 3 days due to blood loss and other complications. The care was still really good, but if you can afford it pay for a private side ward. I found the noise of the shared ward made it hard to sleep and relax.

DC1 I had in RUH and would never go there again. It was hell. No one listened to me.

DC2 Greenways at Chippenham Hospital and it was lovely and calm and a fantastic.

DC3 GWH and again it was lovely calm experiance. The staff couldn't do enough for me.

With DC1&3 I transferred to Greenways after 4 days for a further week or so and loved it there.

The birthing suite a GWH is wonderful

But there was a lack of bf support, I've had two babies there and both times I felt pressured to give formula