bristol- st Michaels or southmead? or Weston super mare?

[angryangryyoungwoman]

Hi, just wanted to see if anyone had recent experiences of these three? Not sure which to choose. I know parking isn't great at St Michaels but more interested in hearing what the wards are like, access to private rooms at each, etc, as I'm having a caesarean so will be in for a few days. Apparently I can also transfer to Weston for the post natal, so any opinions on there too would be welcomed. Thanks in advance.

I had two c sections at St Mike's. The first time I had a private room and the second time I was on a ward. You only get a ward if there is one available so you can ask for one and might not get it. I have to say I preferred being on a ward, teh nurses are much more available and you get the drugs first (essential after a c!) I didn't really care about being around other mums and babies as everyone was in the same boat and I was so drugged up I didn't really care about or notice the noise.

Also I felt it was far easier to ask for help with breastfeeding and the baby and stuff on a ward as you could just grab someone going past. in the private room you have to buzz and I remember the nurses sighing dramatically when i asked for attention in my private room, they were pretty unpleasant. They were much nicer when I was on the ward.

St Mike's itself is fine, needs updating and is a bit scruffy but is generally ok. I can't comment on Southmead except for being born there myself but I can't remember much about that!

Thanks for that oranges, did you mean you only get a private room if one available rather than ward? Oh dear, re the sighing dramatically, I may have to say something if that happens!

DD was born as SMs - delivery team were lovely. DH was only told the day I was discharged that he could have got tokens for parking, so make sure your DP gets those if you stay in rather than paying.

Thank you big, had to go there recently for a check up and we found that out after we'd spent 20 quid or so later!

I had DD2 at Southmead 4 weeks ago on the Birth suite. Had a fab experience as it was empty and got to use the birth pool. Had an amazing midwife and had a shared room with one other. Went in at 7pm and left at 4pm the next day. I must say I think I was very lucky with my whole experience but SM is clean, well staffed and the parking is far less stressful than St Mike's.

Had all three dc at SM (induced fir all three) and I have to say the delivery suite I can not praise highly enough. The induction ward and post natal ward you could not pay me to stay there again. Dirty toilets/ showers, staff so busy and stressed and stretched. Dc3 was EMCS yet I left to go to a Weston as soon as I could get out just iver 12 hours later. I did have to push for it this time as they wanted to keep me in and I said I hi to Westin or I go home!! Weston fab fab fab just a shame it us midwife led unit only so I couldn't birth there

Had my DC at st mikes, found it very busy and hectic, staff just didn't have the time for me.
Went to Weston day after, they were lovely a more friendly smaller unit, nothing too much trouble.

Thanks for the replies! Carrielou, I was wondering about transferring to Weston, do you make your own way there? May be a stupid question, sorry! And was Weston busy?

Yes you have to make your own way there. Not busy at Weston, I was in a ward by myself. The midwife said they try to put new mum's together and 2nd/3rd etc alone to give them some rest. They were fab as dc3 struggled with bf and became quite ill never had section before so I didn't my know it can delay your milk coming in. They could not have been more helpful and supportive. Bottle feeding friends have said they are quite militant about bf but for me I may gave fed my two other dc but I really struggled and it was exactly the help I needed.

Just to say I am having ELCS at St M's in 3 weeks and have insisted on coming back to Weston. I'm told all being well I should be able to transfer after 24hrs but DH will need to drive me and little one back. I asked midwife about private rooms and gather it's tough to get one at St Ms but easier at Weston (not that you always need one as they're much quieter.) Hope this helps

I had both my kids in the MLU at Southmead - as the previous poster said can't praise the MLU staff (or the high dependency staff when 2nd birth all went pear shaped highly enough) but the post natal wards and the lack of care there was awful.

If using the MLU then transferring to Weston is an option that sounds great. Have only been to St Mics for scan but the parking was shocking.

Thank you moosekin and bakingtins. Moosekin, I think I am going to do the same, I am booked in for the 2nd week of November and will hopefully transfer over to Weston for postnatal. Can you let me know if it works for you please as I am not sure if a car journey the day after an op is going to work in practice. Sounds great in principle because Weston is quieter, and as you say, has more private rooms, but just don't know if the transferring part is practical or not. Hope all goes well for you, not long now!

Of course. I am in for 29/10 (unless bumped nooooo) so will let you know. I too am dreading the car journey so soon after surgery but mostly because DH isn't the most confident driver and Weston has so many roadworks going on at the mo. Fingers crossed!

Just to update.... Just got home after having our DD.

I had intended to head down to Weston ASAP but it's so quiet at St Michaels at the moment there really was no need. I had to stay last night after the obstetrician had something he wanted to check but had an entire ward to myself with 2 midwives waiting on my little one hand and foot!

Cannot fault any of the staff there after two days. So can't comment on Weston - but there just wasn't a need to spend as long in hospital as planned and St Michaels was brilliant....

Thanks for the update and congratulations on your dd! Hope you are feeling well? X

Better than I expected! I was on some heavy drugs in the hospital but now just ibuprofen and paracetamol. I get a bit of burning when I stand up from a chair or get out of bed but neat scar and I'm way more mobile than I expected! DD is awesome but breastfeeding is hard as she has lost more weight than the midwives would like - but we're persevering!!

That's good to hear! I bet she is beautiful, don't worry about the feeding, I'm sure you and her will get used to it x