Moving to Birmingham at eight months pregnant - don't understand English nhs

[Runningbutnotscared]

Hi,
Looks like I'll be moving from Scotland to Birmingham at eight months pregnant.
I'm at a loss of where to start with finding a good hospital, with water birthing rooms that isn't over-crowded. I've heard horror stories about people being refused entry to birthing suits because they are full and being transferred while in labour.

How would I know if a hospital had had a recent outbreak of c-diff or a really bad reputation? I live within the same city I grew up in and know all the hospitals here.

I'm also worried about the amount of 'private finance' required for nhs in England. I've read that within the English system you pay for scan photos, private rooms and prescriptions, so do you have to pay for other stuff that I would have expected to be 'free' (inverted commas because I pay tax!) ?

I am considering driving back to my mums at nine months pregnant so I can use the hospital I planned to (and used for my ds). It's only five or so hours, I was in labour for 38 hours last time so I'm pretty confident I can make it (I wouldn't be driving though).

Any help / local knowledge you could give would be much appreciated

You can go to any hospital you wish provided they have space for your dates. BWH is very busy cz they deal with emergencies and a lot of complicated pregnancies.

Did you really think people in English hospitals had to pay for their meals?

Er no, I didn't think people in English hospitals have to pay for basic meals.

I was just trying to give an example of something I would expect to not pay for (similarly i mentioned scans although I don't expect to have any more this pregnancy).

If I use an English hospital I will mostly be on my own with no family to come and bring me food. if the hospital food is horrible (it was unedible when I was in with my ds, and I got to the ward after dinner so it would have been 52hrs without anything other than toast if my sister hadnt brought in food.) so it's really helpful to be advised to take in snack money.

The only knowledge I have about the nhs in England is the experience from my sister who was advised by her mw to have a home birth to stay away from the hospital (the maternity ward was overworked and the hospital had had an recent outbreak of the vomiting bug) and the news.

The news concentrates on what's negative so this tread has really helped to broaden my thinking.

I'm grateful for the NHS in any form, this thread has been helpful.

I haven't anticipated not being able to get a NHS gp easily though, currently I am in the luxury position of always being able to see my GP on the day I request an appointment, he's a lovely guy and I trust him. So that will be different.

I am guessing that things like nappies and cotton wool are not provided?

"No family to being in food"- where will your DH/DP be then?

Formula is not provided either, to encourage bfing.

I expect my Dh will be looking after my ds, so they will be able to visit in the afternoon but not evening. I will have no birth partner either in Birmingham which makes me nervous. (tbh my Dh slept through the labour of ds so he wasn't much help, but I knew the hospital then so I wasn't as worried).

This more than anything else makes me want to get back to Scotland for the birth. I take on board that trying to drive five hours with a toddler in early labour might not be the best idea I've had. Perhaps I'll try to get home at 39 weeks instead.

The fact that you refer to Scotland as "home" doesn't bode well for a successful move to England with your immediate family. Can't any family members come down to Brum to help out?

Jessie's suggestion of getting someone to come down to you is good. I take it there is no one in Birmingham who could have your DS while DH comes to the hospital? I do think he ought to be able to bring in snacks for you though.

You're not automatically assigned hospitals on grounds of proximity where I live, although my nearest maternity unit was in fact my preferred option. I know other women who chose to book into hospitals that weren't their nearest, plus some who changed hospital part way through pregnancy.

GP availability can vary a lot from place to place.

We were advised to bring in nappies, cotton wool / wipes, but I know the hospital I had my DC in sold nappies in the hospital shop, plus they provided free nappies for babies who were patients in neonatal / paediatric wards, so I can't imagine a newborn being left nappy-less if you forgot to pack them.

And with formula - the official line at my hospital was that it wasn't provided as it's a breastfeeding friendly hospital, but they do have some in stock if a baby's an in-patient or there's considered to be a medical need for it. Only the pre-prepared formula is allowed though, they had no facility for making up powdered formula with hot water.

I had 2 at BWH. First was a lovely water birth. Second was a high risk pregnancy- looked after by the fantastic fetal medicine team, followed by an induction. Excellent hospital. Very busy though.

Next door neighbour was recommended City Hospital by her friends. She was pleased with her experience.

The hospitals down here are pretty damn good.

I had both DC's at Good Hope and it was fine, apart from the midwife initially not believing I was in labour. I had a midwife in the room the entire time and when DS's heartbeat dropped it was picked up quickly and the room filled with people. They have water birth suites and apparently can usually fit you in when you turn up.

I didn't stay in the hospital so can't comment on the maternity wards. The antenatal clinic was awful though. I don't think I was ever seen until at least an hour after my appointment time.

You do have to pay £5 for a photo and my midwife said a private room was £150, if available.

Oh forgot to say the hospital did give me free formula for the baby. I assume they had multiple brands as they asked which one I intended to use.

OP I moved from Ireland to London at 35weeks. I brought all my notes, registered with a GP the first day without a problem- once they heard my situation they happily took me on. I called the nearest hospital to arrange a booking appointment before I moved, and spoke to midwives in a few others- essentially they all said just to turn up and things would be sorted. It went fine.