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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Any Experience of John Radcliffe in Oxford?

43 replies

Catz · 02/05/2007 19:19

Hi,

Just wondering whether anyone has given birth in/knows anyone who has at the John Radcliffe in Oxford. I know it has an excellent reputation for teaching and research and am sure that it'd be one of the best places to be if things go wrong... however I've heard several people say it's getting horribly busy and I'm a bit concerned I'll be stuck in a corridor in the style of the Panorama programme that's on tomorrow!

I had the first antenatal class a couple of days ago and was pretty shocked to find 'disinfectant and a cloth' written as one of the essential items to take on the hospital bag list. I knew that lots of mums advised it but for the hospital themselves to essentially say 'our wards are dirty' seemed a bit worrying...

Any experience, either reassuring or otherwise (still time for the home birth!) would be very much appreciated.

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JackieNo · 02/05/2007 19:27

I had both of mine there, though they're now 3 and 7, so not exactly recent experience. Was all fine - I didn't notice things being dirty, or any problems (apart from the food being dreadful - though that may have improved).

One thing that is particularly useful at the JR is that they have the Breasfeeding Clinic there (I think it's still going - 2 days a week) and they're brilliant if you're having any problems breastfeeding.

Worth asking for a room of your own, if you can - I did, and didn't have to pay for it, but I think there are ones you can pay for too.

Hope there's someone with more recent experience who can tell you more.

MrsBadger · 02/05/2007 19:28

Put it this way, the consultants are the best between London and Birmingham, so if anything goes wrong you're in safe hands.

I don't think it's any worse or busier than any other big teaching hospital, although they don't have those nifty pay-per-night private rooms you get some places.

and I'd say take antibac wipes rather than disinfectant and a cloth

Are the classes any good btw? I was planning on doing NCT ones but if the hosp ones are useful I may reconsider...

Guard · 02/05/2007 19:28

I had DD1 by CS at the JR (just had DD3 on Monday). My experience was good especially for first birth but I have had my last 2 at home which I prefer. Upside of JR is that it is a big teaching hospital and the care is good and all the pain relief options are tehre + water pool. I was fine no complications and felt that it was good, although I have nothing to compare it too, apart from home ! Downsides are lots of midwives, very busy (like any hospital). Have you been round it yet - they do a very good tour? My preference is a more natural approach with midwife support (eg home/the Wallingford). Good luck !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JackieNo · 02/05/2007 19:29

(don't they have the pay-per-night ones any more? I'm sure they used to).

MrsBadger · 02/05/2007 19:31

xp Jackie - I was told the pay-per rooms had been phased out

and wrt food, send DH down to the League of Friends Cafe on Level 1 - tea, sandwiches, cakes, hot sausage rolls etc to take away served by old ladies in tabards whole call you 'dear'

Dimpled · 02/05/2007 19:32

I think the b/feeding clinic has closed now.

It is a teaching hospital whihc is usually pretty good news if there are any problems. as to the day-to-day care I thinkit is okay-ish a big hospital so you never get that familiar one-to-one care. I know lots of mothers in this area and have never heard anything really bad about it though - and believe me people do like to let their horror stories rip - so no news is good news!

Pruni · 02/05/2007 19:36

Message withdrawn

Pruni · 02/05/2007 19:38

Message withdrawn

Hopeitwontbebig · 02/05/2007 19:38

Catz, I'm glad you started this thread. I'd been thinking of starting a similar one. I've decided to have my baby in the JR, although it isn't the most local hospital (mine's the Horton, Banbury), I decided that from what I've heard it is a better place to have a baby. When are you due?

Hopeitwontbebig · 02/05/2007 19:39

When do you have the hospital tour? I'm 20 weeks at the moment.

MrsBadger · 02/05/2007 19:47

actually if the private rooms are on Level 7 ones they may still be available - I think they told me 'No' as I'm 'high risk' and they'll want to keep me on Level 6 where the consultants can get at me ...

Pruni · 02/05/2007 19:51

Message withdrawn

Lilymaid · 02/05/2007 19:54

If you live anywhere near Wallingford, go there - it is excellent (there was a fairly recent thread about it).

GColdtimer · 02/05/2007 19:54

I had my baby there a year ago. I think your experience very much depends on your mw. I had a lovely, lovely mw for the first bit (I was induced) but they had a staff change at 7PM which was a crucial time for me and the staff change over threw me a bit. The new mw style was so different, not bad. Just different! However, they say they are open to be supporting of active births but also have lots of drugs if you want them. All delivery rooms have birthing balls, rocking chair, low lighting, aromatherapy and there are a couple of pools. The wards are busy but I did get some help with feeding. If you don't feel comfortable opting for one of the mw led units like Wallingford/Wantage (and now I have done it, I would opt for that but before I was unsure iyswim) you could always see if you could transfer for the aftercare. I transferred from JR to Wantage for a couple of days and it was lovely. Much more relaxed and better than going straight home which a lot of my friends did after having their babies at the JR because it was so busy. The mw on duty even took dd for a few hours one night so I could get some proper sleep.

Good luck whatever you decide to do. Ultimately, the care and services are excellent at the JR. Just busy but I don't know of anyone who had the panaroma experience.

Original poster

Catz · 02/05/2007 23:00

Thanks for all the excellent info, that's really reassuring. I'm pretty close to the centre of Oxford so Wallingford/Wantage would be a bit of a trek so the JR (or home) is probably the best option. I've thought about doing the home birth and my midwife was quite keen on the idea but as it's my first I think I'd like ot be in striking distance of stronger pain relief if need be! Also, the thought of being transferred to the JR in the middle of an Oxford rush hour is pretty scary!

Hopeitwon'tbebig - I'm due on 11th July so I'm 30 wks at the moment. I think you can just drop in to the hospital tours without booking. From memory they are on Mond (not bank holidays) and Wed about 6 and you meet outside the delivery suite. There's also one one afternoon but if you want the details I'll dig them out as we were given them at the antenatal class.

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GinGirl · 03/05/2007 08:51

My mum has had her last 6 babies there and received excellent care everytime. Her experiences have made me very confident about being booked in there myself (am 20 weeks).

That said, by the time she started having babies there she was on number 4, so probably didn't need the postnatal care which seems to be lacking in the NHS as a whole at the moment.

Still, all my appointments, including consultant, have run on time so far, I've felt listened to and relaxed. BUT haven't done a tour yet - am leaving it til later as think it will be a bit of a reality hit.

Oh, and bf clinic was still open in Jan when a friend gave birth there, she said it was fantastic!

earlgrey · 03/05/2007 09:02

Both dds were born there, but they are 7 and 8 now! Fine. I may have a slightly biased view because I spent a long time in there with pre-eclampsia with dd2. Get your partner to bring in takeaways. (One woman on my ward ate squid the day after her dh had brought it in for her, and she was expecting twins.

Didn't find it the cleanest place in the world (leg shavings in the bath - FFS why would you bother???)

BettySpaghetti · 03/05/2007 09:14

My experience there was over 7 yrs ago so probably not really relevant now. Would like to reinforce what a few others have said in that I didn't find it the cleanest hospital to be in.

Re: Breastfeeding Clinic -am I the only person who had a bad experience there? I found the woman there rude and abrupt ("theres no such thing as a baby that can't BF, its the mothers fault" ). I left there in tears , never went back but persevered myself and managed to BF DD for 4 m despite problems.

earlgrey · 03/05/2007 09:55

BS a lot of women said that about the BF woman. She didn't have any children either. Brings to mind a certain SWMNBN. Don't know if she/it is there any longer.

MrsBadger · 03/05/2007 10:32

(Good local takeaways include Domino's and the Nawab Tandoori (slightly better than the Mirabai) - Posh Fish are excellent but don't deliver.
I can never remember which is the better of the two Chineses on the main road but the Dong Dong noodle bar is better than either.)

theminxy1 · 03/05/2007 10:37

I had my DD at the JR in June last year and thought the care I got there was fantastic. I had heard lots of horror stories but the midwives were brilliant - they were really busy the day/night I was there and we weren't left alone for more than a few minutes, mainly when the midwife had to pop out to go and get something.

I didn't find any problems with how clean it was either.

Would definitely recommend the tour and agree about the food! It was really bad so I had every visitor bring me a food parcel!

Good luck with whatever you decide!

BettySpaghetti · 03/05/2007 12:41

earlgrey -glad its not just me then!

babedia · 03/05/2007 14:23

Yep, I had problems with the BF clinic too, despite everyone's comments about how fabulous they were. Very patronising - speaking to the baby rather than me, saying things like 'I think your mummy thinks there is a problem when there obviously isn't'. I stopped bf at 9 wks because of breast thrush and no support.

The hospital was busy but fine. I had a 36-hour labour ending in CS and has about 9 different midwives in that time, but at least I wasn't left alone at any time. The post-natal ward was very very busy and I felt a bit of a nuisance every time I had to call them for help, but it wasn't too bad. I had a problem with a rash all over my body after the labour and was offered a private room at no cost. They were also helpful in providing an electric cot and bed that I could raise or lower by pushing a button when I was struggling with the CS/SPD/rash.

Guard - I was interested to see that you had two HB after a CS. Did you find the midwives helpful or was it a struggle to get your hb? Which group of mws are you with?

Catz - if you're interested in the possibility of a hb, do speak to your midwife. The thing is you can always change your mind throughout the labour if you find you'd like stronger pain relief and transfer in to the hospital, but you can't do the other way round. You'd be transferred by ambulance, even if it's not an emergency so it'd be very quick even in rush hour.

Guard · 03/05/2007 20:27

Babedia
Midwives (Wallingford) incredibly supportive of home birth both before, during and after. MW for first VBAC was going to come into JR if we needed to as well as added support - which gave me lots of confidence. Neither time did the second MW have time to get there for the birth but did get there to help with weighing etc ! M/w then come to house day after etc. My husband is a big fan having seen both types of birth.... End of the day the CS experience was fine but HB gives you one MW who is with you and you get real support (well that was my experience)... + they are there to help with BF as well (with DD1 they were still coming over 3 weeks after to help advise)
Catz - if you plan a HB and you do need to transfer the MW will phone ahead and in effect you are fast tracked straight to what you need ...

Original poster

Catz · 06/05/2007 11:48

Thanks for all the replies.

Ihopeitwon'tbebig (and anyone else who is interested) I looked at the info we got at the antenatal class and the hospital tours are on Mon and Wed at 6 (not bank holidays) and Tues at 3pm. You don't need to book and you just turn up at reception at level 2 in the women's centre (the entrance that you go to for scans if you've been already). The midwife said they'd last about 40mins+ depending on who was doing them and how busy they were etc.

MrsBadger - I've emailed you about the antenatal class.

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