Anyone given birth at Stepping Hill Hospital?

[littlemel]

If so, any advice/what was the hospital like??

Yes, I have. I take it since you're asking that it's not your local hospital?

I had a very good experience there. Although it's a pretty shabby looking place the midwives were very caring despite being busy busy busy. I did have a very straightforward birth though. I also recently had a miscarriage and the care again was very kind and concerned. Friends who've given birth there have all been happy about teh place as well.

Are you concerned about something in particular?

Thanks for reply....
It is my local hospital but I was admitted there a few weeks ago as I got food poisoning and there was such a lack of communication (I was on the antenatal ward) between staff, someone even asked me whilst I was half asleep if I was ready for my c-section! I just had a bad experience and don't know anyone that has given birth there and started to panic.
Saying that I ended up staying there again last night and had another bad experience which has now really put me off but I think its a bit late in the day now to change hospitals, as I am 40 weeks, and its probably me just over reacting. I was on the antenatal ward again and felt really ignored as no-one even came to see me or explain waht was going on til 9.30pm and I got there at midday. Also the lady in the bed next to me was having really bad contractions as she had been induced and they told her she couldnt have an epidural or be taken to the delivery suite as she was fine and should learn to cope! even though her contractions were coming every 3 minutes. I am really desperate for an epidural, so am worrying now that I will be presented with that kind of attitude when I go into labour.
But it is nice to hear that you have a positive experience there, that makes me feel better!!

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I did, 3 years ago. It was very busy and they were terribly understaffed. The midwives varied from amazing to, quite frankly, horrendous (which I'm sure is true anywhere). I thought the food was awful (sorry giraffe maybe it's changed since I was there) and also bathrooms not that clean but it was OK. My main piece of advice would be speak up - if you're not sure about anything or if you don't feel you're being treated right - say so. I would say that anyway though, nothing to do with Stepping Hill. It's a big hospital and they are very busy so it can be easy to go with the flow and get ignored IMO. TBH I think it's probably a good hospital but like other large marternity units they suffer from underfunding and are understaffed. You'll be fine. I had a very difficult labour and birth and always felt in good hands medically IFYKWIM.

I think she might have given birth by now - 40 weeks in September

Doh!

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interested to hear about the midwife centre in buxton giraffe - I'm currently TTC and, assuming I eventually get pregnant!, would be really interested in that.

You can still type your Stepping Hill stats here giraffeski please. I'm 17 weeks pregnant so prob will give birth there if all continues to go well. Am vaguely contemplating a home birth though

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Stockport - thanks for doing this.

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I had my second baby at stepping hill by emergency section

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Thanks for all that info giraffeski. Met my midwife for first time last week and she did seem very encouraging about home birth. Strangely, I always had the impression Wythenshawe was more high tech than SH. Possibly it is hence teh higher CS rates?

Yes me - ds1, almost 8 years ago.

I thought it was awful - absolutely filthy, dried blood on toilets, bidets, baths. My MW told me not to have a bath under any circumstances - but to use the showers instead. Toilet roll holders were broken and toilet rolls left standing on the floor. Food was dire (and I am not a fussy eater and quite like institutional school dinner-y type food!) Some of the MWs were great - some were very unpleasant. I remember one in particular who was really nasty to me when I rang my bell in the small hours for some help with latching on. She manhandled my boobs and snarled at me "well, if you're not going to do it properly you may as well give him a bottle." And her hands smelled of fish!

I was induced and the MW on the ward wouldn't examine me when I was having contractions as she said I couldn't possibly be in labour. When I was examined I was 8cms dilated! I had no continuity of care during my labour at all - 3 staff changes (it was a short labour - only 4 hours in the actual delivery suite) and I was left alone for long periods of time.

I was in for ten days and couldn't wait to get home.

It may have improved since then - I hope so. Had ds2 at Macclesfield and it was a much better experience all round. How did you get on in the end, littlemel?

I was in around teh same time as you then mm. I've obviously got very low standards

Were you that snoring woman who kept me awake all night ?

I was luck enough to have a woman opposite whose husband used to bring in cans of Murphy's which she shared with me at night. Probably why I have such sweet memories of the place.

Well if someone had given me beer I might have fonder memories of the place!

dd had all her 3 at Wythenshawe - they were brilliant.

1 induced/epidural
2 natural

stats are useful I suppose but everyone has a different experience and hers were good.

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