Bristol experiences

[WBWIFE]

Has anyone had a successful vbac on the mdiwife led unit at Southmead or at Michael's?

Just called midwives to say I wanted to change my care to Southmead as 1. St Michael's has terrible memories for me. 2. Midwife said last time that I would not be allowed on MLU at St Michael's.

I have a friend who's knows someone who recently had a VBAC on the mdiwife led unit at Southmead so that's a reason I've changed as well as I have heard great things about Southmead too. Easier to park etc as well.

The mdiwife on the phone seemed shocked that someone had a VBAC on MLU at Southmead and first she'd heard. I did say the new guidelines state we should be able to birth on MLU if we wish or even at home. She said that's fantastic! 🤔🙄 Should they not be up tod ate with new guidelines?

Just wondering peoples experience in Bristol and how it all went. They've booked me in for an hour long appointment at 16 weeks to switch me over to Southmead apparently

Hour long appointment to switch you over??

I have been told by my midwife since the beginning that I will be going to st Michael's. I live in WSM and they tend just to send you straight to Bristol.

I called Bristol last week (currently 40+5) and they said I was stil booked to give birth in WSM. Told them it should be St Michael's MLU, She said that's fine and changed it there and then on the phone.

You don't necessarily have to "book in" anywhere, just call before hand.

This is my first and I have heard great things about St Michaels and also Southmead.

Wishing you a happy and healthy pregnancy.

@Snowflake9 I'm also from Weston so hi and booked at st Michael's but the reason it was easier for you was that Weston is in the same trust as st Michael's so its all part of the same system southmead is a different trust so you have to be the booked in.

I'm pregnant currently (30 weeks) but also had a baby last year. I asked about southmead instead of st Michael's as I didn't enjoy my after care there from DS1 6 years previously but midwife explained it's a different trust so would need to be re booked there and all my scans / appointments would have to be there. Whereas if I was booked to st Michael's I could still see her as my midwife / have scans at Weston hospital

Is Cossham open again yet?

@mintypea5 hello! And that makes alot of sense. My midwife is a bit lack luster when it comes to information.

Cossham isnt open yet, that's where I wanted to originally go :(

40+6 today. Hoping baby makes an appearance.

Im in weston as well so hi. I had my youngest at st michaels by induction the other 3 were born elsewhere.

I cant speak to southmead but the staff at st micheals in the induction area and the Labour ward were the nicest ive ever met. I had a room with my own bathroom everything was clean and I was listened too even when they thought i was being a bit stubborn.

The only thing i would say is i went home straight from labour ward. Which was preferable to me as I hadnt heard great things about the post natal care as it can get very busy. I had ds at 7.30 in the morning and left the room at just after 3 in the afternoon.

All in it was a really positive experience compared to my other births and i would reccomend it to anyone.

This was 5 years ago so i cant speak to whether anything has changed in that time

We had a terrible experience at Southmead in 2014. May all be different now but I would never EVER give birth there again.

@Nousernameforme had my daughter 20 months ago. 4 day induction led to 2.5 hours pushing failed forceps and failed consultants trying to manually pull her out. Emergency section and shipped me out within 24 hours.

Midwives lied in my notes and ignored my concerns. I had to wait 8 hours for an epidural as they were too busy. I was on the drip and was exhausted after having contractions for 4 days and that's why I coudlnt push her out in the end. They sent someone from bri to give me the epidural but by then an hours sleep wasn't long enough.

Aftercare I had to shower myself 2 hours after c section and empty my own cathetar bag as they were too busy. And shipped me out less than 24 hours later with paracetamol.

Was glad to leave because the care was so shocking but wish I hadn't been shipped out so soon as developed infection soon after. All this definitely contributed to my PND.

Midwife has said St Michael's won't let me birth on MLU so that's why I want to switch to Southmead as I know someone who's had a VBAC on MLU there.
Delivery suite at St Michael's has too many bad memories

At this rate I'm just going to stay at home to avoid the lot of them 😂