Moving to new area at 27 weeks pregnant - can’t decide between Jessop Wing (Sheffield) or Bassetlaw, advice needed!

[Lollipop87]

Hi everyone,

I’ll be moving house towards the end of March to a village near Retford in Nottinghamshire, so currently researching which labour ward to choose.

I was sold on Jessops in Sheffield but having spoken to a family member who’s a midwife she recommended choosing a hospital in closer proximity to the new house (Jessops is a 40 min drive each way). Not just for when I go into labour but she pointed out it’ll get annoying driving the distance back and forth for appointments when heavily pregnant.

So I’ve started researching Bassetlaw which is only a 12 minute drive, however scores slightly lower on the latest inspection report than Jessops (although it’s from 2020 and Jessops is from 2016 so at least it’s more recent and it does still score “Good” whereas Jessops was outstanding which is why they haven’t had a recent inspection). Reviews of Bassetlaw are very positive, and a friend of a friend recommended them and says they’ve improved over the last couple of years.

So I just wondered if anyone has any advice over how to choose where to give birth, whether that’s based on similar research you did when moving areas while pregnant or if you have experience of either of these specific hospitals that would be really helpful!

Thanks in advance

Parking will be far easier at Bassetlaw along with a far easier journey.

Good luck with the baby.

Thank you @NotBabiesForLong I don’t know the area very well (we’re moving closer to my husband’s family) but that’s a really good point that I hadn’t thought about. Thanks very much

It is a nice area. If I was rushing to hospital I wouldn't want to navigate the rush hour commute to Jessops. Best wishes with it all.

Hi I’m from Sheffield and had my son in Jessops, we moved to Retford and my niece Was born in Bassetlaw. Based on experience, Bassetlaw were wonderful, it’s much smaller and Sheffield actually is an hours drive from here and a nightmare for traffic and parking. My niece and sister stayed in SCBU in Bassetlaw as she was premature and received excellent care. I’ve nothing bad to say about Sheffield however.
And welcome to the area, moving here is the best thing we ever did !

I’m from Doncaster so no experience of Jessie’s but I chose Bassetlaw to have my 2 births over Doncaster Women’s hospital.

Couldn’t fault them one bit. They kept me in an extra night to help me get breastfeeding cracked with my first and couldnt have been more helpful throughout both my pregnancies.

I had extra monitoring for small growth for dd1 and dd2 and loss of waters also for dd2 and was induced early with dd2 and I felt very well informed and looked after each step of the way.

I also had an ovarian cyst diagnosed at my 12 week scan with my first and opted to go to Bassetlaw to have it removed a year later.

Parking is a doddle as well. Dh didn’t have to pay the whole time we were there I don’t think for any of our visits. The barriers were either broken, up when we arrived or they were up at the end of the night when he left so never had to pay.

Jessops silly autocorrect!

Hi @mumswobblybits thanks for sharing your experiences, it’s really helpful - I find it funny how at the start of your pregnancy when you choose which hospital you want to give birth at you just kind of pick one without a second thought (I had a choice of two in my current area and one has a better reputation, at least among my friends and family, so I went with that one!) It’s only now we’re moving and there seem to be lots to choose from that it becomes such a big decision, I guess because the pregnancy is more real by now and labour and birth are that much closer! 😬 I’m leaning towards Bassetlaw I think, it’s good to hear you or your family members have had good experiences at both 😊 And thanks for the welcome, I’m really excited to move!

@TheGriffle thanks so much, sounds like you had really good experiences - I really appreciate you sharing your thoughts 😊

Hi OP, I know people that have had births in Jessops and Bassetlaw and they were happy with the standard of care they received. I’m due in 3 weeks and I’m actually going to Chesterfield Royal. I’ve had quite a lot of appointments (first time mum, placenta previa and IUGR) and the hospital have been good, especially when I went in for reduced movements at 30 weeks. The midwifery hub on the other hand, I have not been impressed with but that’s another story!

Hi @Leodot thanks for your reply and good luck for the birth!

@Lollipop87 Thanks 😊 you too!