Midwife and giving birth - Wexham Park or Frimley Park?

[denisavn]

Hi ladies, so I am early in my pregnancy and my GP provided a link to submit the form in order for midwife to be assigned. We live in Windsor and the choices given were Wexham Park and Firmley Park hospitals. Do you have any experience with these? Wexham is closer but I have found some mixed opinions online which made me a bit hesitant. Would be grateful for any small info - it's my first pregnancy so everything is new!

Thank you so much!!!

If you're in Windsor then definitely Wexham - you will find some negative reviews online but it's improved massively over the years since Frimley took it over. I've heard some nightmare stories of women taking hours to get to Frimley when even at the worst traffic times it never takes more than 15 mins to get to Wexham. You really don't want to have to drive for ages when you are worried and need reassurance at 39 weeks when you haven't felt the baby move and need a scan when there is wexham just up the road.

(Experience - had 2 babies at Wexham in the bad old days, it was mostly fine even then but it's SO much better now)

I had my first in 2018 at Wexham and am planning to have my second, due Sept, there too. As pp said, from windsor it's really quick off peak and then max 20 mins on peak. I had a good experience and am hopeful of a repeat performance. All facilities in one building, whether you're lookong for mlu or labour ward.

I had my first at Wexham and it was a good experience, but it's a very long time ago so things have probably changed a lot.

Wexham was amazing for my birth. They had a brand new birth centre just a few years ago, I think a lot of bad reviews are old. The rooms are all huge, en suite, have double beds, birthing cushion things, balls etc.
I can only recommend the birth centre as never been to labour ward but the staff were amazing and its was an easy experience.

I was in and out in under 10 hours though they did offer to let us stay in my delivery room for a night if we needed. They even put out tea lights for my labour as I wanted soft lighting!

I had an awful experience at Wexham. Mistakes made with my induction (very long and slow; late at night the midwife didnt notice the hormone drip had slipped out, so she doubled the rate of the drip, when I pointed out I was wet through she realised the needle wasnt in my arm, replaced it but didnt turn the drip back down, I ended up giving birth in 3 hours as a result (from being 4.5m dilated), baby got distressed due to fast descent in the birth canal and I nearly had to have an emcs, i tore badly, then the hospital was so full I couldn't get a bed in post natal ward, they sent me BACK to prenatal with my baby and told me "don't turn your back on the baby for a second as there is no security, the baby could be stolen" so I couldn't rest, had to call the nurse if I wanted the loo, and they insisted my DH had to leave as it wasnt visiting hours. When eventually they got a bed for me about 10 hours later, because clearly I didnt have a brand new born, I was just dumped there and ignored. I wasnt even told where to get a drink for myself.

I'd never step foot back in that place.

I have heard good things about Frimley. Go there.

I gave birth at Wexham 2 weeks ago and I can’t fault them, everyone who dealt with me was amazing and despite a few complications due to méconium everyone was very calm and kept me calm too. Would defo go again for my next birth and totally recommend- the new ward is also lovely and felt very high tech.

I used to live near to Wexham Park, only left before COVID and have been back since. I would choose Wexham Park every time, I know they don't get good reviews but personally, I can't fault them. I certainly wouldn't choose Frimley Park, dreadful place....

@BabyHod thank you! were you on labour ward or the birthing centre?

@JustWonderingIfYou yes I was looking at photos online and seems even the maternity ward is new. Did you chose to go to the Birthing Centre rather than the maternity ward?

@RainingZen I am so sorry yo here that! Hope you are both good now! Xx

@Ginevere thank you! And congrats!!! Yes I saw photos online but everything always looks better in well taken pics - always makes me think of when you look at houses and when you go sometimes in person you are shocked! So you were in the actual maternity ward, right?

@Xiaoxiong yes, that was my first instinct but then with the mixed opinions I found online I got a bit put off.

@DramaAlpaca thank you anyway! Any opinion and experience matters!

@MeanderingGently oh gosh hope anything that went bad with/at Frimley you manage to get sorted!

I started on the mlu but moved to the Labour ward, also had a 5 night stint in post natal, the full tour!

Yes, I chose the birth centre. It was my first birth and low risk, no reason for doctors so midwife led care felt natural.

I was there mid/late 2019 and it was really lovely, great condition- looked as good as the pictures. We did a tour so I did see the labour ward and the whole place- not sure if they are on because of covid but check.

The labour ward is downstairs and birth centre upstairs so a transfer can be done in 3 minutes if needed. All the staff were very good and my wishes were really respected, I felt very in control the entire time.

I am really upset we have moved and my current pregnancy will not be delivered there. I am struggling to find anything comparable.