Anyone given birth at Countess of Chester or Wrexham Maelor?

[IamnotwhouthinkIam]

I can't find any recent threads on either of these hospitals, so have no idea which might be best. I live exactly equidistant from both but on the Wales side so would have to put in an application for Chester.

If it makes a difference to anyone's advice, I will likely be having a C section for medical reasons (although I think it would still count as elective as I can give birth vaginally - it would just likely cause more damage). This probably means I'll have to stay in hospital longer so I was drawn towards Chester as I read that they have private rooms you can hire unlike Wrexham (not sure if that's still the case?). But obviously the birth itself and good staff are more important than whether I'm able to get any sleep on a ward or not...

Anyone have any advice, please. Thanks in advance .

I had both of mine at the Countess and I was very happy. I had a private en-suite room both times, didn’t need to request it. It’s standard there if it is a straightforward birth. I have birth in an amazing birthing suite with bubble towers, sunset mural and a big water pool. Staff were brilliant. No issues at all.

Thanks so much for the help @mnahmnah . That's really great to know about the staff and that you had good births there. I don't think my birth will be straightforward unfortunately (first baby at 40 after years of IVF and cervical problems), hence leaning towards C section - but it's still good to know you didn't even need to request the private room (I'm happy to pay if needed).

No problem. I had friends who had C sections there and they have nothing but good to say as well. However, I think they put all C Section mums on wards so they can assist you all more easily, so a private room may not be a possibility.

I must live v close to you, but just in England.

I wasn't impressed with the countess first time round 9 years ago (it was apparently the busiest period they'd ever had) but much better second time around (6 years ago).

A friend had a terrible experience at the Maelor, life threatening, so I wouldn't go there, but others have been fine....

Not helpful, sorry!

Thanks again @mnahmnah - really good to know about your friends C sections. I'd guessed I'll need to spend the first day/night on a ward for observations - but I'm hoping that if they say I have to stay in longer then a private room could be a possibility (I don't fancy multiple nights without sleep when recovering - aside from my own baby keeping me awake!)

Thanks very much @CheshireSplat. Nice to meet a neighbour! Good to know your second/latest birth at the Countess was better at least, but shame about your friends experience at Maelor - was that a vaginal birth, do you know?

I realise everyone will have different experiences, but every story I read will hopefully help me decide whether to push for Chester or not! So thank you everyone.

I had my daughter at the Maelor earlier this year. I didn’t have the best experience, to be honest. I was induced and had a long labour so not comparable to a C-section. However, when I was in the post-natal ward, I heard staff discussing how many elective C-sections they had in the next day and they were clearly not happy with the number. I believe the women who’ve had a caesarean go onto a different bay in the ward to the one I was on. I was cared for well the first night but there were only 3 of us in that room. The second night/day, there were more and I felt the staff struggled to see to everyone. I had an episiotomy and couldn’t get off the bed with the baby so needed help after every feed; it often took a while for anyone to come, and it was nearly always a student midwife (they were always amazing though).

There was 1 (maybe 2 but can’t remember) private room but I think you had to have a reason to be given this; no idea what that might be!

I also had an issue with the feeding team at Wrexham. On my second day, I had amazing support from the lead of the infant feeding team and without her, I’d have given up. The first day was horrific, though, with conflicting advice given, inconsistent staff so never got the same message twice, and very little sympathy shown. There was no offer of pumping being an option, and they were very quick to offer formula. There’s also no breast milk bank like at Chester. I know people who had their babies in Chester, who were offered a hospital grade pump to loan at home, given lots of feeding support and used the milk bank. None of this was offered at Wrexham.

Also, with COVID, we had no visitors at Wrexham at all. One birth partner was allowed once you were in the delivery room but once the baby was born, my husband had to go home and we didn’t see him again for 48 hours. In Chester, at that time, there was a 3 hour visiting window. I know Wrexham’s restrictions have eased since but I think Chester’s visiting is still better. Might be worth checking out the Countess’s Maternity Services FB page.

I do know of someone a couple of years ago who booked a private room in Chester after an ELCS but would be worth checking if this is still the case!

I’m not sure I can face going through another birth after my experience this time, but I would definitely only consider it if I could go to the Countess. The only negative I’ve heard is that it’s extremely hot on the ward, which wasn’t the case in Wrexham!

Thanks so much @LittleBeaS, that's really useful - although I'm sorry the support at Maelor was so lacking for you . I suspect the staff at any hospital hate elective c sections unfortunately since it must be a lot more work for them in terms of checks, but your struggle in getting help/lack of midwife support post birth at Maelor sounds horrible - especially after such a difficult birth.

It's also really useful to know how you felt about some of the feeding team/breast feeding support at Maelor - I am hoping to breastfeed which can apparently be more difficult after a section, so I might need more support than usual .

It's such a shame, as a part of me would love to have my child born in Wales - and since I'd read that even with c sections they try to discharge you after 24 hours if they can, I'd wondered if maybe the private room isn't as much a priority as I'd thought, but good staff and support definitely is! The heat thing at the Countess isn't great though - I'd rather be cold than hot. Did you give birth in the summer? (just wondering if it was lack of fans rather than heating on full blast).

Sorry re: the heat thing, that last sentence was supposed to say - do you know if your friends/acquaintances gave birth at the Countess in Summer? I suppose every hospital has to have its negatives!

The countess is hot, but my understanding is that they keep it that way for the benefit of the babies and all maternity wards are like that.

I struggled to get my second to breastfeed, despite no issues with my first. The support team at the Countess were brilliant.

@mnahmnah - I wondered if that could be the case. Thanks also for letting me know your experience with the breast feeding support staff too.

I've just got to be prepared to fight to get the Countess then - I was debating if it was worth it since I'll probably have to fight to get a C section too (so a battle on two fronts!), but from everyone's stories it sounds like the Countess is worth it from a staff/support point of view at the very least (even discounting private rooms or other facilities).

I have friends who live just over the border into Wales and chose the Countess, no fighting required. People in Broughton, Pulfors etc. In my understanding it’s your choice. A friend just over the border into Shropshire was given the choice of Shrewsbury, Wrexham or Chester!

@IamnotwhouthinkIam We had our babies in early Spring and everyone said it was ridiculously hot in there. One said she just wanted to strip down to her underwear it was so hot! The Maelor, in fairness, was plenty warm enough without causing a sweat!

Thanks @mnahmnah - I was told it's a funding issue, that they have to put a special request if you live in Wales to be able to deliver at a hospital in England (even if the hospital is just as close geographically) - so that's good to know about your friends.

Thanks @LittleBeaS - I'm due early Spring (beginning of March but they want me to chose a hospital now even though it's so early). At least I'll know to pack my thinnest nighties and a handheld fan/cold packs - I'm unfortunately a miserable sweaty mess at the first sign of heat

@IamnotwhouthinkIam I’m in Wales but picked to go the countess. You do have to put in a request but it was very easy and simple. My midwife said she didn’t no any one who has been declined.
Hope you got it all sorted and got the hospital you wanted 🥰

I lived in Hawarden when I had mine and was given the choice.

I chose Maelor because MIL works there.

I couldn't fault them in terms of care. My DC were both 2 months premature and I felt very safe in their hands.

Countess was put in special measures a couple of years ahead. I would go to Wrexham

Thank you very much for the help everyone

@NW2021 Thank you, in the end I didn't have to appeal like the midwife suggested I might - I simply received a letter agreeing to it from the health board, so I'm currently registered with the Countess.

The special measures/requires improvement thing is concerning -although I don't think it's the maternity department itself which is still classed as "good" according to the CQC report I read? But yes the HIW report for Maelor looked better overall and more detailed.

But in the end I found out that an extended family member gave birth at the Countess fairly recently so that gave me more confidence, as well as the comments on here. I've been happy enough with my care so far (in terms of midwives, scans etc) but if that changes I'll update for anybody reading the thread in future.

@IamnotwhouthinkIam I’m glad you got everything sorted 🥰
I couldn’t fault the countess and there was just no way I was going the Maelor. I’ve had friends give birth in both and wasn’t really much of an option for me, countess all the way.
I understand the special measure but that was few years ago and I believe lots have had to changed for the better ☺️ I can’t fault the care so far either!

@NW2021 - Good to know you've been happy with your care so far - when are you due? I'm not due till the beginning of March, so about to have my 20 week scan soon. Your friends experiences put you off the Maelor? At least that meant it was hopefully a straightforward decision for you .

Hi,

Does anyone have any recent experience here at Countess of Chester?
I've just moved over from Ireland and have no clue about the system over here. Would love any help or advice to let me know what this hospital is like....
Thanks x