finding out about records/reputations of different hospitals

[millie865]

Does anybody know of a site where I can access information about maternity services at different hospitals? We've moved since I had my daughter and I'm (just) pregnant again. It's very early days to be thinking about where and how to give birth but I spent last night with a couple of NCT friends whose second pregnancies were more advanced than mine talking about what we'd like to avoid this time round and it got me thinking.

I had a pretty horrible time of it last ending in emergancy cs. Then a not very good hospital experience - had to practically crawl down the corridor to get pain relief because the woman distributing it had got into a long chat at the nurses station, crap food, moody and aggressive staff with a few lovely exceptions.

If I could have a VBAC and know it would be OK I'd go for it but I'd rather have an elective cs than go through what I went last time. So I want to go somewhere that will support that. Plus ideally somewhere that recognises breastfeeding women need more than two slices of white toast for breakfast after last eating at 5pm, and somewhere clean and relatively friendly.

This may be too much to expect (?!) but is there anyway of finding out what hospitals are like before my booking in appointment when I am going to be asked where I would like to go? I know I can ask around, and I will, but I don't know people here very well so don't want to start sharing my news at this stage.

Thanks

this site has the stats for different hospitals and units. as for reputation start a thread asking about the hodspital yur interested in on here or in pregnancy. hope you find the info you want.

Thanks for that info - that's really helpful.

You also don't have to commit yourself now. You have plenty of time to ask around long after it will be obvious that you are expecting. I changed after the 20 week scan in my first pg and was sooo glad I did. My first hospital was a miserable place, I had misgivings after the first scan and had never heard anything better than "it's okay" about the place. At the second scan I was treated like a piece of meat that happened to have a baby in it and was eventually reduced to tears (hard to do)so I decided to change.

Changing at that stage was very easy and the alternate hospital was fab.

Good luck

Well, some hospitals get more booked up more quickly than others.... for my first pregnancy, I wanted to go to Queen Charlottes, and my GP referred me (but made a cock up). By the time the cock up was discovered (13 weeks), they were full and they would NOT take me. I was livid, but there was nothing I could do about it.
I would ask here on mumsnet about personal experiences. What are your options location wise?

My sister had a similar experience to Orangina, that's why I want to start thinking about it now. I guess it depends on where you are in the country. I think it would be Warwick or Coventry for me.

I'd consider a home birth as the best way to get a VBAC without too much intervention, but after last time DH is so terrified of the idea that I dropped it. I know its my body and my labour but I think I have to respect that he also found the experience deeply traumatic. And thinking it all through I'd rather have an elective cs. I know home birth to elective cs seems like a bit of a leap but its about knowing what to expect and not feeling completely out of control.

Does anyone know much about hospitals in Herts? I'm currently booked in at the QE2 in Welwyn - only 7 weeks pregnant so have ages to think about it but my mate just had a bit of a disaster at the Lister in Stevenage and so I thought I might start looking for info.