Wexham Park or Stoke Mandeville.....help please!!

[Ladybug17]

Hi everyone,
Hoping someone can help! I'm currently 9 weeks pregnant with twins via IVF (blessed!) I had my first midwife appointment today and was told I need to decide which hospital I am going to have the babies at by Friday!
I'm panicked as they don't do tours and SM doesn't have any online!
Does anyone have any experience or views on this? The midwife wasn't very helpful and neither are the maternity units when I call.
Thank you so much!

I don't know about the second one but Wexham Park is awful. Underfunded, lack of staff and frankly were responsible for my going into very early labour at 28 weeks due to their total lack of care and interest. I then stayed in for a further week due to infection that they ignored, and the food was so appalling I lost 2 stone. I looked ill when I discharged myself, and despite them moaning, it felt safer to go home and let DH look after me.
Honestly, please don't pick it. They are a disgrace of a hospital. My DS is living with lung conditions down to their ignorance. I wouldn't let a pet give birth there.

Hey, congratulations on your pregnancy! Hope you’re feeling ok. Twinnies! How lovely.

I’ve had both of my children at Stoke Mandeville. Both C-Sections. One baby born at 34 weeks so spent time in ICU/SCBU. We were very happy with the care.

I wasn’t very happy with the aftercare with the first baby but that was 13 years ago so I’m not sure what it’s like now. Last baby was 10 years ago and everything was fine.

I’ve been to Wexham after a serious car accident and was treated very well but I obviously don’t know what it’s like to have a baby there.

Wishing you a happy and healthy pregnancy.

I would say the hardest decision is pushchairs 🤔

@ReformedWaywardTeen OMG this sounds absolutely horrendous!!!!!
I am so sorry you have gone through this!
I think your experience has literally made up my mind for me.
Hope your DS is doing ok.
Thank you so much for responding!

@Cincinnatus thank you so much! I still can't quite believe it as it's been quite a struggle but I'm the happiest person in the world since we found out!

I think SM sounds like it's the right place for me and my babies!

Oh please don't get me started on the minefield that is twin pushchairs! There will definitely be a post asking for help with that!

I think you will be fine with SM. I spent lots of time with other SCBU babies and their parents and nobody seemed to have any complaints. Staff cuddly with the babies and understanding. I only say this as obviously with twinnies there might be a chance they might need to go there for a bit if they’re early or something.

With regard to pushchairs we always had a Bugaboo variation. God I loved them. You could switch the colours and get cup holders . Miss those days!!

Honestly, I didn't want to fill you with dread but I also wouldn't want anyone to put up with what I did, and actually, quite a few of other ladies on the same wards as me too.

It could be a great hospital, but like everything, it's being screwed by lack of investment.

DS is doing well considering, we have since been under a different hospital. But even more recently I've heard of mums ignored, shouted down and sidelined by Wexham maternity services and it's not a great start to such a huge change to your way of life.

That's honestly so great to hear! Thank you so much!

I have been looking at the bugaboo Donkey 5 for the twinnies which looks pretty good!

@ReformedWaywardTeen
Thank you so much, I really appreciate your advice and I honestly think with twins it's going to be a little traumatic so really want to be somewhere safe!

I had my two recently at Wexham and have no complaints whatsoever, my midwifes both times were amazing and I had great aftercare. The antenatal appointments whilst pregnant however have very long wait times, that was my only complaint! But I have also heard great thinks about Stoke Mandeville :)

I had an emergency C section at Wexham and I cannot fault how quickly the staff acted, my baby was distressed and they got him out very quicky, the baby was born healthy but this was due to the consultant and staff. I had had my second baby at Wexham not that long ago, which was a VBAC and my midwife was fantastic, again the baby was born healthy. I have heard mixed reviews about both hospital's but I cannot fault Wexham x

I had a fantastic experience at Wexham, couldn’t fault a single staff member and they were very efficient and quick at dealing with things during labour. Everyone is going to have different experiences of course but I don’t have a bad thing to say about them.

I’ve had both emergency and planned c sections at Wexham and could not fault my experience.

I’ve also had two visits to a and e - one of which resulted in DS1 having emergency surgery . They were brilliant

friends husband worked at both some years ago and he recommended W .

You will get good and bad reports on both - where you are actually living makes a big difference . SM is a long way for a lot of people who are meant to rely on it . I would consider whether you need to cross the River Thames to get to your choice as one of the major bridges is due to be closed for 20 weeks which will snarl up lots of local routes

Thanks so much everyone for your replies! I think it's fair to say there will be good and bad for both places. I'm in Beaconsfield so both aren't too far away.

I think it depends on where you live. Wexham is not the easiest place to get to from parts of High Wycombe, and if you are nearer Wexham, Stoke is a pain in the arse to get to as well.

All hospitals have good and bad stories, but to me, it would come down to logistics.

SM can be a massive pain to get to from Beaconsfield, we lived in Wycombe at the time and found Wexham quicker to get to. If you can, do a few test runs!

Thank you so much - we will definitely do a test run!

Living in Beaconsfield I would go for Wexham personally

Have you done the drive? Stoke is a solid 40 minute drive from Beaconsfield & not a brilliant drive in labour. Queen Charlotte & Chelsea in West London is just as close to give you an idea! Wexham is much closer.

You’ll also get seen at High Wycombe post birth unless things have changed in the last few months.