So I live in Kent, very close to a hospital (William Harvey) currently rated 'inadequate' for their maternity services due to a baby deaths scandal... It would be the obvious choice for me to give birth there (since they're the closest hospital) and I know they're making changes as they're under a lot of scrutiny, but I can't get what happened there out of my head. My other option (Pembury) is an hour drive away... and I'm not sure that's reasonable. This will be my second baby, and my first labour was 31 hours, if it's relevant.
What would you do? Have you registered with a hospital that's quite far?
Thanks!
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Childbirth
Hospital an hour away?
MisssMarion · 14/02/2024 12:59
OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 14/02/2024 13:01
What about a home birth? That's what I would do.
Frogger17 · 14/02/2024 16:33
Both of mine have been Superfast, hospital half an hour away, DH just had to put his foot down between contractions.
Do you have heated seats? They help a lot 🤣
MisssMarion · 14/02/2024 16:53
My first took 31 hours from first contractions so I'm not too worried, but you never know. I'm also worried of them sending me back home if I'm not in active labour...
Frogger17 · 14/02/2024 16:33
Both of mine have been Superfast, hospital half an hour away, DH just had to put his foot down between contractions.
Do you have heated seats? They help a lot 🤣
babygonewild · 14/02/2024 20:09
I'd have a home birth, have had two - a lot safer that William Harvey that's for sure!
Otherwise, go to Pembury, just don't hang about! They aren't as pedantic about 'active labour' and dilation for second babies as they can come pretty quick!
Good luck ☺️
MizzMarple · 14/02/2024 17:05
I wouldn’t be too worried about labour especially if your first one was quite slow but what about appointments or if you need to go in fairly quickly because of bleeding or feeling ill? Would your midwife appointments be at the hospital too? Do you have easy childcare for your older one? By the end of my second pregnancy I had to go in for monitoring every day. I wouldn’t have wanted to drive 2 hrs a day for that.
BananaLlama123 · 14/02/2024 17:04
Mine is an hour away as well, it was fine. DS was the quickest, we made it with 20min to spare....
they tried sending me home with DD1, in just went and walked laps of the grounds until things got more progressed.
JanewaysBun · 14/02/2024 17:03
My second i only just made it to the hospital 30 mins away, 1st took ages, dc2 about 90 mins between "am i in labour or just braxton hicks?" To pushing .
Agree a home birth might be an option?
MisssMarion · 15/02/2024 18:30
That's a fair point. I did talk to Pembury and they said the routine appointments would be with my local midwife's but the booking appointment and scans would be at Pembury so I think it's a good compromise...
MizzMarple · 14/02/2024 17:05
I wouldn’t be too worried about labour especially if your first one was quite slow but what about appointments or if you need to go in fairly quickly because of bleeding or feeling ill? Would your midwife appointments be at the hospital too? Do you have easy childcare for your older one? By the end of my second pregnancy I had to go in for monitoring every day. I wouldn’t have wanted to drive 2 hrs a day for that.
MisssMarion · 16/02/2024 15:57
The plot thickens as the CQC just published their report for the Pembury hospital and rated the maternity services 'inadequate'... 😢😢😢
Dinosaurus86 · 16/02/2024 16:05
Are you in Ashford @MisssMarion - I would still perhaps suggest Medway. As far as I can tell, their maternity services were rated good in the last one. 50 min drive from Ashford. I’m hoping to go there if it gets too much to go to London.
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MisssMarion · 16/02/2024 15:57
The plot thickens as the CQC just published their report for the Pembury hospital and rated the maternity services 'inadequate'... 😢😢😢
MisssMarion · 14/02/2024 12:59
So I live in Kent, very close to a hospital (William Harvey) currently rated 'inadequate' for their maternity services due to a baby deaths scandal... It would be the obvious choice for me to give birth there (since they're the closest hospital) and I know they're making changes as they're under a lot of scrutiny, but I can't get what happened there out of my head. My other option (Pembury) is an hour drive away... and I'm not sure that's reasonable. This will be my second baby, and my first labour was 31 hours, if it's relevant.
What would you do? Have you registered with a hospital that's quite far?
Thanks!
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