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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Hospital an hour away?

35 replies

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!

OP posts:
OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 14/02/2024 13:01

What about a home birth? That's what I would do.

PuttingDownRoots · 14/02/2024 13:02

With DD1, the nearest hospital was an hour away. We got stuck in traffic... it took 2hrs.

DD2 was supposed to be 45mins away... we opted for homebirth. On the day, I wouldn't have got in at the nearest hospital, the alternatives were at least 90mins away... and it was during a snowstorm. I was very happy the midwives came to us!

TheSnowyOwl · 14/02/2024 13:02

For many people, a hour is their local hospital.

I’d prioritise giving birth where you feel most comfortable and have a low threshold for going in.

Original poster
MisssMarion · 14/02/2024 16:31

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 14/02/2024 13:01

What about a home birth? That's what I would do.

Oh no that's definitely not something I'd be into 😅

OP posts:
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 🤣

Original poster
MisssMarion · 14/02/2024 16:53

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 🤣

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...

OP posts:
Autumn1990 · 14/02/2024 16:57

i had to travel an hour to the nearest hospital it was fine both times

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?

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.

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.

Mumoftwo2022 · 14/02/2024 17:05

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...

Show quote history

My 1st was really long my second was really quick like only 90 minutes between first contraction and him being out. Gave birth 5 minutes after arriving in hospital if there had been traffic he would have been born in car 🙈🙈

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 ☺️

Dinosaurus86 · 15/02/2024 18:23

Hi OP, we moved recently and our nearest is now William Harvey too - though still a 30 min drive. No way am I going there if I can help it. At the moment I’ve booked in London… probably for c section. However, if that becomes untenable I’ll look to transfer to Medway. Medway hospital generally not great, but maternity and nicu seem fairly well rated.

Original poster
MisssMarion · 15/02/2024 18:29

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 ☺️

Thanks!
Definitely not keen on a home birth as I want the epidural 😁

OP posts:
Original poster
MisssMarion · 15/02/2024 18:30

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.

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...

OP posts:
Original poster
MisssMarion · 15/02/2024 18:31

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.

I might do the same if they ask me to go home... 😄 The thing is you never I ow how fast labour is going to be!

OP posts:
Original poster
MisssMarion · 15/02/2024 18:32

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?

Not keen on a home birth as I want an epidural 😁

OP posts:
Overthebow · 15/02/2024 18:35

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...

Show quote history

Monitoring would be at the hospital so if you do have to have extra at the end it will likely be at the hospital you’re giving birth at. I was in for growth scans an other appointments multiple times a week in the last 6 weeks of my pregnancy. They were all at the hospital as the community midwives don’t have the equipment for scans and monitoring.

Original poster
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'... 😢😢😢

OP posts:
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.

babygonewild · 16/02/2024 17:21

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'... 😢😢😢

Sadly I think all maternity services in the UK are pretty inadequate these days. You've just got to take care of yourself, and advocate for the best care you can access.

Original poster
MisssMarion · 16/02/2024 17:30

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.

Thanks for the suggestion I'll check it out!

OP posts:
TheBirdintheCave · 16/02/2024 18:51

Our nearest hospitals are 45 minutes away each and this is our second baby too. With our first we lived 10 minutes away from a hospital. Definitely feeling a bit more anxious about making it there this time round 😬

I think our plan is to go in a soon as I go into labour just in case.

HostessTrolley · 19/02/2024 23:58

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'... 😢😢😢

Read the report - and the patient surveys. The trust that runs pembury is in the top 8 in the country for patient ratings for maternity care. A lot of the improvements required by CQC are for systems and processes, documentation and management type stuff, any mentions of the actual care in the report are much more positive than they are about the management. It's important to not just read Kent Live or the headlines x

summertimesadness24 · 20/02/2024 22:45

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!

Pls don't give birth at William Harvey
Speaking from experience of 2022
Please just don't.....