Changing hospital pre labour - Can you do it, how, when etc

[needahand]

Following on from my other thread, I have today visited my local hospital and was horrified with what I saw. I would like to be able to visit the other hospitals in my area. I have tried to look on the NICE and AIMS websites to see if you can change hospital but haven't been able to find much information.

Did any of you did this and if so how, when, was it hard to do. Basically any information would be greatly appreciated

You can give birth wherever you want to. Tell your MW where you would prefer.

you can get your GP to refer you to the other hosp - they can refuse you if they are full

Is it really as simple as that? Are there no formalities to comply with

Thanks by the way

if the other hosp is quite far away then you may need to travel a bit for MW check ups but it does vary from place to place

the Blonde I think the other hospitals are all about 30 mns away. To be honest I would travel to the moon and back if I had to! I am desperate to find somewhere (at least clean) to give birth

Hiya,

I am due in 2 weeks and I am changing, just got MW to do a referral.

Charlie

Thanks Charlie What if your MW doesn't want to do that though? Can you "bypass her?"

I gave birth at a different hospital to the one I was registered with with ds2. It was completely by accident mind, I tripped and fell onto my tummy at 39+5, so we headed to the nearest hospital with a maternity unit to where we were at the time (I live smack bang between 2 hospitals). They were great, saw me quickly, hooked me up to monitors to check babe, did a scan to check for bleeding and just as they were about to send me home, I told them I was in labour, 1 & 1/2 hours later, ds2 popped into the world and it was a fabulous experience and I realise now, I prefered this hospital over the one I had originally chosen to got to. So follow your heart, if you want to change, do it, it's not hard, your MW of GP should be able to do the referal. Not sure I recommend my way of "just showing up" though, would have been a nightmare had they have been full!

I got refused my first two choice hospitals at 33 weeks as they were both full (some hospitals cap how many births they do per month). Got referred to another much further away.

My MW said that if I called an ambulance, they will always take you to the closest.

If you need to bypass anyone you just call the head of midwifery at your chosen hosp and tell them you want to book in with them

staranise - I had an ambulance with DC2 and luckily they did take me to my chosen hosp which was further away (MW had warned me they might take me to the nearest one instead)

Needahand - you want to go to the dr foster birth guide, put in your postcode and it will show you the four units closest to you which you can choose from. I wouldn't go to my nearest hospital if my arse was on fire!

You can contact wherever you are considering and ask if they do tours and then call the head of midwifery there and say you want to book in with them. It's unusual for larger hospitals to hit 100% capacity though so don't worry too much.

Thanks all of you. I really really appreciate your advice. I will speak to my midwife and look at dr forster's birth guide.

I will call the head of midwifery today at the other hospital to see if I can do a tour and then possibly book with them.

Will let you know how it goes

Hiya,

Apparently they cant refuse you, you are entitled to choose. The only reason they can say no is if there is no capacity at any of the alternatives you are proposing.

My midwife just picked up the phone, called the hospital I want to go to now, they said OK and the GP's have done a new referral letter urgently and send it through to the new hospital. I am 38 weeks today. Apparently I will be getting an appointment to go to the new hosp for a booking in... !!! next week..!

I did a tour on Sat and it was brill, feel so much better about it now.

Good luck with yours,

Charlie

Thanks Charlie. That is very reassuring to know. Good luck with your new hospital and labour I hope you have a fab birth