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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Any feedback on Chester, Wythenshawe or Warrington hospitals please?

43 replies

RainyWednesday · 25/04/2008 16:11

Hello all

I'm currently 19+4 and will be moving 200 miles north (probably Cheshire-ish) in July - so I currently have absolutely no idea where I will be giving birth. Any advice or feedback on any of the above (or nearby alternatives) would be very welcome.

Chester will probably be the furthest away, but I have a soft spot for it, having been born there myself - don't remember much about it though

I know nothing about Wythenshawe and all I know about Warrington is that my parents thing it is horrible (I think coloured by my brother spending far too much time there, for a fractured spine and shredded spleen on two separate occasions). My cousin gave birth there and said it was okay but they are not big on BF.

Ideally I'd like to spend some time in a birthing pool (though not necessarily give birth in it), I like the idea of midwife centres and I would like some BF support. Really though I just want me and LO to make it through okay.

Thanks in advance

RW x

OP posts:

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PuppyDogTails · 25/04/2008 16:17

Don't forget Leighton Hospital in Crewe - covers quite a large part of Cheshire. I gave birth there and had no complaints at all. I could have used a pool if I wanted one.

PuppyDogTails · 25/04/2008 16:18

Also very keen to get baby BFing as soon as possible after birth (while we were still in the delivery suite)

pinkyminky · 25/04/2008 16:18

Wythenshawe is very nice, but I haven't had a normal delivery there,only ecs. The wards are clean, and the staff friendly. Had great, consistent support with bf.
My friend has had very successful births at the new stepping hill birthing centre- her second was born in his bubble!

SquonkTheBeerGuru · 25/04/2008 16:19

I had dd1 in Stepping Hill in Stockport (if you're close enough to Wythenshawe, you're probably not that far away from Stockport)

And apart from them having the same curtains as then, I believe it's still ok.

pinkyminky · 25/04/2008 16:21

They have a new midwife led birthing unit, I think.

SquonkTheBeerGuru · 25/04/2008 16:22

sounds lovely.

Original poster

RainyWednesday · 25/04/2008 16:25

Thanks, this is all useful! I have no idea where we'll end up living, as it will depend largely on where DH finds work, but all info is useful

OP posts:

orangehead · 25/04/2008 16:25

wythenshawe ok. Trafford gerenal ok. I have heard many horrendous stories about stepping hill, I personally would rather travel than go there

Whizzz · 25/04/2008 16:29

I was in Warrington & frankly was not amused & couldn't wait to leave. I found it to have dirty toilets, I was left alone for ages & i just felt that they were very understaffed. I wasn't given any BF advice. That was almost 8 years ago though. It may have improved.

MindingMum · 25/04/2008 16:30

I've had all 5 DC's at Chester and all has been fine. Three of them were born by c/s and found care excellent and wards clean.

yorkshirepudding · 25/04/2008 16:33

Message withdrawn

pinkyminky · 25/04/2008 16:42

Stepping Hill used to be the last place on the planet to have babies, nearly got shut down, but as I say, I think it has this new set up.

paddingtonbear1 · 25/04/2008 16:42

will you be anywhere near Macclesfield?
I had dd there and it was fine. I haven't heard any bad reports about it.

bramblebooks · 25/04/2008 16:54

I had both DSs at Chester and was very pleased with my care, especially as it wasn't straightforward 2nd time. (Veggie food wasn't brilliant though).

InTheseShoes · 25/04/2008 16:58

Had DS2 at wythenshawe and was really impressed with the care I received - endless support with breastfeeding, and nt just for me, but everyone on the ward; skin to skin straight after CSection, jolly staff, very nice cups of tea. Plus made a friend for life in the bed opposite (nursing a hangover from a night out with her last night!) It's a teaching hospital, which as an ex-NHS employee I would always go for.

pinacolada82 · 25/04/2008 17:01

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

helenelisabeth · 25/04/2008 17:05

Had DD1 at Chester - was fine.

pinkyminky · 25/04/2008 17:05

ITS- I really liked wythenshawe, eps. after St Mary's. They brought me cups of tea and toast in the middle of the night when DD was feeding. I'm going for VBA2C there with this pg.

moominsmummy · 25/04/2008 17:09

I had DS at Warrington - was not impressed. carpets on the floors - yuk! nobody i know got to use the pool whereas I know loads of people who used the pool at stepping hill. have heard positive stuff about wythenshawe too.

warrington hospital is generally awful and we wouldn't go back there if our lives depended on it

hippocampus · 25/04/2008 17:16

Care at Countess of Chester is very hit and miss depending on midwife, would not particularly reccomend, particularly if you're after good breastfeeding support. Haven't been able to wait to get out after having all mine.

Original poster

RainyWednesday · 25/04/2008 18:16

Good to see my parents' views on Warrington aren't too far off the mark!

Bizarrely, I've remembered that I worked at Stepping Hill (very briefly, typing). They do seem to have a snazzy new birth centre according to their website, so maybe that's worth looking into.

paddingtonbear1 I don't think we'll be near Macclesfield, but you never know!

bramblebooks veggie food isn't an issue for me (though I'm kind of expecting all hospital food everywhere to be horrible!)

Wythenshawe is sounding good (I'm a sucker for a good cup of tea).

Many thanks everyone x

OP posts:

IceCube · 26/04/2008 21:22

How much choice do GPs normally give, can you choose any hospital or do they have to be within a certain distance?

suwoo · 26/04/2008 21:35

Hope Hospital in Salford comes highly recommended as they have a fab midwife led birthing suite there seperate from the actual hospital. It has a pool and is great for a drug free labour. I had both mine at St Marys and would recommend there too.

pinkyminky · 26/04/2008 22:23

I didn't like St Mary's. I had a bad birth experience, but aside from that,though the breastfeeding straight after my emcs went well, the help on the ward was very conflicting and many were very unhelpful. I was bedridden for two days and nobody brought me anything to eat or drink (except my family). The beds on the regular wards after I was moved from the recovery room were just the oldest basic beds and were agony. Everyone kept their curtains closed and it was very dark and dreary. I wasn't given a draw sheet when stuck in bed and was huffed at when I asked for my sheets to be changed. I found it very depressing.The cleaners would wake everyone up at 7am regardless of how long you had been asleep. I think if you have a good delivery and are in and out you would be ok. MY mum had my brother at st mary's and thought the building may have changed but it was still as grim as it was in the 1960's. Sorry, bit of a rant there.

chatee · 26/04/2008 22:31

sil had her babies in warrington in the last three years and it wasn't that bad - but then again she didn't want to bf so didn't need support, but she was looked after really well in the latter stages of pregnancy(due to previous worries)

would definetly NOT reccomend Leighton (in fact i drove for over one hour (whilst bleeding at 31 weeks ) to get away from that hospital area(due to previous birth there...

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