Childbirth - Birm Womens or Warwick hospital?

[Tara033]

I live in Solihull and the nearest hospital is Heartlands which has got a bit of a reputation. I looked at the latest inspection and both Heartlands and Good Hope require improvements for their maternity care and don't want to risk it.
My midwife recommended Warwick hospital and said that all tests and scans would be done there but I would still have my midwife services in Solihull.
Both hospitals I'm considering (Birmingham Womens and Warwick) are around 30-35 mins drive, still trying to decide which one would be best. Has anyone got any advice based on their own experiences? Thanks xx

Birmingham Womens every time. If for some reason your baby needed neonatal care, they have all the specialist care there. Warwick don’t.

If you're low risk then I'd recommend Warwick as you could deliver in the bluebell birth centre. There is a scbu if baby did need extra care and the labour ward is a 3 minute transfer within the hospital.

Would Birmingham Women's Home Birth team be an option for you? They're incredible.

Also had a baby in the birth centre at Heartlands and all was okay. (not trying to convince you but just for balance if you do end up going there, it wasn't my plan at all but was where I ended up).

Is Heartlands like that now?

I had both my 2 (both over a decade ago) at heartlands and despite them being insanely busy, I owe them my youngest life tbh. She was born at 29 weeks and is a bloody amazing.

At the time, Warwick didn't have the best reputation. It's my local hospital and I'm not a massive fan. But that's not because of the maternity unit.

Do Solihull still not have a midwife center at the hospital?

Warwick don't do elective c sections I believe - or only on a couple of days per week so really depends on the kind of birth you want or expect to have ?
Good hope is the same

Heartlands......I had a good experience there. But I was high risk with twins and it was lockdown. I found the day to day care really good - I gave birth alone via c section, twins and I nearly died when both placentas detached and the midwife team really was wonderful. Dedicated breastfeeding midwives were fantastic.

The Parking though is fucking horrendous and makes me anxious every time I have to go! it's the only reason why I chose to go to Worcester Royal for my eldest (I'm also in Solihull and originally was with the Alexandra but that closed the maternity unit during my pregnancy). Worcester was lovely and also only 35 mins or so away so I'd consider there to be honest. Also does elective c sections. Has Both a midwife led wing and a side where you can have all the drugs 😅

Solihull is midwife led and last I heard you can't get anything more than basic pain relief there - may as well do a home birth! You have to be super low risk to go there it's hardly worth it

I’m Solihull and opted of UHCW, in Cov it’s the same travel time as Warwick from where I am but a university hospital with what appears to be a much better CQC rating than the nearest ones to me in bham and Solihull and good reputation, I’ve been happy with them so far and also under Solihull for my community care. I had first DC at Good Hope but lived nearer to there at the time. The Women’s is too far from where I am but I’d go with the university hospital

@brummumma Warwick definitely do ELCSs. They offer them out like sweets 😂 their c-section rate is usually around the 50% mark every month so OP that’s perhaps something to consider if you don’t want a c-section… you might find yourself directed to one more so there if things don’t go straightforwardly.

I had an ELCS at Warwick (technically an EMCS as I went into labour ahead of my date) 14 weeks ago. I asked for one at my booking appointment, midwife was very supportive of this (in fact, she suggested it after I hinted at it to test the waters). Saw the consultant at 16 weeks and he booked it in right then and gave me the date. Absolutely no pushback at all.

When I went on a ward tour, I was told they do electives Mon-Thurs. 2 are full day lists and 2 days are half days. You rarely get bumped (which was a worry for me) because they have 2 theatres. I ended up having mine on a Saturday.

The care on the postnatal ward was incredible. It was very busy but the midwives were so kind and supportive, and they gave so much support with breastfeeding and were very gentle when it wasn’t working, sensitively offering me formula once it got to a point where the latch wasn’t working. The infant feeding team were great the next day too and invited me in a few times over the next few weeks.

It was an amazing experience and I’m glad I went with Warwick.

Also, just to say that the midwives were very generous with the pain relief after my c-section. None of this ‘you only need paracetamol and ibruprofen’ business!

When I came out of recovery, I got handed a box of ibruprofen and a box of paracetamol to self-administer. Plenty there for the 48 hours I stayed in. Then the midwives came round with oramorph. I didn’t ask for it, they just brought it round a couple of times. Then they offered dihydrocodeine the next day and sent me home with a box of it too.

Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences and recommendations. Very useful to know!
Unfortunately I just had a miscarriage, but will keep your suggestions in mind for the next time.
Thanks all xxx