John Radcliffe (Oxford) or Rosie (Cambridge)? Any experiences?

[Qally]

DH is starting a new job in Oxford soon, and I'm going to be 8 months pregnant. The options are either for me to stay put in Cambridge till after the birth and have the baby as planned (MLU within the Rosie hospital, so fully run by midwives encouraging active birth, but with the consultant-led care on the floor below) or move to Oxford lock, stock & barrel and book at the John Radcliffe- which I know very little about. I have a couple of complications that make a VB a very, very good idea for me, so I really do want to avoid an epidural if I can due to cascaded intervention risks, but as I know the pain may just get too much I still want one available as a last-ditch option. (Knowing I had meds for severe morning sickness helped me cope, even though I never took them - just knowing there was relief available if I cracked meant I could cope. I want to have that reassurance in labour, too.) That rules out somewhere like Wallingford.

Can I ask what people's experiences of both hospitals have been when birthing? Obviously several other factors are at issue, in terms of such a badly timed move, but I wanted to know what people thought of each hospital. It would really help us decide.

I had dd at the rosie and had a great experience. I was on the midwifery led unit for 6 hours and then moved up to the labour unit as I needed a epidural. I can't praise the staff ther enough. Really good experience.

I worked at the John Radcliffe as a nurse, I can't comment on the maternity unit but I would have thought it's a good unit as it's a large teaching hospital. I would stick with the Rosie if I were you.

I had dd2 at JR and thought it fab, although was only there for 2 hrs (V quick birth). I had ds1 in London and I had a similar dilemma, although dh stayed with me in London until after birth. I would def say move before to Oxford. You will want your hubbie with you I'm sure. You will get + and - responses for both hospital. Think it is largely a matter of chance. Best of luck and hope move goes smoothly. ps moving with 3 week old pretty hard too !!!

I had DD at the JR in Feb, and was really impressed. There was a mw with us the whole time (it kept depressing me when they changed shifts, and there I was, still dilating at a woeful rate!)and when I had to wait 10 mins for my epidural they were very apologetic.

VS - where in the shire are you? I'm in Benson. Just went to the Oxford local board for the first time at your recommendation.

Ohh I live in Oxford and didn't know there's a local board!

I have just had two friends give birth at the JR and both said it was really good, even though they both had shitty long labours. Both were very happy at the labour suits and their care. One had an emergency cs which went really well, and the other wasn't allowed to go home because the MW noticed that the breastfeeding wasn't going very well, so they kept her in and gave her a lot of help, which she was really happy with.

I am due in exactly four weeks, I'm happy to have seen some good comments here about the JR!

Awww totally gutted to have missed the picnic, would've loved to have met some Oxford MNers.

Stupid question coming up - where's this local board, I can't see it at all.