New Stoke Mandeville Birth Centre

[chickane]

Hello, I was wondering what people's experiences of the new birth centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital were.

We couldn't get a tour (because of swine flu) but are having our baby there anyway and so don't really know what the facilities are.

So if anyone has experience of it and what options and care you were giving, it would be very appreciated!

bumping for you

What?

Just adding to my threads I'm on because I'm interested as well.

hope it's better than the old one where I had ds1...that was 10 years ago though and it was pretty dire

I'm going to be there soon as well. Popped my head in the reception area yest. when having a scan and all looks new and recently decorated! In fact new reception desk is not even open yet. Friend gave birth about 4 weeks ago and said it was nice. All usual stuff- 2 pools, balls, bean bags, cosy rooms. I am having a VBAC (fingers crossed)and they don't have wireless montors yet but on order so they tell me. My midwife says quite busy and a little bit stressful for them in there cos Wycombe and Aylesbury have combined maternity services and this was only implemented a couple of months ago.
I have many friends who have given birth at Stoke over the years and I have pretty much heard good things from all of them!
I am happy to be going there. Had my DD at Brighton and that has a really bad repution (although I thought it was fine)..
Hope this helps

I'm also interested in giving birth here

Hi
I had DD in the "normal" delivery unit at Stoke 8 weeks ago so can't comment on the birth unit but, given no one had replied, thought I would let you know what I could. DD is my first child so I have nothing else to compare it to.
As your MW has said, the maternity units at Wycombe and Stoke have just combined and I was there 3 days after this had happened so it was a bit chaotic. However, the care was fantastic. Even though they were very busy, the midwives (especially those who had come from Wycombe) were much kinder and more helpful than I expected from reading other people's posts on here about experiences in maternity wards and I had a really positive birth experience. In the "normal" delivery unit, there was a birthing ball, bean bag, couple of chairs, mat for kneeling on as well as the bed. And it was en suite with, I think, both a bath and a shower.
Up on the post-natal ward, the care continued to be good - the MW even took DD off for a walk in the night when she wouldn't settle and also looked after her when I went for a shower, which, from reading posts about other hospitals, is pretty unusual I think but very helpful. Having said that, they are ridiculously busy so sometimes you'd have to ask for things two or three times.
Do take in snacks (esp fruit as the food is pretty dire and definitely lacks vegetables/fruit) and magazines as most of the bays don't have TVs and there's no communal area. Its also really warn in there so take really thin PJs/nightie.
Good luck!

Hi - I have had both children there, most recent a few months ago. New rooms are lovely and clean, your own en-suite bathroom - which is great for wees/baths during labour and just general privacy. I had excellent Midwives both times and plenty of attention (ie not left alone for hours like you hear in some other hospitals).

The ward you go to afterwards seemed the same as 3 years ago. Very noisy and busy with crying babies and the bustle of visitors, mums in/out, consultants, Bounty lady, etc. Food pretty awful, so I agree with Murtette - definatley take your own snacks/drinks. Overall a good experience if you can be in and out and not spend time on the ward aferwards.

Don't have experience of other hospitals to compare with, but I have been overall happy with both, and most recent experience. Although I would say if you need help with breastfeeding, I dont feel I had enough help the first time round, so keep asking them for help if you need it. They also have a great breastfeeding clinic 2? times a week at the hospital which they are very helpful.

Good luck with the birth!

I'm now 41 weeks pregnant and Stoke Mandeville Hospital has just done a complete U-turn and are saying we cannot have our baby there. There are no words to describe how very angry I am at being treated so badly, so unfairly so late in my pregnancy.