LGI v Jimmys V Harrogate?

[Cosmosis]

Can I have advice on the above choices? We are currently booked in to LGI, hoping to be in the MLU section & have waterbirth if a pool is free, but am now (at 30 wks) having a panic that we?ve not really considered the other choices. I have heard quite good things about Harrogate recently (live at the very edge of north leeds so distance wise it?s almost as near as LGI anyway), but they only have 1 pool, whereas I think LGI have more (although I can?t seem to find out how many at the moment). We have tour of Harrogate booked for 1st July and tour of LGI on 21st July. The info on Jimmys on the NHS site seems to suggest they don?t have any pools, is that still correct does anyone know? I had though they did now.

Have next MW appointment on Wed next week so will talk to her about it as well, but just wanted to see what experiences anyone had on here.

Sorry if this appears twice, I thought I'd posted earlier, but can't see it!

Only have experience of Jimmy's-gave birth there in Dec (in labour at the hospital for 36 hours and stayed in 3 nights afterwards). Absolutely fantastic care from the initial assessment unit through ante-natal ward, delivery suite and post-natal ward. All the midwives I had experience of were brilliant, couldn't fault any of them-really kind and couldn't do enough to help, especially with bf afterwards. I had a private room on the post natal ward which was great -definitely recommend that (especially as we don't seem to have been charged for it!). No birthing pools unfortunately but I would recommend Jimmy's for an ordinary birth and would definitely go back if I was to have a second baby.

Will jump into an old thread here - am 28 weeks and am booked into Harrogate (I live in far NW Leeds), my care so far has been superb and I've heard wonderful things from ladies who have given birth there. Only has one pool so have to hope the other ladies there on the night can't swim!

Anyone who is booked for Leeds needs to be aware that they may go to either hospital depending on staff, how busy it is, etc., so please don't set your hearts on one or the other.

My friend had a bad experience at Harrogate but perhaps she was just unlucky. To be honest if you don't live in Harrogate I would choose Leeds, the postnatal wards are pretty awful (apart from transitional care) but the expertise of the medical staff in particular is probably worth it. There are more cots as well if DCs need any help.

I've jot my first mw appointment next week and am unsure where to say I want to give birth (I know you can change at any time) so I thought I'd resurrect this thread and see if anyone had anything to add.

Had DD 16 months ago at Jimmy's. Fab antenatal ward. Ensuite bathroom in delivery suite. Great midwife and 1-2-1 attention. Ended in EMCS which was fine, theatre staff great. BUT horrible experience on the postnatal ward.

Any thoughts/comments appreciated :)

^Got not jot!

I had DC1 at LGI some years ago by EMCS and found the emergency care good, but post natal ward filthy and understaffed.

Am now booked for an ELCS at Harrogate which is much cleaner and staffing looked better when I went for my pre-op assessment. I've found the antenatal care good and have had my wishes for an ELCS respected. Post natal ward seems to have quite a lot of side rooms too which I found LGI lacked when I was there.

Thanks Choccybaby. I've heard Harrogate's good...the only thing that puts me off is that the Leeds hospitals are bigger with more specialists, etc. A friend had a baby at Harrogate though and also really recommended it.

I had ds1 and 2 at jimmys and had no problems it was clean and midwives were helpful but it felt very busy.
I had dd at Harrogate 2 weeks ago. It seemed so much calmer. The wards were smaller and very clean.

LGI have 3 pools (I think) and Jimmys definitely have one or more. Don't know abut Harrogate

Not too fussed about pools though it might be nice to have the option. It looks like i'll have to be referred to a consultant....not sure if this will make any difference but i'll have a chat with my mw about it.

Harrogate has one birthing pool. I've just had DD at Harrogate. Even though the delivery did not go quite to plan (ended up having an emergency c section) - the care was second to none, and I highly recommend the hospital. The staff in both the delivery suite and postnatal wards were fantastic. They have a small number of 'amenity rooms' available in the postnatal ward which offer a single room with ensuite for a small charge. Well worth paying for, as it really helped me get some sleep for the few nights I was in (1 night on the ward and 2 nights in an amenity room). If I were to have any more children, I would not hesitate to go back to Harrogate.

I gave birth in LGI in 2010. Support during labour was so-and-so. The midwife was awful, but the anestetist who gave me an epidural was very good and professional and so was the student midwife, actually she was more supportive than the midwife. The postnatal care was awful, the ward was overcrowded (8 mums+8 babies in the same room+visiting relatives) with very little privacy and peace. Impossible to sleep or rest. Had trouble breastfeeding and staff was not very helpful. Ended up discharging myself sooner than I ideally would have wanted to, and opting for bottlefeeding just because I could not bear the thought of staying in that place one night longer. I am now expecting my second and considering Harrogate as I really do not want to go back to LGI but reading on this thread about the higher C-section rate in harrogate is making me doubt.

I am in the process of considering Harrogate- well I am booked in there (whatever that means) even though I want a home birth.
I am a bit confused by what the high c-section rate is? Surely it cant be down to the staff/hospital but the women/babies who need emergency c-sections? Or am I being stupid.
I am a first time mum and panicking at the thought of ending up in hospital at all, without even thinking about c-section rates!

I had DS1 at LGI 11 weeks ago an have to say the care whilst delivering was fantastic. After arriving at hospital and bring assessed at 9cm dilated they still ran a birthing pool for me as I had expressed a wish to try and birth in the pool. I was only in the pool for 15 minutes before DS arrived but I am very grateful they listened to my wishes and allowed me a water birth! I was taken to theatre after as a had a bad tear and the midwife stayed with me the whole time and was extremely supportive. HOWEVER the care on the post natal ward left a lot to be desired! I was told i could be discharged the same day only to be told at 7:30pm they didn't have time to do my discharge papers sk had to stay in a night. However it was very busy and they seemed very short staffed so was left to own devices which was quote scary for a 1st time mum!
I have heard similar experiences about jimmys as well, that delivery care is fantastic but post natal care can be quite hit and miss. I only know 1 person who has had a baby at Harrogate and they had a fantastic experience although as far as I was aware they didn't have any birthing pools if that was something you were interested in, I have also heard about the high c-section rates at Harrogate.

I know I biased having had 2 CSs (with excellent recent care at Harrogate by the way, sooooo much better postnatal care than LGI), but why the emphasis on CS rates? Having a CS isn't the end if the world and is often life saving.

The problem with gross statistics like this is they don't show the reason they are high/low. It's possible that the staff at Harrogate are more cautious and intervene with CS more than other hospitals resulting in the higher rate. It's equally plausible that they allow more patient choice and don't try to force people to try and have a VB when they don't want one for whatever reason as numerous threads here suggest happens elsewhere.

Also i think age is a risk factor for EMCS and given the demographics of the area would not be surprised if women giving birth in Harrogate were older on average so that might have a bearing.

Anyway, I would highly recommend Harrogate for anyone having an ELCS as mine was well organised, all my questions were answered at the pre op assessment, the post natal ward is clean with really helpful staff who actually had time to support breast feeding etc (unlike LGI) and even the food was good!

I just want to follow up my comment. I had my second baby at Harrogate and the care I received in the labour and postnatal ward has been amazing. Much much better than LGI. I stayed for 5 nights and I can truly say that I was a bit sad to leave as the support I received was so great, particularly with breastfeeding (I had a not larching janduiced baby and needed lot of help). Even the foid was great! I am not planning any other baby but if I was I will definitely choose harrogate again.

I had my DD at Harrogate 6 months ago & agree with everyone else about how fab it was. :)

I know this is a zombie thread (sorry!) - but just wondered if anyone had any recent opinions on these three hospitals as they'll be my choices for the area I'm in; I'm currently leaning towards Harrogate as a friend had her baby there and really rated it. That was also a few years ago though, so if anyone has any recent opinions I'd love to hear them! Thanks :)

Aargh zombie thread! However, I would choose a leeds hospital as the facilities for baby are better if they need any medical treatment. I had mine at Jimmys purely because the parking is so much better (LGI carpark is literally the worst I have ever experienced!). I felt very safe and well looked after, though admittedly none of Jimmys is exactly luxurious.

I had DS at Jimmys in 2013. Two pools now - one nicer than other (we got nice one!). Assessment unit and delivery suite were brilliant and staff went out of their way to get me pool. Postnatal pretty terrible though.