Worcestershire Birth Experiences thread

[LEWorcestershire]

Hi everyone,

When I was pregnant with DS1, I found it really hard to find any 'real life' experiences of either Worcester Royal or the Alex in Redditch for giving birth.

I thought that maybe a thread which could exist on here for anyone to comment on would be useful.

I will kick off by saying that I had DS at the Alex in the end (March 2012). I really liked it there, the staff were amazing (only one ropey midwife) and it was quite peaceful and there seemed to be people around to help if you needed it. My experience of the midwives on the delivery suite was amazing, I will never forget them, they were so kind and supportive. The HCA's on the post natal ward were also really kind too.

I would say that they were very pro breastfeeding, which wasn't really an issue for me, but if you weren't keen it might be a bit annoying, although I made it clear that I really wanted to so that might have influenced them.

The facilities (especially the bathrooms) were spotlessly clean, and the meals were nice enough. What I would say is to take some extra bottles of water with you as they only replace the water twice a day (and they are pretty busy so you feel a bit bad asking at other times), there were a few times when I was really thirsty and it would have been handy to have had my own water supply!

I had my dd at worcester royal. I couldn't fault the staff, the midwife stayed after her shift for me too. All ehere helpful and very supportive.

The downside was the facilities, I was induced and the room they gave me wasn't much bigger than the bed with no windows or even pictures on the wall, I was trying to spend as little time in there as possible. I was moved for delivery, then placed on a ward with lots of other mums many who where first timers struggling to feed etc, I wanted out asap.

If it had private rooms its would have been better more relaxing, I cant blame the other babies for screaming keeping dd awake. Needs updating I think.

Can't add anything to this-my two were born at Worcester but down in Ronkswood before they knocked it down.

In fact DS2 was born in January 2002 and everything was moved to the new hospital in the March.

The only thing about the new hospital is the parking, unless it has got better since my last trip. Disappointed that it's still all wards, thought there may have been some private rooms.

Also, does anyone know what they are building just outside as you turn off from the roundabout? It's huge.

I think it's a care home Sparkling and also there's a new radiotherapy unit going up somewhere there too. And I have heard rumours of new lovely MLW but I bet it won't be in fruition before I have DC2!

Oh right thanks LEW, I thought it was going to be a pub. Is the Radiotherapy bit what's going on by A&E?

Ooh a lovely MLW that sounds good. It's a shame I didn't have DS2 two months later and be in the new hospital.

I feel ever so sad driving down into Worcester that way and seeing all the houses being built where I had my babies.

Its funny how things like that make you sentimental, im exactly the same sparkling.

It's a bit daft really. The exact spot where I gave birth to them will probably be someone's living room/downstairs loo.

Went past the hospital today. How could I have thought that building was a pub. It's huge!