Bolton royal or Manchester st Mary's

[1983Gem]

Hi

I have been told the two closest hospitals for me to have my baby in are Bolton royal and Manchester st Mary's, Bolton being a bit closer as I live in Swinton. I need to tell my midwife which hospital I want to have the baby in by Tuesday, I am going to do research but I was wondering if anyone had given birth in either of these hospitals and if they recommend it or not?

Any stories or advice would be much appreciated, this is my first baby so all new to me xxxx

I had both of mine at St.Mary's, but they've rebuilt the entire hospital since then, so I don't know what it's like now.
TBH you'll probably not be in that long anyway, these days they're pushing mums out the door of hospitals a few hours after birth.
You might well find that proximity matters when it's time anyway, babies don't wait for commutes.

Thanks for that! That's what I was thinking -- and I know traffic can get very bad around st Mary's, definitely going towards Bolton royal.

So do you leave the same day or next day afterwards giving birth? I had visions of being in there for days! X

They do a hearing check 6 hours after birth, and want to know that you've cracked feeding, but barring complications you should only be in 12 hours after birth. How long the birth actually takes is totally variable though, mine were 6 hours, some people do take days over it.

Thanks for that...I will just want to go home, fingers crossed no complications x

I had two of my three children at St Marys (one just eight weeks ago) and can't fault the care and provision. The hospital itself is really nice now - all very modern and bright. The staff were lovely and very attentive - i.e. they checked on me regularly following the births to make sure myself and baby were ok. Saying all this, I had fairly straightforward births and was only in a short time. When I was there most recently the midwife told me that the previous few weeks had been very busy but luckily things had quietened down when I went in. Overall, my experience very positive anyway. Hope that helps!

I had all of my 3 in St.Mary's and had great care. Staff were fab and I felt very safe. Proximity is important though.

I wrote a long message which I seem to have deleted.

Pregnancy 1 - Bolton was local hospital, had all of my antenatal care there, couldn't fault it. Very good. Premature labour with twins - got to Bolton but they didn't have room in the Special Care Baby Unit so was rushed to St Marys (had never been there previously) and delivered there. Babies (and I) were there for 2.5 weeks, before we got transferred back to Bolton where we spent a further 6 weeks.

Pregnancy 2 - had moved to Manchester and although St Marys wasn't my local hospital, elected to deliver there. Had all my antenatal care there and baby. Straightforward delivery.

Verdict - both hospitals are excellent in my opinion. St Marys is incredibly busy, antenatal appointments always over ran, I was the last person to be admitted when I delivered 2nd time before the unit was shut (and ladies in labour were told to go to different hospitals - having said that, it may have changed since the new unit was opened). But if you can get past that, care is amazing. Special Care Unit - 100% second to none, I genuinely don't think I'd have my babies if I'd delivered anywhere else. Obviously hope you don't need any specialist care but you know at St Marys that you are in the best possible place in you do.

Bolton - babies were under their care for 2 years (as outpatients) so spent quite alot of time there. Again, very professional, good care. Community staff (eg midwife) brilliant.

I think if you think you're having a straightforward pregancy / delivery then Bolton is more local, logistics of parking etc are better, but St Marys probably edges it if you had to choose.