New to the UK, having baby at LRI....any feedback???

[3BabyBears]

Hello, I'm new to mumsnet and the UK birthing system. I have 2 children ages 14 and 3 and I'm currently 26 weeks.

I'm booked to have my baby at LRI and was looking to hear back from moms on how their birth experience there.

I'm a bit spoiled with American health care and wondering what to really expect. I have red that there is a midwife shortage due to the fact that the NHS won't pay for more even though they are so badly needed. I've been told this is the most unpersonalized care that I will ever get....not comforting at all. I do have to have antibiotics due to gbs and I'm worried about calling to say I'm in labor only for them to tell me to call back later.

I'm also worried about being stuck in a bed because of the IV, would love to be mobile in order to have a natural childbirth but if I have to be in bed and monitored then I want an epidural. Are they willing to give an epidural or do you just get brushed off?

I do have a tour set up for next week and I'm really looking forward to it.

Sorry for rambling on, nerves are getting to me. So I thank you all for reading and giving any tips or advice and birth stories that give an insight to the LRI.

Hi 3Baby. Welcome. I didn't have my DS at the LRI but at the general (which is part of the same trust and great by the way). I do have friends who have given birth there who haben't had a bad word to say about the treatment they have there.

good luck

Thank you, that is very helpful. I have my tour of the hospital tomorrow and hope to get some last questions answered.

welcome to leicestershire!! Make a list of questions you have and ask them when you go to visit.

Everyone has different experiences of the hospitals in leicester, Ive heard the general is better than the royal maternity unit but thats just peoples opinions.

I dont have any children, I am a childrens nurse and do some night nanny work in leicestershire.

I used to work at the lri on childrens wards and were always excellent.

Hello, and welcome to Leics I know quite a few people who've had babies at the LRI and all have had good, positive things to say about it. Also I can't see any reason they would not give you an epidural if you ask for one, although do check when you have the tour obviously.

Good luck!

Hi There.

I had DD1 at the LRI 2 years ago. (we've since moved and DD2 was born in Nottingham)

I chose the LRI over the general as the neonatal unit at the royal is the better of the two and I felt I would rather have the best possible facilities for DD if required (thankfully it never was)

My antenatal care was midwife led although I did go to the hospital at 16 weeks for an amniocentesis and care was excellent.

My care during labour and birth was pretty good. Can't really complain.

The aftercare on the ward was pretty poor. They were too busy to help with breastfeeding etc. I stayed for 2 nights hoping to get in properly established but to be honest would have been better off at home. 2 years down the line this all pails into insignificance and my overall impression is that during the birth they were fantastic.

Best of luck. My SIL is having her baby in the US in November and I can safely say that your LRI experience will be nothing like your USA experience (although that might not be such a bad think )

thing not think!

My experience of the Leicester hospitals is to get out as soon as possible if you have anyone at home for you - because once you have had the baby, you are on your own. There is pretty much no aftercare, you are left to sort yourself out. The staff just don't have time to look after you, the food is revolting.

If you want a good experience of a natural labour at an NHS hospital in leicestershire, go to St Mary's birth centre in Melton Mowbray. It's fantastic and the care is second to none.

You don't even have to have had your baby there, they are firm advocates of time to heal and help with breastfeeding - if they have space, they will usually let you have a bed.

I had both my babies at the LGH (general), I haven't heard much good about the Royal, but then, I live near ST Mary's, and transfered there straight after the birth in both cases, and I have been spoilt by the place!

It's only 15 miles from Leicesetr - look into it!

Yes, I thought about mentioning St Mary's (this is where I am hopefully going, if the baby ever decides to come out!) but wasn't sure if they'd accept Group B Strep-positive mums.

It's worth looking into 3BabyBears, even if you can't give birth there you might be able to transfer there afterwards.

Oh, and yes the food at the LRI is pretty bad. I used to work there and the canteen was a last resort for lunch.

Hi 3BB. I also live in Leicestershire and had both my boys at QMC in Nottingham. Really impressed with the care there - experienced long labour with hours of epidural, venteuse delivery/jaundice, etc (first baby), false alarm at 34 weeks then and short easy labour (second baby). I was showing group b strep positive the second time. Through any of the complications I was treated very well and never felt worried. Have friends and family who have had not great experiences at LRI. Might be worth checking if you have a choice wider than Leicester.

You ladies are so wonderful and I'm so greatful for all the info and advice. I had the tour and will go straight to the high risk side to be hooked up for my antibiotics and can come in as soon as labor is regular instead of them holding me off. I do have to stay for 24 hours but am going to request a transfer to St Mary's for recovery.

I have read that General is nicer but after my midwife and I looked at my last birth and the problems I had, LRI looked the best for my options. Fortunately, I haven't had those problems.

I would love to go to St Mary's for the birth or even have the baby at home, but the strep B limits me and I won't risk baby's health, found a website that says there is little risk for GBS, but to me it's still a risk.

Thanks for the tip on the food, should I take loads of snacks and have my husband bring my meals? I plan on taking a ton of bottled water for the birth.

The best part of this is that I can be mobile, I just don't want to have to be stuck to my bed.

The care in America is so good but I have this feeling that this birth is going to be the best birth yet.

Thanks again, you all have been helpful in preparing for the big day!!!

I had both my Dcs at LRI in the high risk unit, would agree that care was better before the birth rather than after and I had no desire to stay longer than was necessary. However i tried , bath, gas and air, epidural and very nearly c section with fist (ended up with vantouse(?)) second just asked for an epidural and they were fine. Saw the consultant both pre and post birth and had a side ward then a private room.

Just thought I'd come back and add my experience of the LRI - I ended up there on Monday after getting stuck at the pushing stage, and honestly the care I got was brilliant. The midwife who delivered my baby was fantastic, so calm and reassuring; the doctor who stitched me up was rather brisk but apparently did a good job; the postnatal care overnight again was businesslike but kind and always on hand. I buzzed for help several times as wasn't very mobile/with it, and everyone who came to help me was very good at helping me get on with things.

The thing to remember I suppose is that it is a hospital, they are busy, so their attitude is not going to be particularly sit-down-and-share...but all the staff I encountered were really great and did their jobs with patience and kindness. Hope this helps

Oh, and I did transfer back to St Mary's for a night postnatally and can only sing their praises to the skies - they are fantastic and have made all the difference to my confidence with breastfeeding, healing and so forth

Just to make you feel better about LRI I had baby there in September and can't sing their praises high enough.
Had complicated pregnancy so been with premature prevention unit all through. Then labour was nightmare - due to baby not hospital - but I was treated brilliantly.
After care was great too - I was there for 3 nights initially then another week a few days later. I felt that midwives were overstretched but they did best to care for me as a person.
Food not great on whole, but there's toast and hot drinks available 24/7. Plus the curry's are tasty - not too hot.

Hi, you've had lots of feedback and probably had your questions answered but I just wanted to add my bit to help you if possible. I had my baby at the LRI a month a go and the staff on the delivery suite were fantastic, I couldn't have asked for more. I had an epidural and was told (on good authority) that the LRI are quite pro epidurals and so are very willing and certainly won't try and persuade you not to have one. I've heard only good things about St.Marys, Melton and would recommend transfering there if you need more support afterwards, I didn't go because thankfully established feeding very quickly. I live in the catchment area of St Mary's and so met a few of the midwives based there and they were all really nice. I did feel a bit left to my own devices on the postnatal ward which is quite daunting, especially being my first baby but in saying that they were very quick to help by looking after my baby for a few hours having been up for 4 hours in the night trying to get her to sleep, unsuccessfully. All the best with your birth.

guys, she's had the baby.....

Doh - postnatal hormones in overdrive!!