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Parenting

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Original poster

Any one had recent experience of giving birth in Gwent?

25 replies

MyThumbsHaveGoneWeird · 18/05/2010 13:55

Hi, hope you don't mind me wandering over here from the pregnancy thread. I thought people who have given birth already are more likely to be over here.

I am due next Christmas and will be (hopefully) giving birth in South Wales. The Royal Gwent Newport is our nearest hospital, Neville Hall Abergavenny is not much further, and the birthing unit at the Miners hospital in Caerfilly is about 30-40 mins drive I think.

Does anyone have any experience of the above? All recommendations/warnings gratefully received!

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Original poster

MyThumbsHaveGoneWeird · 18/05/2010 13:57

Doh, I mean Caerphilly.
Brain has stopped working.

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didgeridoo · 18/05/2010 14:22

I don't have personal experience but a work colleague who lives in Newport, S. Wales chose the Miners' Hospital in Caerphilly when she gave birth recently because she says it's the best in the area.

angelene · 18/05/2010 14:32

I went to Nevill Hall, they have a lovely maternity unit (I was there for nearly a week!) and it being a smallish hospital made all the difference. The midwives were all lovely and had time for me all the time. The maternity unit had been done up just prior to when I went in (Oct 2005) so it was all clean and new. There's a nice view out of the window of the mat unit. There is a birthing pool which I wanted to use but due to being induced wasn't able to.

I had to choose between the Gwent and Nevill Hall and it was easy - apart from not wanting DD to have 'Newport' as her place of birth snob emoticon then I'd far rather a smaller, more intimate place than a huge industrial monolith like the Gwent. Other people in my NCT group went to the Gwent and experiences were kind of mixed. It's also probably easier to get parked at Nevill Hall.

I don't know about the Miners although I work in Caerphilly.

Hope that helps - good luck!

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PurpleCrazyHorse · 18/05/2010 21:06

I had DD last August at Caerphilly Minors (it's a midwife led unit only). A lovely experience and I had the same midwife all the way through (she even stayed on despite her shift ending). The unit was empty and I was able to move to the birthing pool but the room I was in was fine and the midwife bought me birthing balls etc to try. I would bring your own stereo though as the one in the room was rubbish and DH wanted to listen to Radio 4.

I did antenatal classes at UHW in Cardiff though as I wanted to meet other mums in my local area.

Due to a retained placenta I was transferred to The Gwent (plus DD had a huge bruise covering pretty much her whole head so I think they were pleased to have a reason to transfer me). A midwife from Caerphilly went with me and did all the handing over.

The staff on the maternity ward at The Gwent were lovely but I have mixed feelings about the post-natal ward (where I spent 3 days after my op while they checked on DD). You have to go and get your meals and on day 1 I was still numb from the waist down so couldn't walk there (luckily a nurse sorted me out some breakfast but I nearly cried as I was starving) and day 2 I had to carry my catheter bag with me (gross!). I struggled with breastfeeding and the specialist nurses just latched DD on rather than helping me do it.

In the end, I asked to be transferred back to Caerphilly Minors and although they don't really do that, they sorted it out for me. I stayed at Caerphilly for 24hrs, in my own en suite room and the midwife there was great at helping me feed DD myself and giving me lots of hints and tips. Plus I'd missed dinner but they rustled me up a jacket potato and a gorgeous lemon cheesecake.

Summary...
Gwent: ok but parking is awful and didn't get as much BFing help as I needed. Food wasn't great either. Also there's so many nurses and midwives that you often don't see the same face. Visiting hours weren't convenient for us and they're not very long.

Caerphilly: parking easy outside of business hours. Lovely staff and a welcoming attitude. There just seems to be more time for you because it's such a small unit. Visiting is at any time provided you're quiet.

Worth noting that I have heard a rumour that the maternity unit is moving from Caerphilly due to the new hospital in Ystrad Mynach.

Eek... that was long... sorry

SasD · 18/05/2010 22:31

Hi, I gave birth to both of my sons at the Royal Gwent. My eldest is 4yrs old and my second was born 4 months ago. I have to say that both experiences were totally different. I noticed a HUGE improvement this time compared to last. Staff were SO much more helpful and hands on this time. They really could not do enough for me this time which was def not my experience last time. I agree that the visiting times are now very limiting but I understand that they are the same as at Neville Hall. Parking is also an issue at RGH but we always managed to find a space. I ended up with a C section and I cannot rate the post op ward highly enough.

Melody4 · 18/05/2010 22:52

No but I went on holiday there once!

MrsKitty · 18/05/2010 23:03

No personal experience but I've heard nothing but good things about Caerphilly Miners.

Helinher30s · 19/05/2010 08:01

2 children born at the gwent in the last 4 years. Excellent experiences both times but parking is a nightmare for visitors, however i was out the same day with dd so it didn't really matter!

kludge · 19/05/2010 08:16

No personal experience of the Royal Gwent but I heard so many horror stories from people who had given birth there that I went over the border and had DD at Southmead (Bristol) instead . Southmead was fab, I couldn't have asked for a better standard of care.
I have heard many wonderful things about Caerphilly Miners, though if there are complications they transfer you to the Gwent. I have also heard good things of Abergavenny.

Original poster

MyThumbsHaveGoneWeird · 19/05/2010 11:36

Thanks so much for all your answers. I will check up about the moving maternity unit. Where is Ystrad Mynach purplecrazyhorse?

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OliviaMumsnet · 19/05/2010 11:41

Hello
I can't help with the giving birth part, but I was born there.
All the very best people are

angelene · 19/05/2010 13:07

MyThumbs Ystrad is up the valley a bit from Caerphilly. Where do you live?

CatL · 19/05/2010 15:23

No personal experience as i live in Cardiff and went to UHW, but my friend just gave birth in Neville Hall and spoke highly of it - and she had a difficulty birth. My sister who works in both (but not in maternity) says parking much easier in neville hall. The visting times seemed very restrictive though: 5-7 only (and dads only in afternoons and evenings I think, whereas UHW as 3-4 and 6-8, with dads anytime form 9-9.

Another friend gave birth in the Gwent and had no complaints, but did mention that having to get up to get own food was difficult. I think I'm right in saying there are no birthign pools in the Gwent, but there are in neville hall?

Everyone I know who was supposed to give birth in caerphilly ended up being transferred to the Gwent for one reason or another, as they are only midwife led.

Original poster

MyThumbsHaveGoneWeird · 19/05/2010 19:18

I'm a bit more towards Monmouth direction Angelene, so I think that would make it a bit far. I think Carphilly is do-able though. It's about 40 mins drive, Newport and Abergavenny are both about 20 mins. I havent even had my booking visit yet, so maybe I will need to talk to the midwife about what is available. When do you have to chose by?

OP posts:

kludge · 21/05/2010 04:33

They put me down for the Gwent at my first midwife visit, but you are free to change your mind at any time. I ended up changing to Southmead at 20-odd weeks.

rhibi33 · 21/05/2010 08:55

I had my son in the gwent... and I wouldn't have another there. The midwives are fantastic but the dr's are less so. Long story short needed emergency transfusion 24h after birth after collapsed as no-one checked how much blood lost at delivery. I have met fair few others whose experiences have been dubious.

Sorry for negative post! Just remember giving birth is a blink in the eye of your child's life

SqueezyB · 21/05/2010 09:17

I had DD at the birthing centre in Caerphilly and can't recommend it enough, it was wonderful! It was a really calm, relaxing environment, didn't feel like a hospital at all, more like a home from home. It's a small unit and there was only one other woman there at the same time as me. They have a lovely big birthing pool which I used, and I had the same midwife throughout, who was brilliant. The aftercare was great, DH was allowed to stay the night, there are no visiting hours for partners so he could come and go as he pleased. Very good BF advice too.

We did the antenatal classes and they were very reassuring about any fears you may have about the safety of giving birth in a midwife-led unit rather than a hospital.

We've now moved out of the area and I'm due to give birth to DC2 any day now in a birth centre near here. We've been to see it, it's ok but not a patch on the Caerphilly centre, it really is one in a million!

Lolly129 · 04/09/2010 16:49

Hi,

My baby is due on 11th Nov 2010. I live in Nelson and due to have my baby at the Prince Charles Hospital, in Merthyr. Does anyone have any experience of this hospital, only a couple of people have advised that I go to the Birthing Centre, at the Miners Hospital in Caerphilly. I'm really confused this is my first baby and I come from London, so I'm in the dark a bit; also, it's my first baby. I am also interested in ante natal classes in my area, as I don't fancy going all the way to Merthyr.

Can you help, I would appreciate any comments.

Thank you.
Lauren.

didgeridoo · 04/09/2010 17:35

If the Miners' Hospital is practical for you to get to, I would go there. I don't know what the maternity unit is like at Prince Charles but the hospital in general has suffered from a poor reputation in the past. The Miners' Hospital seems to be held in higher regard.

iolaus · 15/04/2013 16:53

Anyone else more recently? I know Caerphilly has moved now

Jenh83 · 21/06/2013 19:32

Hi I have given birth to one in prince Charles in merthyr and wasn't a very good experience left for days without proper checks and as I was pushing out baby my midwife went down to reception to sign the keys on her courtesy car!!
Next one was born in caerphilly miners and they were fab but last one born in new ystrad hospital and by far the best

scoutfinch1 · 23/06/2013 23:38

CatL yes there is a birthing pool in the midwife led unit in the Gwent.

We got a hospital tour as part of our antenatal classes so that might be a good way to make up your mind.

I'm due to give birth in the Gwent in 4 weeks so I'll let you know

AliBingo · 24/06/2013 13:37

I had DD in Nevill Hall last July and had a really good experience despite induction and difficult birth. Lovely obstretician used ventouse to get DD out. All the midwives were really kind and helpful too. Think visiting was all day for partners except one hour when it was ward quiet time.

Hadagutsful · 24/06/2013 13:45

Sorry if someone's already said this, no time to read whole thread. I think Caerphilly Miners unit is now part of the new Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr (Ystrad Mynach) hospital (but still midwife led). I had my babies at Nevill Hall because of being high risk (that was fine) but would choose the midwife led unit if given the option!

Good luck.

Forgetfulmog · 24/06/2013 13:52

Dd was born in The Gwent & spent time in NICU (which incidentally is one of the best in the UK). I cannot rate it highly enough. I was consultant led & the MW, paeditricians, GPs were all amazing. The only complaint I have really is the Gp who tried to break my waters (& failed) didn't have a very good bedside manner (there's always one isn't there!). I have experiences of both the MW led unit & consultant led unit as I was transferred up to the MW post birth so I could have a private room - dd in NICU & I couldn't cope with being in a post natal ward without a baby. Seriously the gwent is fab & I would seriously consider asking to give birth there even if I wasn't in the area.

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