choosing a hospital, don't know what to do

[jammiedodger2]

Hi Ladies
So I am trying to make a decision about where to give birth.
It's 7 years since ds was born and the maternity unit 5 mins down the road has been closed.
So I am currently booked at the hospital most people in this area deliver. It's half an hour cross country, but I can have all my consultants apts at the hospital just down the road.
My other option is a much bigger hospital 45 mins away, down the motorway. I would have to go to apts there though.
The reason I am considering changing is that I work as a health visitor and am hearing lots of horror stories about my more local hospital. I thought it was just me being a bit sensitive and pregnant then I went to a health visitors meeting where everyone spent half an hour talking about all the complaints they are getting!
I appreciate the other hospital may be as bad but I don't get to hear about it!
My DH is being typically male and leaving the decision up to me!
Any thoughts anyone?
jx

I had a similar dilemma where i had three hospitals to choose from and all were around 45 mins away.

I had an independant midwife and had I chosen either of two hospitals she was contracted in then she could have treated me there too. But i used birth choice uk website to research them for myself.

i chose the third hospital despite it meaning i had to relinquish her care when we got there. But i felt more comfortable researching it myself that relying on stories from other people.

The birthuk website did actually bear the stories out but i felt like I had decided for myself. Based on what was important to me, c section rates, intervention, breastfeeding support, neonatal unit etc etc?

What are the complaints about as far as you know? It may be things that you could avoid by being more prepared - e.g. if there are some doctors there with poor communication skills that are making women feel they don't know what's going on, asking specific questions (or having your DH do so) may help, but if it's safety or cleanliness issues then there's not much you can do about it.

As well as C-section rates, etc I would compare the hospital policies.

I've chosen one hospital over another on the basis of more up-to-date policies on induction, breastfeeding, etc. Plus it means I get to have some appointments locally. I was a bit nervous about having that hospital as my hospital, but I've had a great experience recently with the DAU there and am really happy that they're very up-to-date and on the ball.

Thanks for the help and excellent website!
Unfortunately some of the data for the hospital I am thinking of changing to isn't available due to 'sampling difficulties' but from what is there I think I will probably swop.
Most of the complaints have been about over-crowding, short staff and cleanliness. Mums not able to have analgesia due to there not being enough staff or the fact that they are on a trolley in a corridor
love
jx

short staffing. I don't think there have been any complaints about undersized midwives :o
jx

glad you made a decision your comfortable with.

Good luck with the birth...of course there is always home birth...? is that an option?

Sadly not. I have cardiac problems when I am pregnant so need to be near a ccu just in case!
jx