moving house,where to have the baby, what would you do?

[readyornot2011]

Okay, any advice appreciated please ladies

So, my DH qualified as a pilot in Summer 2008, its a long story but as you know the aviation industry has been hit very hard by the recession and it has been a tough few years.

Anyway, our life finally seems to be coming together, ALL AT ONCE!!! DH's job starts at Luton 4/1/11 1st baby due 7/1/11 which is great and I have been dreaming of this for a long time, but now we have some decisions to make and would appreciate some experienced advice.

At the moment we live in a lovely village north of Oxford, my midwife is lovely and we had planned to have DD at the JR which we know well now and they have been great with us through some tough times.

We only found out his base would be Luton today (could have been anywhere in UK) and after an initial search and talk we are looking at moving to the Buckingham area which we know (lived there for 6 months during DH training) its a reasonable commute from Luton and easy for my work, plus its only about 20 miles away so I'd still be 'in touch' with my friends here.

So here are my questions

1. when should we move?
2. where should we have the baby.

The truth is we want to move before; say December, but still want to have the baby at the JR. Is that possible? We could potentially rent both places for a while, this place is cheap, is that crazy?

Does anyone know anything about the maternity care in Buckingham that might reassure me, I know its just fear of the unknown that worrying me but so much is unknown at the moment and the midwife/maternity centre is one thing I would like to have a say in. But I realise it would be crazy to move afterwards and poor DH would a nightmare commute on top of new job/new baby so thats not on really either. Maybe I have to toughen up and go and find a new MW, what would you do?

p.s. thanks for reading all this

Hi Readyornot

my friend F lives in Amersham, Buckinghamshire.

She recently had her baby at Stoke Mandeville hospital, which is in the area. Everything went fine :)

If you like, I can find out some more information from her and let you know?

Hi

I had my DD at Stoke Mandeville 17mths ago - they had just redone the labour wards so everything was brand new, ensuite labour rooms, birthing pools etc. I think they have now opened the midwife-led centre there as well. i found everyone there very helpful (and i was in for 10days in all - waters broke at 36wks + a very orange jaundiced baby).

i don't know about the MW/ HVs in the Buckingham patch in particular but have found Bucks to generally be very well up with SureStart centres, breastfeeding clinics and many baby/ toddler support groups.

Having had a suprise early baby i would definately say to try and get settled in your new place before Christmas to give yourself some time to get straight - you won't know until it's too late whether you've got a sleeper, or a won't ever be put down baby.

Gosh, that sounds really hard having to move so soon before the baby. I'm in a similar situation, though not so tight for time - we're moving from Birmingham to Oxfordshire this week and I'm due in February - and my feeling on it would be to move as soon as you can and get set up with a new GP, midwife and hospital as soon as possible - you're not going to want stress and your OH commuting long distances (leaving you home without him) when you've just given birth, and you're not going to want to move house with a tiny baby.

Plus, if you move while you're still pregnant, you get out of all the heavy lifting! [hwink]

Hello,

I have just moved from an area I have lived in since I was born. I had my DS there (who is now 4) I have my family there and my ex husband! I have moved 80 miles away to a place where I know no one and have no support accept my lovley partner. Its been really hard. I liked my MW where I used to live and the hospital. I moved down here at 12 weeks pregnant think its best you settle in before baby is born you dont need all that extra stress in top of everything else. Also you can have baby where you like I have asked them to keep both options open for me at the hospital where I lived and the one here. So that seems ok to do. So you could do that? Then when it gets closer you can decide. Hope this helps.