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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Sheffield or Chesterfield?

13 replies

Caitycat · 19/07/2012 20:22

I'd really appreciate any advice from anyone who has had experience (good or bad) from either of these maternity units. I have to make up my mind soon and just can't! I'm hoping for a midwife led birth preferably in a pool if at all possible - I do know that things can always go wrong but that's my ideal.

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openerofjars · 19/07/2012 21:45

Sheffield was good in 2008: they have 1 pool and it is heavenly! Little twinkly lights in the ceiling were a nice touch, gas and air was fun, there were knid and sympathetic MWs and it is in a purpose build maternity hospital. If things get complicated, they just pop you in a wheelchair and take you down the corridor to the consultant led unit. Parking is dreadful, though, so warn the relatives when they come to visit.

Mind you, I had a home birth in Sheffield 7 weeks ago and I have to say, good though the hospital peeps were for my first experience, the home birth team knocked them into a cocked hat. It was like a bespoke birthing service rather than an (albeit good) off the peg job, and they even cleared up afterwards. They lent me an inflatable birthing pool (brand new birth pool in a box with hygienic liner), came to my home for all the antenatal visits and I had 1-1 midwife care for my whole labour, apart from the last bit when I had 2 midwives. And the parking was fine.

pickletray · 20/07/2012 13:09

I believe Jessop's still only has the one birthing pool. Seems a shame for a big hospital in a big city just to have one.So if you are due at a busy time (like September) then you might not not be able to use the pool. But i have heard nice things about the midwives at Jessops.

They have been trying to encourage home births in Sheffield, that's one way to get a pool if you are determined.

I don't know what Chesterfield is like, but perhaps if there's more likelihood of getting your water birth, it might sway your decision.

Original poster

Caitycat · 20/07/2012 14:23

Thanks for this, it sounds like Sheffield is good but the one birthing pool thing was worrying me too! I can't find any information about how many there are in Chesterfield but I think it has been recently upgraded so was hoping they might have more. They have pushed home birth with me too but I'm not sure it is right for me with a first child - maybe next time!

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Rooble · 20/07/2012 14:27

I can only comment on Sheffield from the point of view of a medicalised birth/EMCS - they were outstanding. Lovely midwives, fantastic doctors, anaesthetists - and the people doing special care (fir mother and baby) post birth were - ooh, I'm running out of superlatives. But I felt really well treated

openerofjars · 20/07/2012 15:04

Right, what you do then is have it in your birthplan, bang on about the pool every time you see a midwife and (this is the mega important bit) when you phone the hospital to say labour's started or you're coming in NOOOOOOOOWWWWW or whatever, your birth partner needs to mention that you want the pool. This will totally up your chances of getting it.

Mind you, I was so carried away by the whole labour thing and the luvly gas and air and actually forgot about the pool once I got to hospital, remembered my birth plan after a bit and asked DH to sort it. He, bless him, was raised with "family hold back" and said, "but what of someone else wants it more?". Bloody Yorkshire upbringing. So I snarled, bit him or something and he went and asked a nice midwife, like a good boy. And I got my pool.

Totally have the pool, it was bliss. I might get one for the ensuite. I might actually have another baby just for that heavenly moment when you get in and all the pain just floats away...

Paperclips · 20/07/2012 16:24

"What if someone else wants it more?" lol, that sounds like my DH.

Thanks for the tip openerofjars, I will start banging on about birthing pools as much as possible!

comeonbishbosh · 20/07/2012 22:18

To be fair, anyone I have met who went into Jessops and wanted the birthing pool got it. Surprising, but maybe less people than you think actually go for it.
Though I'm with openerofjars, home birth was great for me and the Sheffield midwives are really set up for it and supportive.

Good luck!

mylittlemonkey · 21/07/2012 21:50

Had a 2 day labour and then emergency c section in jessops 2.5 years ago and I could not fault them. The midwifes were brilliant, really supportive and sympathetic and would highly recommend. Can't comment on the pool but I would expect it will be first come first serve in any hospital but previous posters have given some good tips. Good luck!

janji · 21/07/2012 23:15

Gave birth to both of my dc at chesterfield and found both experiences not good. Midwife attention very sporadic and little support offered! No experience if birthing pool so unable to comment. Aftercare on ward was non existent and begged to sign myself out after one night despite losing huge amounts of blood. Only stayed in the required minimum number if hours after giving birth to dc2 as couldn't face staying!

Original poster

Caitycat · 22/07/2012 14:17

Thank you everyone-sounds like jessops is best then! I will make sure pools feature prominently in my birthplan and every conversation with the midwives!

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chezziejo · 22/07/2012 22:29

Hi. I'm going to chesterfield. Had my first one at Darley birth centre and it was an amazing place. A lot of the midwives have gone back to chesterfield too and they were fantastic as well. I havnt looked around chez yet but I've been told at least two pools there. It's more a birthing centre set up but as its within the hospital there are drs present. Had my scans at chez and suffered a miscarriage last year and all the staff were simply fantastic.

princesssugar · 22/07/2012 22:39

I'm going to Chesterfield again in September. Jessops far too busy for me (was told it was built fr 30,000 babies per year and are doing 70,000- dont know how true it is) had a long labour and emcs at chesterfield 3 years ago could not fault them, midwives and other staff fantastic. Plus easy parking - parking traumatc at jessops. Have heard the the midwives at jessops are brill especially the younger ones but it just depends how busy they are.

PilchardsonToast · 23/07/2012 09:19

Hi - I had my daughter at Chesterfield Royal in April 2010 and they were great, the midwives were lovely, the rooms were really excellent. I ended up in the Consultant led sid but can't fault the care, I know many others who gave birth in the Midwife led side and had an excellent experience - I think they've got 4 or 5 pools. The only bit that wasn't great in the post-natal ward which was hot, busy and a bit grim but the birthing centre was fab

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