Lister Hospital Stevenage or Luton and Dunstable

[popsy76]

Hi, my doctor has advised me to choose the hospital closest to home rather than one with the best "rating". Does anyone have any experience of either Lister or L & D and also is distance more important than quality of care? Also, are all your doctors really negative - mine wants me to pretend nothing is happening until 12 weeks I am going mad with depression ! Thanks xxx

I know someone who had a Caesarean in 2005, baby was born with 2 inch gash on her head as the surgeon had sliced her head with the scalpol .
I think alot of my experience was that there was just so much going on, there went enough midwives to cover everything so they never had any time. One of the mny midwives I laboured with with DD1 told me "It's meant to be bloody hard, that's why it's called labour".

I posted about it in Childbirth after DD1's birth it was that bad

Hi
Gave birth at L&D 4 weeks ago and would like to say it was amazing. The midwives were fantastic. I felt very important and not at all anxious. It was a long process as my waters went on Monday and I didn't give birth til Thurs but the level of care never faltered the whole time. They are a busy hospital and at times you do have to be patient (I was due to go on induction drip on the weds am but didn't get on it til Weds night as they were so busy wth emergencies) but I would definitely give birth there again without a doubt.
xxx

Gave birth at Lister Nov 2006. done the saturday tour that they offer to make sure it was clean! I can't fault my care there, especially from a french midwife who was lovely, very calming. And i mustsay i even enjoyed the food (had to stay in for 2 days with hbp)

Some comments on MK and Bedford as they are mentioned in the thread - my SIL had a bad experience at MK (and we heard other negative stories) and refused to go back - she went to Bedford for her second and thought it was excellent - I believe the maternity suite is relatively new there (or was 6 years ago!).

If the journey time is similar (and think about what it would be like in the rush hour too) go for the one with the better reputation. Definitely worth doing a tour of both - you may find you feel much more comfortable in one of them.

just found this thread gosh it was a while ago now that i posted! (holsnovell) but i had dd2 at the l&d and they were amazing my midwife changed and at about 15 weeks and she was incredible

just thought i would add that for anyone whos is expecting and based there

hi,just like to add ive had two babies at the l+d and baby no 3 due in a few weeks which i will also have there , my care was absaloutly wonderful there couldnt fault it at all !!

found my brief experience at the Lister was appalling. could not get an appointment with a consultant for 9 weeks and massive amount of trying despite serious complication. in the end went private in London and it was superb. would never go to the Lister again for anything.

i do realise other people had good experiences but mine was just a comodey of errors for more than 10 weeks.

i would say lister all the way i had both my sons there with complications they took care of me all the way through xxxx