St John's Hospital, Livinston, West Lothian? your hospital?

[MrsMcJnr]

Hey ladies has anyone got any experience of having a baby here? the good, the bad and the ugly please - plus any tips on what to watch out for and insist on/refuse - warmly received! thanks!

Couple of friends had their babies there in preference to Simpsons in Edinburgh, both had very good experiences. Smaller hospital, less of a conveyor-belt feel and nice midwives apparently.

Hi there - I had my baby at St Johns 2 years ago in preference to going to the ERI in Edinburgh.

I found St John's great. I went on a tour of the hospital before I was due (the ERI won't let you do this) which really put my mind at rest as I knew exactly where I would be going and what it would be like.

It's also really great when you actually go into Labour as there is a dedicated car park (which - amazingly - is free) and separate entrance for mothers in labour.

I found the staff really helpful and relaxed. When I got there my contractions had stopped, but rather than send me home they let me stay on the ante-natal ward / bounce around on a birth ball to see if they would start again (which they did). During my labour the care was really good - they've got several proper birth pools if you are interseted in water birth.

After the birth I stayed in for four days - there was no real medical reason for this I just felt knackered and a bit overwhelmed by everything and the midwives were really accomodating and in no rush to send me home. I've heard quite a few people who went to the ERI saying that they felt pushed out after about 24 hours.

Gosh - I've just written a really long post. The upshot is that I had a really positive experience at St Johns and would recommend it highly!!

Thank you both Helbo - I am interested in a birthing pool, for pain relief at least. I wish Dads could stay the first night but I understand that it's a space issue.

Hi Mrs McJnr. We live between ERI and St John's. Although I'm booked in to ERI, we can go to either hospital and we've got a tour of St John's on Monday night.

As Helbo said, one of the reasons we would go for St John's is the much cheaper car parking. I've spoken to lots of people who have given birth at both places and there really doesn't seem to be any difference in the level of care your receive. Even my m/w couldn't think of much difference between the two - the only thing she did say was that if you have a prem baby, the neo-natal unit at ERI is probably better equipped but then again, your baby would probably be transferred to the ERI neo-natal if there was a problem, and the chances are probably quite slim of that happening anyway!

My m/w also said that a lot of women from Edinburgh are opting to go to St John's as they think they won't be as rushed there...

Obviously I have no experience of either hospital but I just wanted to say that I've had to do some similar research

Have you done a tour of St John's yet?

had a fab home birth instead! St johns did seem far nicer than the eri(my first was in simpsons) but I was determined to sray at home the second time.

Hi Babylovesmuffins (great name ? I think I?m trying to believe that too!) I?d be really interested to hear how you get on. I have my booking in appointment next Weds but have an obstetric appointment on 5/7 so not sure when I?ll be offered a tour. I could have gone for ERI too but I have some med issues myself and my drs are at St Johns so I?d prefer to be where they are keep me posted!

Thank you ProjectIcarus ? my sis had a home birth second time round too ? she?s down South.

Ditto, Projecticarus - first baby at Simpsons, fabulous home birth for number two. Can't rate the community midwives highly enough - they were wonderful.

i haven't had a baby at either St John's or ERI...yet (4 weeks to go!). I was all set to go for St John's as it sounded nicer than ERI until my midwife (who is ace) said that the ERI is actually as good these days or better. she said that the facilities are better than St John's (recently installed new birth pools - 4 in total now, plus mobile birth pools). She said the equipment is kept in better order at ERI(i.e. birth balls are often deflated at St Johns) and that the head mid-wife at ERI is so pro midwife-led births on the 'normal' birth corridor that she actively desists involvment from doctors or med students UNLESS invited due to problems. She said that St John's is often just as busy as ERI these days and so she would chose ERI over it. Also, they don't like you to eat during labour at St John's.
I was really surprised, but i trust her and am taking her advice.
It may be wrong of course and others probably have a totally different take on it, but just thought i'd let you know what i'd learned
(i'll let you know after the birth!)

Hi - I had my little one at St Johns in Dec 05, and as I've only had one baby (although no.2 on the way), i can't comment on different hospitals. i can vouch for how good St John's was though - i had a fantastic midwife, and the environment was really supportive afterwards, no pressure to go (in fact, i was scared they wanted to keep me in longer than the one night i chose to stay). after a few days, my little one wasn't latching on properly and got really dehydrated, so we had to go back for her to go on a drip overnight. traumatic as anything, but the midwives in the special care baby unit were utterly fantastic, gave me advice on breastfeeding which probably prevented me giving up. well recommended.

Ah Liath - which team if you don't mind saying? I was lucky enough to get the midwife that I had seen for all my checks to deliver dd2.

Craigmillar team. Midwife who delivered ds did almost all my post natal checks and gave some fantastic BF advice - am still feeding at 7 weeks but had given up at 6 weeks with dd (came out of Simpson's expressing & syringe feeding due to the crap BF support).

You can book a private room at St. John's. YOu can at ERI.

I have had 3 babies at ERI (& 2 miscarriages) and was at St Johns for a recent miscarriage as ERI was full. My experience of both places was that they were both very busy and staff tried their best but didnt have time to spend with you. At St Johns I spent a day there and saw staff infrequently (when I did they were lovely though). I would always be to scared to have a home birth so would always go to hospital but I do think the staff frequently dont have enough time to spend with you.

My com midwifes were fab for dd1 they worked out of Trinity but I think was Edinburgh East.

Glad to hear the bf is going well.

Home birth means one midwife until things start heating up then you have two. All to yourself. Was v nice.

Things heated up so fast with me that second midwife didn't make it. My mum stepped into the breach (she's a nurse) and helped deliver ds - she says it was one of the best experiences of her life !!

TBH support in labour in ERI was fine, had a good midwife. It's the post natal/BF support that's lacking (in my experience).

it was 8 years ago and I hated it but things might have got better, it is too hot, take your own nice juice and stuff and snacks to eat, and try and get home as soon as possible.

I would agree with Liath - I've had two labours at ERI and both times I have received excellent care during labour. I found the facilities very good, but then I'm more inclined to go somewhere which has more facilities if things go wrong than opt for somewhere which makes birth a more pleasant experience, if you know what I mean.

The post-labour care and breast feeding advise was a bit patchy at ERI and I did feel left alone quite a bit. I was out in 24 hrs but that was my choice - they did say I could stay longer but it was just too noisy and too hot!!

Thanks everexpandingtum and good luck! I am making a list of questions to ask based on the answers here

Thanks Lilipup ? good to hear

Ifm ? thanks for sharing, especially when the memories are painful, I am so sorry for your losses

Thanks everyone for you input