Deciding on a hospital - Essex

[Lau86]

Hi! I'm due October 2019 and my nearest hospitals will be Basildon and Broomfields. Although early days I was wondering if anyone had reviews on these and would recommend one over the other? Thanks!

I had DD2 at Basildon in 2017, and posted a thread on here about my hospital choice (between Broomfield, Queen's and Basildon).

Basildon were absolutely outstanding. I had a high risk pregnancy due to a pre-existing condition and moved into the area at 20 weeks. The care was really proactive. A friend is a midwife at another SE hospital and she recommended Basildon as the care is so good.

I ended up being induced with DD and then having an EMCS, but honestly I couldn't fault the care we both received.

I have no experience of Broomfield but I would wholeheartedly recommend Basildon, providing you can get there quickly in an emergency.

Hi, I'm also in Essex, and I'm having my first baby at Broomfield.

I used to work there so it is familiar and comfortable to me, which is my main reason. I have friends who had their babies there and have had good experiences.
I've never been to Basildon hospital so I'm afraid I can't offer any advice there.

You could maybe visit both hospitals first to see how you feel and make your decision? Admittedly I don't know if this is a thing people do 😂

Oh and I'm also due in October! You never know, if you do choose Broomfield I may see you there! 😂

I had both my two boys at Basildon, last one being in Dec. Each and every member of staff I encountered were brilliant and I could not fault the care I received. Both pregnancies were high risk and I spent a lot of time there and they did a wonderful job looking after us.xx

I had my 8 week old at Broomfield. It was a very complicated labour and delivery and I had a PPH. The staff were mostly lovely and my first midwife listened to me and what I wanted. Then I got pushed into doing a lot of things I didn't want to do (not being sat up and made to lie back, in stirrups, being told I couldn't push when my body was doing it for me, constant monitoring when I wanted low interference, not given the anti nausea injection and throwing up whilst pushing, and being forced into a lot of other things). They did an episiotomy and have removed the inside lips of my vagina, it looks awful and I feel mutilated. But nobody wants to guide me to who I can talk to about this.

So frankly, no I wouldn't recommend Broomfield at all. The process of induction was also awful and instead of popping my sac one midwife scrapped the edge of my cervix and when I said it was scrapping she dismissed it but when the doctor came to break my waters she found blood from the scrape. I found it very traumatic and would say that if you have a plan, they're not going to let you follow it.

I have no actually advice but I've heard nothing but rave reviews about Broomfields! Don't be afraid to go with the hospital you liked, I didn't go for the local despite everyone asking why but one that was 45mins away with no traffic so was a little nervous but it was so worth it!! Same either regards to local a&e, they failed us spectacularly so now we're under addenbrookes which is a long old drive from us but I believe they saved my sons life! Just make sure whatever you do, go with what YOU want.