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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

North East Maternity Unit

19 replies

Lostmam86 · 15/10/2020 15:09

Hello
I have been asked to pick a hospital between RVI and QE Gateshead to give birth. And was wondering if anyone has experienced either and what their opinions were. Obviously I know people can have a bad experience anywhere but I can’t find any information to make an informed decision.
Thanks

OP posts:

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MaryShelley1818 · 15/10/2020 17:29

I'm a little further south in Durham but everyone I know has spoke very highly about the RVI and indeed a lot of people travel from Durham to give birth there.

FirefighterA24 · 15/10/2020 17:30

Darlington in South Durham was where my sister had her children and they were brilliant.

emsie12345 · 15/10/2020 17:44

Hello! Congrats on your pregnancy! Hope it's going well.I had both my kids at the RVI dd in 2017 and ds in 2019. Staff were great all the way through, I'll never forget them. I felt safe and confident in their care. I was very nervous with the first but very quickly felt at ease with the midwife. They were great with my dh too who was anxious too. Two of my good friends have given birth there and both said the same. Midwives very good. Another close friend went to gateshead and didn't have a very good experience due to misscommunications but didn't go into a lot of detail. I would choose the RVI but do take into account distance, facilities etc. Best of luck!

Original poster

Lostmam86 · 15/10/2020 17:58

Thank you all

OP posts:

Lexi2093 · 15/10/2020 20:56

I’ve booked in at the QE, it’s rated outstanding by the CQC. I used to work there, all the staff are so friendly and the midwives are amazing!

Plussizejumpsuit · 15/10/2020 21:04

Rvi is outstanding too by CQC. I don't have children but live down the road from the qe. My sister had both her babies in the RVI. She had more complex pregnancies so had to give birth in the consultant led ward rather than the midwife led ward.

The facilities are very different. With the ground floor midwife led unit having new birthing rooms with water birth facilities etc. And a place for your partner to stay over. Where as the upstairs unit has none of this and is very old and ropey. She really didn't find it nice. To be on the unit. So although care was good think about facilities too.

Congratulations on your pregnancy

ToxicTracey · 15/10/2020 22:48

One thing to mention with RVI midwife led unit is that although they have facilities for birth partners to stay, they're currently not allowing them to stay more than 4 hours due to covid (birth partners aren't allowed to stay on the delivery suite so they're making it "fair" and not allowing birth partners to stay in the midwife led centre either). I had my first at the RVI and they were incredible, however due to birth partner restrictions I'm likely going to change to cramlington where DH will be able to stay for the entirety.

blitzen · 15/10/2020 22:50

I had my baby at the QE. Not the best experience but my baby was in scbu and they were amazing in there.

SlB09 · 15/10/2020 22:52

QE here late 2017, would go again over RVI (& I live a mile away from rvi!). Staff excellent, incredibly friendly and knowledgeable and just liked the feel to be honest. Had to go to rvi for help with feeding and personal my didn't like the atmosphere but that is an individual thing. May not be possible but if you can visit that might help

Helenknowsbest · 16/10/2020 04:16

My sister went to QE and said she'd had the worst experience and went to rvi for her second. I went to the rvi and really loved it although I had one gripe. I gave birth around 10pm and was on labour ward by 1am (husband went home) - at some point through the night needed to go sort myself in the toilet as was leaking blood and was a bit of a state. The toilet was at the back of the room and next to it was a sleeping man (not sleeping at all) and I embarrassingly had to go to loo with him next to the door while I was struggling and had gas. Times like that I don't think its right to have men sleep on the labour ward... sorry just my opinion.

LatteLover12 · 16/10/2020 04:22

There'll be no men OP as visiting at the RVI is strictly limited to 1 hour a day per partner.

I'd recommend the RVI. I've had all three of my DC there, one only 4 weeks ago now.

I was concerned about my DP going home and having to manage on my own after a section but the staff couldn't have been more helpful.

My only advice is to pack plenty of snacks! I took sandwiches... 😂

Lexi2093 · 16/10/2020 08:38

@blitzen

I had my baby at the QE. Not the best experience but my baby was in scbu and they were amazing in there.

That’s where I used to work, in the SCBU 😊

MsSquiz · 16/10/2020 08:43

I had DD at the RVI in December and would happily go there should we have any more.
You have the added benefit of the birthing centre being in the same building as the labour ward so if you do need any intervention (epidural, etc) you are only a lift ride away.
(I know someone who had to be blue lighted mid labour from Hexham to cramilington)

I would also second the recommendation of taking lots of snack. I stayed in overnight have giving birth, and while I didn't eat during labour, I ate my body weight in snacks during the night! And have plenty to drink too!

Indigo89 · 16/10/2020 09:27

RVI for DD1. I chose because of the water birth facilities but in the end DD was breech and huge so we had a planned c-section. The staff were really helpful.
In hindsight, I found the breastfeeding advice wasn't particularly well informed. I had to stay in 3 days until bf was established and did see 3 different breastfeeding advisors who seemed to contradict each other and ended up giving DD formula until my boobs healed (from initial trauma caused by latch that I was advised looked great) which broke my heart. I was a ftm though and ebf until past 2 years old so I'm hoping experience will help avoid a repeat this time.

Even though we've moved house, and it's now a trek to get to RVI, I've opted to birth DD2 there in Feb.

Original poster

Lostmam86 · 16/10/2020 09:27

Thank you all very helpful. One bag for snacks one bag for clothes got it lol

OP posts:

mam0918 · 16/10/2020 13:43

RVI has one of the best NICUs in the world and saved one of the youngest surviving set of twins in the world born at 22 weeks and 3 days

my DS was in NICU at RVI and they where great, very caring and helpful... complete opposit to Dryburn who where horrible (and I refused to go back)

Stef92 · 16/10/2020 13:52

I'm booked in to the RVI and was there last week for the 20 week scan. My husband was allowed to attend despite the local lockdown. They're allowing partners at all scans now and I said that surprised me given the current situation, the lady I spoke to said they're unlikely to take the support away from women so partners shouldn't be banned again. Obviously the decisions are made above this persons head. Good luck with your pregnancy and wherever you choose 😃

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 16/10/2020 14:39

Have you narrowed it down to those 2 or are they just your closest units? You can birth anywhere you want so can also consider other units within reasonable travelling distance. Depending on your circumstances you could consider home birth, the midwifery led unit at Hexham amongst others.

You have to balance between where you feel comfortable and also what is convenient to get to. Through pregnancy you will have regular midwife appointments locally to where you live but other care such as scans, check ups out of hours if you have any pregnancy related worries and so on will be at the hospital you have chosen for birthing care so make sure that you can easily travel somewhere if you need to. Most units now have virtual tours on their websites so you can have a look at the facilities and you can also look up their Facebook pages and the Facebook for the maternity voices partnership for just areas where you are likely to find comments from others who have recently birthed there.

Itsalwayssunnyupnorth · 16/10/2020 15:05

Had 2 great experiences at the QE including one baby needing the SCBU there and they were brilliant. I had to have a week long stay due to complications after my first and during that time had a bereavement in the family and the staff were so supportive and bent over backwards and I’m not sure I would have got that in a bigger busier unit. Iv been consultant led both time’s due to a health problem and my consultant was fab. You get good and bad anywhere I have friends who had their first at the RVI and went to QE for their 2nd after having a poor experience and vice versa. Go where is a good fit for you not off anecdotes and also consider things like getting to the hospital-labour in rush hour traffic on the bridge would not be fun! With current covid restrictions I had my 2nd by elective section during lockdown my other half was admitted with me in the morning there throughout the section and in recovery and on the ward for visiting hours (was about 4 hours in the afternoon) after he went home I had plenty of help getting up and about and changing baby etc I also got good support with breast feeding.

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