Dundee/Aberdeen

[HeyDW96]

Trying to decide where my preference would being for having our first baby, due in May, I know quite a while to go still but it's on my mind. My mum and sister had their babies in Aberdeen, most of my friends babies were born in Aberdeen and on the most part, I hear a lot of negative stories.

I don't have ridiculous expectations of the NHS, I work in it, I see how stretched we all are but I do expect to be kept safe and feel guided and supported!

Would love to know experiences if anyone has had babies in either of these places!
P.s. I know how lucky I am to be near to large teaching hospitals who have attached MLU's, but I'm sure people can appreciate how scary this is the first time round!

Where are you? I had my little boy 8 weeks ago at Ninewells and the staff were brilliant. My boy had to stay in NICU so we were both in hospital for 10 days.

Don't get me wrong, there were some staff who I didn't like as much as others, however I appreciated them all and everyone was nice and supportive. I have to say, I don't think I would've mentally survived in there without the support from the neonatal nurses, and that's no exaggeration.

I didn't spend much time in the postnatal ward as I was normally with my boy, but all the midwives were forever checking in, being there as a shoulder for me to cry on, and there to listen to me when I just needed to get things off my chest. They would always ask about my boy as well which was lovely, showed they really cared.

Just to add, I'm also a FTM

Hello! No experience myself, but I live just outside of Dundee. My midwife had assumed I’d like to birth at the MLU in Arbroath, but I think I’d prefer Ninewells as it will be my first. Hope you get some more helpful replies here!

I had a friend who was initially admitted to ARI when in labour (prem). She laboured for 2 days and they needed to transfer her down to Ninewells because of lack of neonatal icu beds. She said the difference in staff and treatment was very noticeable. Next time she will go to Ninewells. I don’t want to say negative things about Aberdeen because lots of people will have their babies there just that this was her experience. Best of luck with your pregnancy.

@Ajahd congratulations on the birth of your boy! I hear more positive stories about Dundee than Aberdeen, I don't know if Dundee have a smaller catchment area and more community units than Grampian and feel the strain less of if they're just better. I'm in between the two so could go to either really. Thanks for replying!

I had my baby at AMH. I was in for 14 days and he was in for 12. All a bit of a blur but don't think I can fault the midwives and definitely not neonatal

@swiftt I also thought about Arbroath but think I would prefer to be near to labour ward and medics if needed!

I’ve had two babies in Aberdeen, three years apart. Two very different experiences. The first was terrible, and I actually received an apology at a birth debrief for some of my care. However my more recent birth, earlier this year the staff were incredible. Very kind and took amazing care of me and baby. Both times on labour ward, so not sure about MLU. X

I have birth prematurely in ninewells nearly 3 years ago. They were excellent both in the labour suite, the postnatal ward and SCBU. They managed to get me a bed in transitional care when my wee girl was ready for it while I was still in postnatal and keep me a bed in postnatal so that I could continue with my care but spend my time with my girl in transitional care. Not technically allowed but it made breastfeeding possible.

Both my dc were born in Aberdeen.

First was "interesting" but more because he got well and truly stuck and I started hallucinating rather than anything the staff did. The postnatal care was none existent though.

My second I can't fault them. I was terrified of a repeat of my first experience and then my dad died when I was six months pregnant so I wasn't in the best frame of mind but they were wonderful. Dc2 ended up a very chilled semi emcs at 6am delivered by a fabulous bunch of women. The postnatal care was much better too. I wrote over the top gushing hormonal thank you letters to all concerned and dropped it off with half of Costco's chocolate aisle.

Of my friends I'd say it's those who had bad experiences tend to be a lot more vocal, partly perhaps because they had longer stays. There is an Aberdeen positive birth group on Facebook which I found really useful. Dundee probably has similar.

Which is the closest? I was offered both with dc2 but picked Aberdeen again as my dad had just died in Ninewells and Aberdeen is closer to us (just in case of bad traffic).

Ninewells is meant to be excellent. I’d opt for that hospital. X

@Dinosauratemydaffodils initially I found it hard to go back to Ninewells as my Granda had quite a horrible death in there which I witnessed and found it quite distressing walking back in there but I just have a different feeling about their maternity care for some reason. I just across the border, so to speak, so technically I am in Grampian but I know of ladies also near me who were allowed to opt for Ninewells.

I had a very mixed experience with Aberdeen, the midwives whilst in active labour were great, ended up with a c section and surgery staff were fantastic too. However, the aftercare was the area were they fell down, completely rushed off their feet and had far too many patients to deal with. It really wasn't great. They also forgot to tell my local community midwife that I had been discharged which caused a lot of confusion as I was expecting a visit from them that never happened as they still thought I was in hospital! Communication in general was an issue throughout my pregnancy.

Thank you all for taking the time to reply!