Choosing a maternity unit/hospital

[Lauet]

Hi,

I have recently found out that I am expecting. I am finding choosing a hospital to give birth in very daunting!

I am fairly local to the Liverpool Womens (2 miles) but also considering Whiston (6 miles).

I don’t know much about either, I have friends who have given birth in both or are hoping too. I’ve heard some bad things abo her LWH.

I’m just not sure. Can anyone offer any advice?

Thank you

Hey Girl, Fellow scouser here !!! I’ve heard good and bad things about both but I am going with the women’s it’s only 3 miles away from me compared to whistle on being nearly 8 miles. It was never even an option not to birth at the women’s as the neonatal unit there is second to none. I’ve had family who have given birth 14 weeks early, others who have had serious complications and I couldn’t fault them at all. My friend gave birth there 2 weeks ago 2 weeks ago 5 weeks early through different complications she was kept in for a week prior to delivery and monitored and said the care there was outstanding. It’s a very personal decision but I think we are so lucky so have the women’s only a couple
Of miles from us. What are you pros and cons for both ?

Hi,

I agree we are so lucky to have the womens so close and with it being specialised in that field. I have just heard some stories but suppose that can happen anywhere.

We are swaying more towards the womens, especially as it being closer. Just wanted some other peoples thoughts.

Thank you and Good Luck through your pregnancy and birth
Xx

I'm in the South so can't help specifically but here's how I helped decide -

-Parking (seems silly but one hospital has next to no parking and one had ample)
-What would the journey look like in busy traffic. I ended up travelling in THREE times before being dilated enough to be kept in and a quick journey helped ease this!
-tour the facilities. One hospital has 4 water birth units and the other had double that so I had more chance of being midwife led / Water birth experience.

1940s, thank you for your reply. That is a very good idea. Hoping we can do tours as this would really help.

Hi, I’m having my baby at the Women’s. Everyone I know says the staff are amazing and they are obviously a specialist hospital. I’m 3 miles from the womens and 4 from Whiston so you’re probably close to me but I didn’t even consider Whiston. I think it depends on the person as well so make sure to make the right decision for you. Only thing is you can’t do tours at the moment due to covid so I think you’ll have to do a virtual tour online which is a bit rubbish.

Hey OP. I'm expecting in May and having my baby at Whiston (I'm closer to Whiston and I've had friends deliver there who all have had great reviews about the staff and facilities). So far my experiences with them have been great.

At the end of the day its your birth and so make sure you make the right decision for you. At the moment tours are cancelled, but maybe ring up and speak to the Maternity Units for each - that might help your decision or have a look at the websites (Whiston have a Maternity Section on theirs).

Ah thank you so much. I didn’t think yours would be on which is a bit rubbish.

The more I think about it, I think it will be the womens. Thanks for your reply.

Good luck with everything

Thanks for your reply FrostedCupcakes, I will have a look online