Giving birth in York/uk in general

[Scotti84]

Hi all,

Currently pregnant with my second child, living in Germany atm but should be back in England before the birth. I know theres a few older posts on this but wondered if anyone had given birth in York recently? Ive no idea how it works in the UK, have heard terrible risky things about York and I have been spoilt by the brilliant German healthcare system (tour of the mat ward, consultant care, 4 days in hospital, private en suite room at no extra cost etc). I know the nhs doesnt work like this which is fine but I would be interested to know things like how many people ate in a room with you, do they really boot you out after a day, etc.

We are also visited on the ward by a gp who does babys checks etc, is that also the case in the UK?

Thanks for any info!

It varies. They (probably) won’t boot you out if you’re unwell. If you have a reasonably straight forward delivery you’ll go home almost straight away.

With DD1 I had her at 3am Tuesday and left at 5pm Wednesday, so had around 36 hours after delivery on the ward. That was mainly to get an infection under control and to check DD1 who was a bit jaundiced.

With DD2 I had her at 1am Friday and left at 11am Friday, so had about 10 hours. I didn’t go into the ward with DD2 and was discharged from delivery suite. With DD2 I had episiotomy and stitches but no other complications.

In terms of numbers on the ward I expect this varies from hospital to hospital. I was in a ward of 8 in the early stages of labour with DD1, and a ward of 6 for induction with DD2. Obviously you get a private room to deliver in, and for about 6 hours after. I only went into the postnatal ward with DD1 but that was a ward of maybe 16 women? There were 2 loos and 2 shower rooms. In some hospitals you can pay for a private room but if someone needs it for a medical reason you get booted back out onto the ward. It sounds horrific but it wasn’t for long and I found it ok.

We were visited on the ward after birth regularly by midwives, plus a nurse who did a hearing check on baby, plus a paediatrician who did a full check of baby. For DD2 this was as an outpatient as we were discharged early, so I just brought her into the ward the next day. Then a community midwife visited I think the day after discharge, and again about 3 days later.

Will need to disappoint you, if it's natural uncomplicated birth they let you go same day. With my first I gave birth early morning and by late afternoon I was sent home. I think you see doctor before they discharge you home. If nothing happens during labour there is anly midwife involved. In first pregnancy I was in delievery room from the start. With my second ward was busy so I was put on bed in waiting ward, then they rushed me to delievery room on wheelchair as I got paralised when my waters broke and baby was coming fast ....they were so busy that night that my partner had to chase them up as noone was coming when ringing bell. With my first I was put on multiple bed room after birth, with second one I had single room...they left me over night as baby came out red and they had to do xtra checks. So it's all depend on how hospital is organised and how busy you are. Also if you need stitches after vaginal birth, it's also job of midwife, you rarely see doctor.

Unless complications like others have sed. Usually home as soon as baby is weeing feeding and had baby checks. Midwife in community will pick u up at home think its day after discharge
days 3 and 5.... unless u need more
Usually bays on labour wards so four crying babies usually cnt wait to get home.

all hospitals have CQC assessments
york will have its own you can check on the website gives u a review of the services
and you can change wherever u like area wise
dont have to give birth in the area ur in.
im borderline derbyshire shuld be jessops but choosing chesterfield due to better hospital and higher CQC assessment.
speak up and let them know ur issues of why u want to stay if its a valid reason
my second i wasnt happy with her feeding so stayed half a day longer.

Well CQC recently raised serious concerns about York maternity unit - yorkmix.com/serious-concerns-raised-about-maternity-services-at-york-hospital/

So you might want to read a copy of the report in full as well.

Thanks for the answers ladies, i'm not itching to stay 4 days again, just wanted to get home by the end of it, but dont want to be turfed out before we're ready just because theyre busy or something.

Births are midwife led here too, I had an appt with the consulant when i went to look around and he did a scan, then he had to come to the birth as the umbilical cord was round her neck so she needed suction to stop her going back up.

What about after an epidural? I was numb in my leg until the midday after the birth so couldn't walk at all. Are husbands allowed on the wards? Im assuming theyre allowed at the birth now.

Fathers are allowed on wards, but hopefully not overnight, though I think this varies. I only spent one night on the ward after I had my son and no fathers stayed after about 8pm to my recollection.

@glamourousindierockandroll thats understandable, especially if theres like 8 women and newborns on there, would be full enough!

My epidural wore off ok by the next day qnd was weeing fine so still was only in a day. Wont kick u out if u cant walk. Chesterfield dads are allowed
their website probably tells u the rules each nhs hospital is different. Can have two birth patrners again now too most places