Maternity hospital experiences - Harrogate / Pinderfields or either Leeds

[ttcsolomumtobe]

Hi,

I'm only 10 weeks but have been advised I need to pick the hospital I plan to give birth in. I haven't yet told my friends so can't ask their experience of these places but had a friend who was transfer from a Leeds hospital to Harrogate earlier this week after an inducted labour as they were so busy!

Wondered if anyone was willing to share their experience and if they would recommend them.

How did you find the staff/support if it was your first pregnancy/birth? Was your birthplan looked at and respected if it could be?

I understand things don't always go to plan and sometimes they have to intervene.

All are within the same travelling distance and would be due in June time so not like poor weather will be an issue to be concerned by.

Thanks in advance

Bump

No idea but looking in the same area in the same month! So interested to see what replies you get

I gave birth at Harrogate in 2020 and it was absolutely fine! Birth plan was followed but both the plan and birth were fairly straightforward. Staff were fine - one fabulous student midwife, one fairly clinical midwife. I felt fairly supported! My only gripe really was being rushed to get out of the water birth room but presumably there was another lady waiting to use it. If you have any other questions just ask!

I gave birth at pinders in 2022. It was fine, most of the staff were lovely, there was still a few COVID restrictions which made the ward quiet at times which was nice.
The nurses/doctors/anaesthetist were amazing with my section.
Much much better than my experience at Airedale a few years prior.

Also, parking wasn't too bad, whenever we go we can always find a space somewhere.

Leeds. Won't you be expected to go to your local hospital? Leeds is a main/major hospital for most things. Harrogate is tiny and Pinders... patients end up coming to Leeds (not birth just generally).

Have had both my babies in Leeds - one at LGI and one at Jimmy’s. Was really well looked after before and during labour both times. Post natal not as great but I think that was due to being fairly uncomplicated. For my recent birth they were very busy but speaking to friends that is consistent everywhere! You can change your mind about where you want to give birth until quite late so don’t worry if you do change your mind.

I find parking at Pinders is awful we can never get a space and both my scans have been at 8am! Are you able to give birth in the birthing unit there? That’s been the main draw for me, but I live in south Wakefield so Harrogate isn’t an option.

@Thatswhy11 I live in Pontefract so tbf all of the hospitals are within about the same distance, Leeds may seem closer but with all the horrific road works it is just as long in time. Pontefract doesn't have a maternity ward.

Bump

I gave birth in Harrogate in 2020. Middle of covid, so that will have affected my experience.
During maternity they were quite good. Friendly. Although I was supposed to have the same midwife throughout but didn't.
The day I went into labour they were extremely busy and furst wanted to send me to york. I think how busy they were led to what happened next. In total it took 3 days to give birth to my son. I tried to go in 4 times. The first time they checked me and gave me some pitocin but told me I wasn't far along enough yet and sent me back home. They checked me 3 more times and I wasn't dilated enough yet and sent me back home. Then my water broke and was pink. My husband called in and they told him not to take me in. I had to insist with both my husband and them that I needed to come in. They said only if I didn't take a wheelchair and walk through the entire hospital which I did. When I arrived it turned out I was fully dilated. So I had pretty much laboured the entire time at home by myself with no support. I did get an epidural immediately but it only worked on half of my body. Pushed for over two hours. Then ended up in an emergency c-section. That went really well and the people performing it were lovely.
My son had a lung infection so we had to stay in the hospital for a week. And because of covid my husband wasn't allowed in. It took them 3 days to realise I needed a blood transfusion eventhough I was passing out and during the surgery they told my husband they were trying to save my life because I was bleeding out.
Apart from that the midwifes and doctors who took care of me that first week were very friendly and looked after us well.
I was in a shared ward with 8 ladies for a few days. Then moved to my own room. Not that it matters but the food at the time was nice.
Aftercare was OK. Midwifes always friendly. Did well for it being covid.
I think I had an unlucky experience and it must have been partially due to covid.
I can't speak for the other hospitals. We live in Harrogate. So I intend to have my second one there next tear. But I am hoping for an elective c-section this time.

I should add that I was in an NCT class and therefore new 8 ladies who were due in the same month. 7 of them gave birth in Harrogate and had perfectly normal experiences

If you would go all the way to Harrogate from Pontefract have you looked at Barnsley and Rotherham? I think that Rotherham has an outstanding rating for maternity.

I'm in Pontefract and was only offered Pinders or dewsbury. I used Pinders last year and they weren't good at all.

Very lacking in care, nurses wouldn't help at all after my CS and I discharged myself within 24hrs as the care was non-existent. I was the last CS of the day so my legs were still numb well into the night and I also have a back injury. They wouldn't even push the baby closer to me so I could try to feed him.

Anaesthetist was good but the bloke who did the CS was horrible. He told me there was no reason I couldn't have just given birth 'properly' and acted like I was too lazy to have a vaginal birth. My baby was transverse and at risk of cord prolapse so I'd been booked in 2wks early to avoid the risk plus they thought he'd be over 10lb so to be effectively told I was wasting his time really pissed me off.

I know someone who used them a few months after me who was refused any pain relief as they were 'being pathetic'. They refused to believe she was in labour and then it was too late for pain relief before they realised she was actually in labour.

My SIL will be using Pinders next year and she's also heard quite a few bad reports from friends who have given birth there recently.

@FigandHoney thank you for sharing your experience, I'm so sorry to hear you had to really advocate for yourself to be seen. It's good to hear you are not put off going back to Harrogate and found the support to be good and others in your NCT group had good experiences.

@Duckling89 I hadn't considered those but will have a look at Rotherham more.

@PissedOffNeighbour22 I'm so sorry to hear of your experience at Pinderfields. This would be the default place but I haven't seen many great reviews of it. This being an IVF pregnancy I will likely have a planned time so they aren't keen on you going over so do feel that I have a bit more scope for getting to a place Vs going over due date and my waters breaking and needing to go to the nearest.

F with interest! Leeds rates better than Pinders but don’t know if that translates to meaning anything really