Give birth in Wrexham or Telford

[MixedCouple]

Has anyone had experince with either Maternity Units at these Trusts?

I did with my DS at Telford back in 2021 I was swayed by the easy transport links. However, I had the wooooorst experience and I refused to have my baby there and opted for my original community birth which was fantastic.
So this time my back up will most likely be Wrexham but wanted to see what others thought of Wrexham?
Many thanks ladies.

My friend went to Wrexham and said it was fine. I had my first at Shrewsbury years ago and that was just horrendous but my other two were Telford but at the mlu bit. Both times absolutely fantastic, lovely relaxed experience and the midwives were lovely. My third is only a few weeks so a recent experience

Just given birth at Telford and ended up using triage, MLU, antenatal ward, delivery suite and post natal wards and they were all fabulous! Previously given birth at New Cross and the standards of treatment were head and shoulders above there. I'd happyily give birth there again.

I had sweeps, induction and a rapid birth on delivery, countless growth scans and three previous visits to triage so I'd say I visited there a fair bit!

Yes I went to Triage and antenatal 3 times and the Matrons were horrendous as well as the Drs. Super unprofessional
I was coerced and harrased by them. One Matron midwife left a harrasing voice message on my phone. So no I won't ever ever go back there again and yes I put in a complaint locally and directly. And was close to contacting CQC and GMC and NMC but by then I just had my baby and didn't want the stress amd anxiety.

I also only found out about the 201 poorley treated babies and mothers some.died and with brain damage after the fact in Shrewsbury and why they had to remove maternity care. So that petrifies me even more. So nope not for me.
As a Healthcare professional myself I have seen some amazing Maternity units and NICU / SCBU and aome awful ones. And Telford Maternity rated number 1 for worst. I have worked at 7 Trusts over the span of my career and training.

Hopeing some Mums who went to Wrexham can share their experinces. I seen 2020 CQC awarded them highly in scores and patient scores also.

I've been hanging round the name threads too long. Genuinely read this thread title as "giving birth to Wrexham or Telford" and came on to see the comments 😂
Good luck with your birth!

I gave birth at the PRH Telford 6 weeks ago. I have experience of triage, antenatal, delivery suite and the postnatal ward and also the community midwives.

I think from experience it really does depend on the midwife/Doctor. I’d say almost every midwife I had told me something different when I was on the antenatal ward, triage or postnatal. There was only ever real consistency on the delivery suite where I thought the midwives genuinely enjoyed their jobs.

I had no issues getting pain relief and I didn’t feel pushed to get out of bed etc.

This is my birth story:

36+6 Antenatal Consultant Appt - Agreed induction of Labour at 37+3 due to baby estimating to be 9lb 6oz. However, appeared with asymptomatic symptoms of pre eclampsia, spent 7hrs in triage and discharged with a plan to attend DAU for BP checks.

37 weeks exactly- DAU attendance again asymptomatic high BP medicated with Labetalol and admitted for monitoring. Overnight offered to bring IOL forward at 2AM however declined as I wanted DH’s support (he was at home)

37+1 - Discharged from ward as BP was being managed with medication and induction was only 48hrs away.

37+2 - Attended DAU for bloods and BP check. High BP and also protein in urine. Self discharged from Triage as they wanted to admit me again to monitor BP and start Induction however they were later paused due to busyness of the delivery suite so I did the right thing.

37+3 - IOL @ 11AM. Pessary inserted at 1300hrs and was already 1cm dilated and also had a stretch and sweep. Cervix was favourable. Did lots of laps of the hospital and kept busy. Overnight I had intense pressure and period like cramping. Codeine and Paracetamol were taken and finally got some sleep at 5AM.

37+4 - Cramps had stopped by midday. Pessary removed and was 2cm dilated and had another stretch and sweep with gas and air. Lost mucus plug. Lots of walking and got told my waters could be broke so I would be making my way to delivery suite.

37+5 - Still waiting for bed on delivery suite. Lost more of my mucus plug. Another stretch and sweep and was now 3cm dilated. Moved into side room and was told I was 1st in line for a bed when it was available. Throughout my stay my BP remained high and was medicated.

37+6 - Finally moved to delivery suite in the early hours of the morning. Requested an epidural before waters being broke which was actioned straightaway. UTI was also discovered.

Progressed nicely and by 12AM at 38 weeks exactly I was fully dilated however my epidural had failed. I could feel everything and was in significant pain. I was ready to push and had some direction from the midwife however I was exhausted and could not handle the pain.

Delirious and extremely in pain it was agreed that I would need a forceps delivery. I agreed to a medical trial of being given a spinal block 3x more powerful than an epidural in theatre and a forceps delivery which needed to happen there and then. I had 3 pushes to get baby out.

Baby J came out after one push and placed immediately on my chest. I had an Episiotomy however given the nature of however traumatic my birth was I had no real idea what was going on. Baby was extremely healthy and born at 04:30AM weighing 8lb 10oz.

I have since been diagnosed with acute kidney injury due to the effects of the hypertension in my pregnancy and also lost 800ml of blood. I spent almost every other day having my BP monitored in the MLU to then be sent to triage for a quick fix. After day 14 I discharged myself from the community midwives as no-one was really giving me any answers to help control my blood pressure other than an extra tablet and being admitted to the ward.

Triage also dismissed my concerns about 3x intense pain episodes as trapped wind when in fact I have been diagnosed with gallstones.

I gave birth in wrexham but it was 8 and 11 years ago so probably not relevant now. I had a good experience, my sister didn’t (11 years ago) and so went to Chester with her second.

my friend gave birth in wrexham in May last year and had a good experience though. It was a speedy and straight forward labour and delivery which helped.

Wrexham is wonderful. I work for the trust. They are a lovely team. Women have a much better experience here than Glan Clwyd. I would go with the Maelor over Telford.

@MrsJ6921 ooooh wow. What a roller coaster. Sorry that happened. Midwives shouldn't be main contact postpartum I feel ot should be the womens specialist GP or consultant.
I can imagine you were exhausted after all that time.
She was only 8pbs but I guess with Higher blood pressure can't take risk plus infections.

My BFF cousin died due to sepsis. She had an infection and was sent home. And went into a coma. They did emergency CS but baby had passed and 2 hrs later mum then passed. Was so sad. This happened a couple weeks agonin Bradford. When it comes to infections I woukent want to mess about at all. Look at this poor woman. She left behind a 1 year old and a 4 year old.

@Lemonyyellow thank you. We have decided with wrexham. We are in Wales - Powys anyway and we like the level of care we get locally. So will give it a go.

@return2sender thank you. So nixe to hear someone say positive things about their Trust. I have worked at a few and wouldn't have been so positive 😂
But we made our minds up now and this thread has helped.

Uodate!
Had DS2 3 weeks ago and indeed I had to go to Wrexham due to health issues I was induced. The staff were all lovely and so kind and consent was a massive thing there. They were so good.
I had 0 issues with care.

10/10 wpuld recommend the maternity services at Wrexham.

I had 3 babies in Wrexham - bad experience with h first due to the crappy doctor but midwives fabulous every time

My littlest is 3 and I had a dream labour at Wrexham, my friend who had hers at the same time at PRH had a terrible level of care

I also know someone who lost a baby due to negligence at PRH

I am due to have my baby in Telford and Wrekin hospital and I keep hearing horror stories of women having epistomies and forcep deliveries as a first option. I wanted to know are they supportive in natural delivery? Do they allow you to more around freely and birth standing or whatever position you feel comfortable? For someone who will not have a epidural or pain relief. Hope that makes sense

As someone who gave birth at the PRH. I wouldn’t say my forceps and episiotomy was the first option. This came after being in established labour for nearly 19 hours and was an emergency situation.

If you’re considered ‘low risk’ then I don’t see the problem and from experience the midwives are well informed and supportive(as they should).