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Original poster

Can anyone share any positive NHS hospital births?

61 replies

PeggyLee123 · 14/05/2024 11:53

I'm due next week and totally bombarded by the latest news i am hearing about mothers traumas etc I'm literally so petrified to go in to labor & was just wondering if anyone had any good experiences of child birth (particularly first child)

I'm having (hopefully ) a natural birth, but some of my mates too have given me horror stories and now it just feels like I am too petrified to go in to labor!

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Original poster
PeggyLee123 · 14/05/2024 11:56

sorry this is in light to the parliamentry investigation they announced yesterday about negligence.

OP posts:
GoldieMam · 14/05/2024 11:59

Hi, yes I had a very positive experience with my almost 2 yo. I had water injections in my back, laboured in the pool and gave birth with gas and air. There were some complications but I always felt well looked after and informed. Overall a very positive experience! Good luck OP, it must be tough with all that’s going on in the news!

Baddaybigcloud · 14/05/2024 12:03

Yes two brilliant experiences at Chelsea and Westminster - amazing facilities, midwife’s and care both times.

Mrsttcno1 · 14/05/2024 12:05

I had my baby girl 3 weeks ago and I honestly had an amazing experience I couldn’t fault the hospital or the midwives one bit! My birth didn’t go to plan at all, I ended up having to be induced due to concerns for baby and ended up having a forceps delivery & episiotomy so not the birth I had hoped for at all but I felt completely supported by those caring for us every single step of the way, the midwives were absolutely amazing, the doctors were amazing, all of the staff on the postnatal ward were amazing. So although my birth wasn’t great or what I planned, it was the safest thing for baby and I genuinely could not fault the hospital and staff at all, the midwife who was with me throughout my labour actually then stayed with me after her shift finished to be there when my baby was born, she was an absolute angel and I couldn’t have asked for better!! I know others have had bad experiences and I may have gotten very lucky with mine but hopefully it helps you to know that there are people having good experiences, they just aren’t as likely to post about them. Try not to worry! X

PeppermintPatty10 · 14/05/2024 12:05

I had a great experience and everyone in my NCT group did too! Lovely midwives and doctors, gas and air/epidural or whatever you choose, partners can stay over in the room - even my ward with several other mums was fine.

I did wonder about that news item and how it would make some expectant mothers feel.

I've heard loads of positive experiences!

Quiteavibe · 14/05/2024 12:06

I had a difficult first birth and a very easy second, and both times the midwives were very good, not in London. It is a lottery though and that's what the report was trying to say-hopefully you will get some good midwives and also someone to advocate for you and communicate (husband?), that then helps you understand what's going on, as a lot of trauma is around not understanding and not being communicated to properly.

Original poster
PeggyLee123 · 14/05/2024 12:06

Ah this is great! I am planning a water birth but been told this may not happen...i feel like some people delight in telling me their horror stories, like my friend who was in labor for 52 hours and the epidural didnt work and then the baby got stuck and she had to have a Cesarean birth and nearly died etc and then i saw yesterday all these stories.

I love the NHS and have so much respect for staff there, my mum worked for the nhs for years x

OP posts:
Quiteavibe · 14/05/2024 12:08

@PeggyLee123 I think the key thing is to not be afraid to speak up or to seek help (like leaving the room and asking)- I got over the fact of being 'that annoying patient' ages ago as I'm often in hospital and I just am that person, I don't care though, because I'm only asking for basic stuff! I wouldn't be afraid of being annoying! Good luck with it all!

trampoline123 · 14/05/2024 12:08

I had 2 positive but very different births.

My first was last minute planned C-section - he had stopped growing and despite him being tiny and whisked off and not being able to see him for hours, I don't feel traumatised by it.

Second came a bit early and had him vaginally.

Couldn't moan about anything to be honest.

Try not to get too fixated on a birth plan.

Original poster
PeggyLee123 · 14/05/2024 12:08

Eeeep congratulations on your beautiful baby and thanks for sharing your story!

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Original poster
PeggyLee123 · 14/05/2024 12:09

yea i think sometimes i'm too polite like i don't deserve care etc but i will make sure to speak up. my partner is a cockney so he will defo speak up if i can't!

OP posts:
DreadPirateRobots · 14/05/2024 12:11

I had a wonderful, completely straightforward first birth in the midwife-led suite at KCH London. I had no injuries or complications and excellent care.

Original poster
PeggyLee123 · 14/05/2024 12:11

You wouldnt believe how much I appreciate these stories, since taking maternity leave my head has been a bit all over the place/overthinking etc and then this report was released and anxiety levels have been pretty bad. thank you xx

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Peonies12 · 14/05/2024 12:12

ive Been worrying to after that news, but I’m trying to remember that the stories associated with that report and the news reporting will of course be extreme. They won’t report the majority of women who had experiences which weren’t traumatic. Anyway that’s what I tell myself! I’m only 20 weeks but I’m totally head in the sand about the birth…

L0st4words · 14/05/2024 12:12

What sort of birth did your mum have with you and your siblings? What sort of advice did she pass onto you as an nhs employee and also a patient as she's seen it from both angles?
Anyone that you trust had the birth that you want (midwife led, c-section etc) talk to them about what they did to achieve this.

Fridgetapas · 14/05/2024 12:14

The most wonderful midwives at St Michaels in Bristol. I was so so grateful for how amazing they made my experience. They were so caring and supportive and they were doing the very best they could. I had two super lovely births there.

Unfortunately it was clear that they were struggling to do their job sometimes under the NHS - it was always super busy so clearly not enough staff/rooms for the amount of women in labour, when I went upstairs to the MLU the room hadn’t been adequately prepared for the midwives, with my first my light above my bed was broken and I had to cluster feed in the dark which resulted in cracked nipples as I couldn’t see the latch, the midwives had requested it be changed but no maintenance ever arrived. The next day my husband came in with a bulb and did it himself.

None of the above was the fault of the midwives but the NHS system in general. I can only imagine how frustrating it was for them trying to do their job in the circumstances they sometimes had but they still managed to be brilliant.

CloseYourMouthLynn · 14/05/2024 12:14

My first was a bit stressful as it all happened very fast, and some of the midwives didn't believe as I was in labour (definitely was and was 9cm) although my main labouring midwife was brilliant.

My second labour was really positive, I was in the pool on the midwife unit and all the midwives were brilliant and I got my own room afterwards (by luck!)

I would advise you to be a bit assertive, which is hard with your first. With my first, they tried to get me to lay on my back to labour and it did not work for me at all, so I moved position and did it on my own way.

Good luck!

Original poster
PeggyLee123 · 14/05/2024 12:15

My mum passed away not that long ago and my sister was very young when she passed so i don't have many people to talk to about pregnancy.

OP posts:
Meadowfinch · 14/05/2024 12:16

Yes. I had ds in Salisbury Odstock Hospital. A slightly tatty building but the staff were lovely, kind, supportive and patient.

I was an older mum, and had a long slow labour, during which I had a midwife with me at all times, plus a student midwife. I needed a bit of help at the end and when the lead midwife hit the panic button, it arrived in seconds, literally.

DS finally arrived and then I slept for seven hours - mixture of exhaustion and drugs. When I came round, they helped me bathe, got me back on my feet, then transferred me to the ward.

I stayed for three days - I really was knackered - and although I didn't need any help with little one, they offered.

Icannoteven · 14/05/2024 12:21

I had two complicated labours that both ended in C section (the sec one c section was very complex) but I had an excellent standard of care from the hospital. Staff were attentive, reassuring, respected my opinion and made me feel safe. The second time when I was recovering from the complex c section they even looked after my baby for a few hours so I could get some sleep.

This was at St Michaels, Bristol though. They have a good rating and don’t seem to have been infected with pro-birth zealotry (unlike some local birth centres side-eyes Cossham) and seem more willing to use their clinical judgement to ensure that the patient gets the best care for them.

I

2mumlife · 14/05/2024 12:22

@PeggyLee123 My experience overall was positive. I laboured at home with a TENS machine and went to the hospital early morning. I was 7-8cm dilated when I went in. I went straight into the birthing pool in the alongside midwifery unit at the hospital, had curtains closed and just did my think with gas and air (I'd asked for as few interruptions as possible). In the end I had to leave the pool as I had some meconium. Pushed on essentially a giant bean bag for awhile where waters broke. Due to long pushing stage a more senior midwife was called and had to change position and at one point go onto a seat with stirrups and grab one side of a towel while midwife pulled the other end to try to move baby. Due to not making progress, we were advised to move to theatre for a forceps delivery. It was all very calm the whole time. Anaesthesiologist and doctor came and spoke with us before going to theatre. Baby had a monitor placed on head, and I opted for some pain relief whilst we waited for theatre to become available. Everyone is the theatre was very calm and friendly, and my DD was delivered safely. Whilst it wasn't the ending I'd hoped for, at no point did I feel worried or concerned. I felt in control and informed to make decisions the whole time.

movehimintothesun · 14/05/2024 12:24

I had good experiences with both my DD's.

If you find it helpful to stop the news feed getting into your head too much, it might be worth considering the cold hard maths. There really is, on average, one born every minute; so about 1400 births per day? The experiences of the women in the recent report were horrific, and in no way do I wish to minimised their stories, far from it. But statistically, you are still FAR more likely to have a decent, uneventful and hopefully even a positive experience.

Longdueachange · 14/05/2024 12:25

It's only the bad stories that make the news op. I had the nicest, most attentive midwives with me. It was a little complicated, but I was in good hands with theater on standby. I felt safe and well cared for. Congratulations, you'll be fine.

nats2010 · 14/05/2024 12:35

Hello 👋
I live in Northern Ireland. I have had 5 birth experiences. First two in Midwifery Led Care back in mid 2000s. Both with just gas and air and both babies over 8lb. Staff were excellent and very supportive.
Next was a stillborn that had to be induced late 2021. Cannot fault staff in this instance either.
Latest two births within last 3 years.
Induction (due to large measurements) late 2022, and excellent care given again at this time.
Finally last birth just under 5 weeks ago but this was at home (not planned and entire labour less than 1hour 15 mins!!).
It is always a time to be apprehensive, but I tried to chat to my midwives and let them know my fears. I never had a birth plan at any stage for any of my children. I just go with the flow. Means then I was never stressed about what might or might not happen.
I know it's easier said than done when someone tries to tell you not to worry.
Look after yourself, all the very best for your labour, and don't be afraid to speak up and have your partner speak up if necessary.
Hugs x

Workawayxx · 14/05/2024 12:37

Both of mine were positive despite the second one being during covid and an induction. Everybody was kind and supportive both times. Both were water births with gas and air.

The only thing I'd say is do a birth plan as even if it goes differently, the midwives know your ideal without needing to ask questions and can offer options. My birth plan also had a few things like "in the event of a CS I'd like skin to skin as soon as possible if safe for the baby to do so". So a birth plan can cover a few bases.

I also found that as I'm quite polite and calm as a person, both times they gently questioned whether I was as far along as I thought I was - I think because i wasn't creating a huge fuss they thought I was probably just in early labour. They were happy to examine me though both times so it was quickly solved. So, listen to your body and make sure your birthing partner knows and is able to advocate for you.