Changing hospital in Hertfordshire / Cambs

[gardenlady1]

Hi everyone

Hoping someone can help here as none of my friends have transferred before (live in other areas).

We are currently booked in with Lister hospital in Stevenage, but we've heard some difficult stories about care there (not seeking to blame anyone with this, just looking for best experience possible). It's about 20 mins max from our house.

Addenbrookes in Cambs is our other option but that's just under an hour away. We've heard better things about care there.

I know we've got time to transfer - but has anyone transferred hospital midway through pregnancy? Why did you do it and what was experience like?

And is an hour too far?

Thanks so much for any advice

I had my little boy at the Lister by c section. The c-section was fine the after care wasn't great in fact I wouldn't use the word care 😂

I felt like a burden to the staff they didn't seem very keen to help. I was told different things regarding feeding baby and healing depending which midwife I spoke to

Having said that I will be having my second baby there via c-section mainly because I don't have to stay there that long it's just one night and I'm more prepared to have an opinion this time

When you're a first time mum it's so overwhelming not to mention I was very full of drugs 😂

It's personal choice I've heard both good and bad but whatever you choose I hope all goes well for you

I had a similar experience at the Lister to @ButterflyWings13 . Emergency section was fine, staff perfectly nice. The couple of days after that weren't great - I assumed the staff were there to help, they didn't seem to agree. I also had had a fair amount of drugs, and not the greatest grip on what was going on 😁

I don't think we're going to have another, but if we were my experience wasn't bad enough to put me off the Lister. I'd deffo try to stay for less time than!

The Rosie at Addenbrookes is wonderful. The facilities, the staff and they have the best specialist care around if either of you need it quickly.

This has all been super helpful.

I had my booking in at Lister a few weeks ago and after doing urine sample, the toilet had no hand wash and I just felt instantly worried - I know it's so small, but seems so critical?

Does anyone know how it works with community midwives if you move to a hospital out of area? Would I have to go to a midwife at a Drs in Camb area? I've got a 16 week booked in at my Dr in Herts right now, and they're employed by the Herts NHS trust.

I'm going to give it a few more weeks then decide I think on moving. Just worried about the hour drive xx

I had my baby at the Lster and my next door neighbour had hers at the Rosie. I'm going to be having my second at the Lister later this year. For me the distance to the hospital plays a huge role (we are about 8 mins drive, vs closer to an hour to the Rosie) and I have to go in for various things all the time.

My neighbour still had her community midwife appointments in our town, so I don't think it makes a huge difference.

I had a positive experience of the Lister (baby born May 2022) in that yes I had an induction and yes it followed the cascade of interventions so I ended up with forceps and episiotomy, and no that was not on my birth plan, BUT every single midwife there was absolutely lovely, so reassuring, caring and kind while I was in labour.

My neighbour had a good birth at the Rosie but still said there were things that upset her or that weren't 100% what she wanted, so I guess it can go either way.

It did worry me a bit that the unit was downgraded to Inadequate later in 2022, but I'm hoping they have made some improvements since then.

Best of luck with your pregnancy and baby!

I’m currently pregnant with my first and have been under the care of the lister. The antenatal clinic is a bit tired, but apparently the birthing unit and consultant led unit have been recently renovated and are much nicer. I’ve also found the staff really
lovely and the care very good, in spite of some difficulties with my pregnancy.

I did look at the Rosie but it’s a 40 minute drive, before any traffic in Cambridge, which I don’t think I’d be up for in labour. Interestingly, the stats on the number of interventions / c-sections etc are very similar across both the Lister and the Rosie, so if eg you are set on a water birth or similar in the midwife led unit, there’s a similar chance of that happening at both.

We’ve ultimately decided to stay with the Lister which is a 10/15 minute drive, but are considering a home birth!

This is all very helpful thanks so much everyone. The curve ball is we may end up having to move house sooner than we thought to Bedford, so no idea what their provision at Bedford hospital is like. Anyone know at all?

My NCT course leader covers Bedfordshire and whilst I’m not sure what care is like, apparently parking is a nightmare there!