Where to give birth in Durham/Newcastle area?

[pearl1986]

Hello, all. I'm four weeks pregnant with my second child and will soon be moving to the Durham/Newcastle area. I had a rather complicated first pregnancy and birth, and I struggle with some (particularly health-related) anxiety. The team who looked after me before, during and after the birth of my first child (in the south where I currently live) were wonderful and I felt in very safe hands despite things being not-so-straightforward. So I am quite anxious about moving to a new area in which I've no prior experience of the maternity care, and have no idea which hospital I should register with...

For anyone who gave birth very recently (i.e. the last year or so), could you please share your experiences of the hospitals in the area - is there anywhere you'd highly recommend, or avoid? A few that I've investigated, and would be close enough to where I'll be living, are the Royal Victoria Infirmary, QE Gateshead, and UHND.

Thank you; I'd be massively grateful!

Had mine at the qe Gateshead, no complaints at all, I have no comparison for frame of reference though, just had a good experience before during and after :)

Both births at RVI, most recent being in Feb.

No complaints.

Might be worth checking out the CQC reports for maternity services for them

I had my first at uhnd and plan on doing the same for second, couldn't fault them and i will always remember and appreciate how incredible the student midwife I had present was.

I had my son at UHND n zero complaints with that pregnancy. I'm pregnant again with my second and I'm more high risk this time round and chose to deliver at the RVI n I'm also loving it there so far! :)

My higher risk pregnancy was managed throughout at the RVI, including the birth. They were amazing throughout. I was on a ward, though - not as much privacy as when I had my second (low risk) at another hospital. You might want to consider if any of you other options offer your own room, as that was much, much better

I had my high risk births at the RVI and they were brilliant. I started my antenatal care at the QE who were great but as I had major complications I was transfered over. I also go to UHND through work and it's fine. My only thought is if u are moving to Durham area driving to and parking at the RVI which is in the centre of Newcastle is awful ATM due to the major works on the tyne bridge. We live in Gateshead and it takes about 30/40mins when it was 20 before. Based on that out of the 3 I'd probably go for the QE.

Thanks, everyone, for your replies - much appreciated! :)

I went to the QE and it was horrendous. They tore up my birth plan and said I didn't have a choice in anything and went against everything I said. They had to be told to turn the induction meds down twice. They tried to force me into a forceps delivery, even though nothing was wrong, because they wanted the students to see one and turned my gas and air off when I said no. I had down no students and they had them in anyway. The person that gave birth after me was forced into a forceps delivery. There was also someone's blood on the table in the room I slept in. They took my birthing stall away to get me on my back for forceps even though my cancer specialist said I can't be on my back for delivery. The worst hospital I've ever been to.

Definitely RVI, highly recommend