Opinions of Watford General / West Herts Antenatal Care ?

[Jools1]

Hi - newly pregnant first time mum to be. Had my GP appt on Tuesday - he recommended I go for Watford General rather than Welwyn Garden City as that service may be moving to Stevenage around my due date.

Since then, I've been reading loads about how awful West Herts care allegedly is - bottom of the table I think ? I don't even get a scan till 20 weeks and no nuchal.

I'm only 5 weeks but this is scaring me already and I already feel very alone and scared of the quality of care I may receive.

I have no midwife contact details and booking in is apparently not till 12 weeks.

I know I can pay for a private nuchal scan - but is West Herts as bad as it sounds ?

Hi, at the Lister/Welwyn you wouldn't be offered a nuchal on the NHS unless you are considered to be a high risk group (previous history of probs or over 40).

You would get a dating scan at about 12 weeks though and this would just check if your dates were OK and the viability. Booking in at 12 weeks is not unusual in North Herts, I'm guessing your GP ran through what food to avoid and to take folic acid.

I'm surprised Watford/West herts don't offer a dating scan, perhaps you could check this with your GP. You can ask to go to Welwyn if you want and then change your mind later in your pregnancy if it would be nearer to deliver at Watford, you don't have to stick with the same hospital all the way through.

Herts in general doesn't score that well for care but I found it to be pretty good last time.

I'm also in West Herts and had my first appointment with the midwife a couple of weeks ago (our surgery suggests you see the doctor around 6 weeks and then midwife between 8 & 10 weeks). She told me that West Herts has just (from September) introduced a dating scan for pregnancies due after the middle of March next year (the nuchal test is only available privately - I was offered details for the Fetal Medicine Centre though I'm not going to bother). The dating scan should take place between 11 and 14 weeks (though as I'm now 11 weeks and haven't been given a date yet, I'm guessing it's likely to be closer to 14!) I would have thought you'd probably want to see a midwife before 12 weeks though as she's responsible for arranging it.

In terms of the care at Watford General, I've read some good reports about the Alexandra Birthing Centre there but don't know anyone with personal experience. I'm further west than you so don't know what other choices I'd have.

I had ds at Watford General Hospital and found the after care to be horrendous.

My antenatal care was all dealt with by GP until I developed complications. I spent some time in Watford General on the ante natal ward and have no complaints.

I've had several at Watford - and about to have another any day now. Ante-natal pretty good, post-natal not so good (but that tends to be the case most places). Watford has certainly improved over the last few years, the ABC has an excellent reputation and several friends have had babies there. The consultant unit is fine, bog-standard labour ward really. MWs and consultants I've come across have generally been lovely, if busy.

No early scan as a matter of course unless you have no dates or you have problems eg bleeding. 12 weeks is standard for a booking appointment, generally done at your home.

I've had private nuchals at BUPA Harpenden and also private scans there and at the Hertfordshire Clinic/Verulam Clinic - would strongly recommend Verulam (St Albans), they were particularly nice. Also had a CVS at the Lister and that seemed a very impressive hospital, very clean and spacious from what I saw.

Thanks so much for your responses - does make me feel better about things.

Greenlawn - my GP recommended the Verulam for the nuchal, so I'm going to make enquiries there. Good luck for your impending delivery

It just feels like another 7 weeks to wait for booking in is a long time when I've never done this before and want to make sure I'm doing all the right things - thank heaven for Mumsnet to fill in the gaps

Well if it makes you feel better, the first 12 weeks are definitely (IME) the worst of pregnancy - I would happily go through late pregnancy and birth several times over, but not those scary early weeks again! Good luck.

hi jools,
had my first bubba 3 and 1/2 weeks ago at Watford, was booked into the ABC unit for a water birth, unfortunately due to some irregularities with DS heartbeat I was transferred immediately to the delivery suite. I have to say the care was brilliant, typically I was there at weekend and over 3 midwife shift changes we had one agency nurse (watford is very busy, and understaffed) but they were all really good, so encouraging and the one who got me thru the actual delivery was especially good, there were some complications but she was calm, firm and nice. The after care wasnt as good, but on the other hand wasnt bad, the staff were all approachable and willing to help, even though they were busy. I paid privately for a nuchal but had the triple test at the hospital and although those first few weeks are incredibly nerve-wracking once you get through them you will be seen at roughly the same times as other boroughs would. I didnt see the midwife as much as other friends have but if I had any concerns at all i was straight up to the day assessment unit or the delivery suite to be checked. Good luck!!!!!

I have had both of mine at Watford. I had complications early in pregnancy so was private until then, I was then put under consultant care and was scanned at 14, 20, 21, 38, 32 and 36 weeks by the consultant even though from 12 weeks my pregnancy was totally normal. My delivery was excellent and couldn't fault the care. Second time round the after care was fine, excellent levels of BF support which was lacking first time round, I know many many people who have delivered there, many of whom are complete princesses and have heard nothing but positive reports for ante natal and delivery. Post natal is generally hit or miss and the bathrooms aren't too hot but generally, it's pretty good

I am 20 weeks PG and also planning to deliver at watford general. It is a general procedure to have your first scan at 20 weeks, at least in my area.
I have MW coming to my town's surgery from Watford general. The one I met first time around 8th week seemed to be ... somewhat dreamy ( she kept falling asleep during my appointment! ). Did not give me proper advice, nothing, but then, God bless internet, I knew most of it anyway. Had an emergency scan at 12 weeks, at Watford general, which went really nice, and thee lady was very helpful and pleasant, despite the fact I was 25 minutes late! . Then at 20 weeks I am suppose to have abnormality scan, which is routine, but over 20 weeks now: did not get any letter from the hospital. Went on my own accord to see MF, there was a new one there, just as spacey as the previos one. When I came in, she just asked me : what's up? why did you come? I had to tell HER that I am 20 weeks PG and need some kind of ceck up AND scan! She was: Oh, right..! She had to call the hospital to check if i have been booked for the scan. I was, but now will have it at 22 weeks. She did not have any record on the system reg my previos scan at 12 weeks. So all this does not give me much hope, really.... good thing though, that the MWs who come to see us at the surgery are not the ones at the ward delivering my baby. So I guess I just will have to wait and see. Anyone else i have spoken to said that watford general was nice and relatively clean and staff was helpful. .
I keep my fingers crossed. Told my DH to be there all the time wih me and not to be a pushover or over polite and when I need an epidural he MUST go and get them to give it to me. From my experience with hospitals they can be little bit slow with pain reief....

Hiya, I am considering moving to watford (currently booked at Royal Free) as have recently moved to Stanmore but am in a dilemma as quite happy with the care I have received so far at the Royal Free...I am keenly watching thus thread for more people to share their experiences as need to decide soon (I am 30 weeks).

Good luck with your pregnancy xxx

Experience 2/3 years out of date, so take it with a pinch of salt, but when I was pg with ds1 and lived in the West Herts area my GP advised me not to go to Watford because it was so awful. I went out of area to Luton & Dunstable instead (which was fantastic - brilliant care and mws).

Went to the L&D again with ds2 even though I was out of area again (now in East Herts).

Have heard mainly good things about the Lister too.

I had both of my girls at Lister, and found the care to be ok, not wonderful in some ways, but brill in others. From what I hear watford is not a good place, and they only do one scan. LIster still do the 12 week dating and 20 week check too.
Someone i know was at watford and very sadly didnt find out till 20weeks that her baby was very poorly and ended up having baby at 24 weeks
I also wouldnt recommed QE2 either.

Is the Lister too far away from you for you to consider? I had dd there 2.7 yrs ago, and will be having ds there next week. I've been very happy with the care that I've received throughout both pregnancies.
My booking in was done with the community midwife in my GP's surgery at 6 or 7 weeks (could have had it earlier, but I was busy on the days the m/w was free).
Nuchal's aren't routine on the NHS though. Have you considered whether you actually want one or not?

aviopd QE2

had dd1 there and vowed never to go back.

dd2+3 at the lister, both good experiences.

was under lister care for dd4 until recently, but am now booked for homebirth instead.

Jools - just to let you know that I've had a couple of letters this morning from the scanning service at Watford General with dates for both the newly introduced dating scan (done between 11 & 13+6 weeks) and the anonomaly scan (at 20 weeks).

The letter about the dating scan also states that West Herts is introducing nuchal screening in pregnancy and asks for permission to take measurements and images of the nuchal pad as part of the training process for accrediting their sonographers. (It does state that you won't be given a risk factor and it is not a Downs screening test though if the measurement is high, you will be referred elsewhere for investigation). As my age-related risk is likely to be highish, I don't think I'll bother but it does sound as if it will be available as standard in due course.

The contact number for appointments for the dating scan is 01923 217387 (between 2 and 5pm) so maybe you could ring them and find out how best to book in if you're not seeing a midwife until 12 weeks.

wow, thankyou SO much Hobnobs - I shall definitely save that number

I seem to remember my GP telling me Nuchal's were being introduced, but not till March / April, so obviously too late for me.

I will be 39 by the time my nuchal is due, so plan to book one privately

Jools1 - you can get the nuchal scan done at BUPA Harpenden or Verulam Clinic, St Albans. Think it costs about £150 (ish).

Yes, I think I will book at the Verulam clinic My GP and other people have recommended them

Might give them a ring tomorrow and find out how far in advance I need to book in - I don't want to tempt fate by making the appt too early - pessimistic, neurotic individual that I am !!!! (not quite 6 weeks yet ..)

I've used the Verulam Clinic 4 times (2 viability scans, 1 nuchal, and 1 sexing scan) and have always managed to get appointments with only about 1 or 2 week's notice.

My top tip, fwiw, is to book for as early as possible in the day. They are always running late, so if you go in the afternoon you can have a very long wait. No fun with a full bladder!

Fab, practical tip MuffinMcLay - I shall definitely bear that in mind Thankyou

I've just had a baby in the ABC unit at Watford. I loathe Drs, hospitals etc. Amazing experience. En suite facilities were really clean - not glam though. Staff were remarkable.
The Verulam clinic are great and for the nuchal translucency/triple test I rocked up with a bursting bladder which was too full. Told to empty it ALL out and still got good scan pic. They have water machines in the waiting room so don't do what I did - had a gallon at home and sat in traffic for a while.

Watford ABC Centre is very good. However I wasn't able to stay there because of complications. The short stay I did have there was lovely and I can highly recommend having your baby there. The normal ward is fine and the care was generally good. Hope this helps.

I live in St Albans and I've just been to my GP after finding out that I'm pregnant, and I'm really shocked that I don't get a scan until at least 18 weeks! And no screening tests!

I'm not in the really high reisk category but I'm 33 and I really wanted the Nuchal scan or Triple test or whatever it's called!

Am assuming this 'no screening' thing is normal for this area?

Can anyone recommend a good place to get the screening done?

Thanks!

wow - I started this thread so long ago I'd forgotten about it !! Sadly didn't get to sample the delights of the ABC.

As for tests - GP told me the same as you but the MW at my booking in at St Albans told me that 12 week scans had only just been introduced - I actually had a date for mine in Nov (but MC'ed that morning ) Hopefully your GP's info is just out of date.

I was also told at the time that nuchal scans were being introduced in April ?? Haven't had a chance to check anything as I MC'ed AGAIN last month and am now awaiting an appt at Welwyn Garden City - recurrent mc clinic.

A good place for all sorts of scans in St Albans is the Verulam Clinic on Victoria St - came highly recommended by my GP

VerulamClinic

Hi, Watford finally introduced dating scans (11-14 weeks) last September, and they are training their sonographers to do nuchal scans. The letter I had with my appointment said they would do the measurement but not give you the result as they are in the process of being certified by someone or other - as it happened they didn't do the measurements so it may be that they are close to introducing the service. So anyway, they weren't in by April but I guess they will be soon so hopefully you will be able to take advantage of them soon.