Lister or Addenbrokes?

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Hello!

I'm 10.5 weeks with my first so everything is very new to me and I'm a bit confused about hospital choice!

I live in North Herts and my GP said I had a choice of Lister (Stevenage) / Luton / Bedford or Addenbrokes. However I don't really know how to go about choosing! I've looked at the Healthcare Commission surveys and the nearest hospital to me (Lister) is at the bottom, whereas Addenbrokes (Cambridge) is at the top. Does this matter?

I'd welcome any advice, suggestions or past experiences!

Thanks in advance
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Hi - I am in the same area as you. I had a mc last year but was booked into the Rosie at Addenbrookes then and can't fault the quality of care there. They also have a midwife led unit which was important to me as I am not the biggest fan of hospitals. However - the drive to Cambridge was always a nightmare and parking was a 'challenge' at best!

I am now 30 weeks and planning a home birth but am booked into the Lister for scans etc, and again have found the care to be great. It is also a more straightforward drive and have always managed to park - which is quite important when those contractions start!

I guess it depends on where you live - if I was closer to Cambridge I would go for the Rosie purely for the MLU - good luck

I gave birth at Lister in 2007 and worked in maternity for the last year and the only reason I took the job (taking photos of the newborn babies) is because the staff there are so lovely and I was really happy with the way they looked after me so from personal experience I can't fault them but I have no experience of the others. I had a mc in march and am now 14wks pregnant and they've been great with everything even seeing me week before last just cos i had pains and brown discharge which is nothing to worry about I know that now but still I can't fault them at all.

I had ds at Addenbrookes, in the MLU. It was lovely. They monitored me really unobtrusively - not one internal exam. The pool is huge and soooo comfortable, like a bath for a giant. I was able to float in it, and eventually gave birth leaning up against the end. They even have an LED colour phasing light dot set in the ceiling above the bath to focus on! All the beds are big, soft and comfy and it's low lit. You get one to one care throughout, and they really let me just get on with it which was what I wanted. It was a lovely experience, and I was dreading the birth before!

I hated the main birthing area, though - went there in latent labour for advice and really found it bright and clinical. Like any hospital, of course, but the MLU is the best of all worlds, I think. The great thing is that you can start labouring somewhere pleasant and yet know that you have a fully equipped hospital so close, should you need it (I never did, stayed in the MLU till discharged).

I also had this choice when both the dss were born. The general opinion seemed to be that Addenbrookes is better in terms of medical care if there are any complications and the Lister is better in terms of nursing care because Addenbrookes can be very short of midwives. The MLU is not always open because of this.

My experiences were completely consistent with this. (We went for Addenbrookes mainly because the drive is easier from where we are.) I won't bore you with the details but basically for both DS1 and 2 (now 4 and 2) the care was fantastic whenever there was any medical issue, but after each of the births I did not see a midwife from the time we were moved to the ward until the time we were discharged.

I completely agree that the MLU is the best option but be aware that it is not always open. Neither of my dss were born there - DS1 because things got complicated and DS2 because it was shut due to lack of midwives.

If I had my time again I would def still choose Addenbrookes (MLU). The reassurance of knowing that some of the best medical care in the country was avaiable should you need it was a big deal to me and as others have said the MLU is lovely.

ps. good luck

I thought this was a baby name thread

we had good care at the Rosie last year, but this year are going with Hinchingbrooke. They have a new MLU, and the staff there have bee great so far (couple of spells in with Hyperemesis!).

I had a good experience with the pool at the Rosie too, but yes, parking can be problematic! Consider how long the journeys are to your options. If you're classed as low risk, I would go for the closer one. Good luck!

both my girls were born at lister and the care was great, although both pregancncies were full of difficulties. Even if you sign up with either hospital, and then find you cant make it to one or the other when in labour, they wont turn you away will they? Good luck

Muddleduck - I was worried about the MLU being shut (my neighbour's dd is almost exactly 2 years younger than my ds, and she had that experience) but my cmw told me that's been rectified now and happens really rarely. I had to stay in 2 days as ds couldn't latch, and the mw agreed it hardly ever closes due to staff shortages these days. There were no closures in that time, and I was there exactly 40 weeks after Valentine's Day. Busy!

(Off topic, but No 25 had a baby on 1st Nov 2007, No 27 on the 5th Nov 2006, and me at No 31 on 2nd Nov 2008. Can you tell what our street do to celebrate Valentine's Day?)

Thanks so much everyone!

I'm really overwhelmed with all your helpful and truthful advice! And I have lots to think about now, thank you! I've also found out that some hosptials do tours, so I may do that.

Thanks so much for all your feedback and wishing you all best wishes and lots of luck!

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