Potential problems with the hospital, what would you do?

[Emilou87]

I need some advice from all you lovely mummys out there. I'm pregnant for the first time (still early days, got my dating scan in just under 2 weeks) but all the info i've read has suggested thinking about the birth already which seems perfectly sensible to me.

The problem being i've been set on a hospital birth seeing as its my first time; but i was watching the local news the other evening and within the past year there have been several (avaoidable) deaths in my local maternity ward; i know about another death that wasnt included in the report as it happened to a relative of a women i work with, and the hosptial admitted they caused the problem. Measures that have been implemented to try and fix the problems within the unit havn't worked and there are talks of closing the maternity unit down.

I dont have all the details at the moment, myself and DP are going to talk to our midwife asap, but my problem is i dont think i'd feel comfortable going to that unit even if it doesnt get closed down, but i'm not sure what my other options are.

Any thoughts?

[Esme01]

Blimey, that is not a good situation to be in at all.
but.......you are doing good to think and find out now, you still have lots of time. See how you get on with the midwives and get a feel for how competent they are.

Personally I would try not to go to that hospital. Get in with a local ante natal group and speak to anyone in the area who has had kids and find out if there is a decent reputation for home births or any other place to go (any midwife led birthing centres?)

From my experience (2 births, on 3rd preg)I would prioritise
-trying to find a birth that is midwife driven (the doctors that I interacted with were gormless and completely useless)
-trying to find decent NHS care. I have heard horror stories about private maternity care and if there are any complications you get shunted back to the NHS. You might end up in the hospital you dont want to be in.

[Emilou87]

stuffedmk yeah you're right, it is MK maternity ward that i seem to be hearing quite a few scare stories from. I had a look at the website that flybynight posted a link too (thank you for that flybynight, it was really helpful fro getting an overview of the different hosptials that are close by) and unfortunately it rates MK maternity unit as "least well performing" at the moment

Stuffedmk have you spoken to your midwife about the possible problems with the hospital yet? I'm concerned that when i do speak to someone they may try and play down the risks and almost dismiss mine and Dp's fears.

Thanks everyone for all the advice about looking at my options though

xx

[stuffedmk]

I am wondering if you are talking about my local hospital (Milton Keynes).
There are issues with the local maternity ward but I don't drive so it is my only real option unless I go for home birth.
I did have my son in the same hospital, with no problems, but it was 9 years ago so I expect it has changed!
I am giving home birth some serious thought at the moment but the idea of anything going wrong and not having doctors close by is quite scary.
Don't know what the answer is.

[hairymelons]

Check out your options here. There may well be a better choice within a sensible distance. It's important you feel safe wherever you give birth.

[parkj83]

Hi Emilou,

I find myself in the same position as you, except I'm pg with no. 2.

DS was born in a totally different hospital 50 miles away in another city, only because I had an infection that my local, brand-spanking-new hospital couldn't cope with (!)

Now, nearly 7 years later, I find myself quite literally messing myself, as I don't want to birth there this time round either. Mainly cos the whole, sparkly, expensive, flashy place is riddled with disease, I've heard so many stories of negligence, and also experienced one with my DH (they let him go home over xmas with a near-on ruptured appendix ). Add to that a death on the maternity ward (who was one of their own staff!) during labour, and that's it, I don't want to know.

Thankfully, I've talked with a couple of mums at DS's school, and I can either go for a home birth, or even, there's a midwife clinic a few miles outside of town, that will handle most types of birth, except those needing assistance (c section, or forceps I think)

So, those are my 2 first choices. After that, I'd even go so far as to pay to go in the private hospital which is only a couple of miles from the NHS one. At least I'd know I get treated like a human being, and it's a lot cleaner, even if it's a bit dated.

Other than that, I agree with flybynight - definitely talk with your m/w, and they can't make you xx

[flybynight]

I can't imagine I'd happy with that hospital either Emilou. Have a look here it will show you the maternity units closest to you and their varying stats.

Have a read then discuss with your midwife. No-one will force you to go to a hospital you aren't happy with. Good luck!