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Welcome to Scotsnet - discuss all aspects of life in Scotland, including relocating, schools and local areas.

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Original poster

Edinburgh maternity care

24 replies

Whichcity · 14/02/2023 13:31

Hi everyone,

My husband and I are moving to Edinburgh & I’m due my second baby. I was just wondering what the maternity care is like in Edinburgh and if anyone recommends one hospital over another? We’re from London and I’m just looking for insight into booking initial appointments etc.
TIA!

OP posts:

telli · 14/02/2023 13:46

I had my eldest at the edinburgh royal infirmary and if they were full you got transported to livingston but that was 12 years ago so not sure if it's the same. Care was ok, no real issues but I was the last one who got a room before they started sending them to livingston, I ended up post birth in a room with 3 women being induced which wasn't the greatest to be honest. Edinburgh in general is a beautiful city and plenty to do with children and babies.

emmathedilemma · 14/02/2023 15:32

Also consider where you're going to be living in relation to the hospitals, the Royal can be a nightmare to get to, from the north / west side of town you can be as quick going to St Johns (although it's harder by public transport).

AnotherBrightSunrise · 14/02/2023 15:54

I am Scottish but moved from England to Scotland when I was pregnant and one thing that baffled me was they completely disregarded my notes (I was 7 months pregnant) and made a completely new set of notes! (I kept the old set for my own information). The other main difference was I went from alternate appointments with a GP and midwife to just midwives (and often different ones each time, from a local ‘group’). They were all good though. Only one hospital in Edinburgh so not a choice of hospital unless you want to travel to Livingston. I had a planned homebirth though, and that was great, very well prepared with a pack at home and the midwife was professional, friendly and low-key.

AnotherBrightSunrise · 14/02/2023 15:56

I wasn’t clear in that message, but it was Edinburgh that I moved to. All the best for the move and pregnancy! Edinburgh is a great place to have babies and young children, so much going on and lots of friendly community groups.

Original poster

Whichcity · 14/02/2023 16:55

thank you so much for your response @telli
@emmathedilemma yes definitely need to consider this, any areas you’d recommend that are good for families?
@AnotherBrightSunrise that’s so interesting they did a new set of notes! I will be transferring from midwives here, was the ‘transfer’ easy as such for you? Really glad to hear your birth went well & thank you, very much looking forward to the move! Is it easy to make friends with toddler groups etc? My DS is 2 and would love for him to make some friends as well as making some mum
friends for new baby & myself.

OP posts:

emmathedilemma · 14/02/2023 18:55

Areas totally depends on your budget and what commute (if any) you’ll have…..most areas in Edinburgh have something to offer families (see the many threads re housing and school catchments)

ProseccoOnIce · 14/02/2023 20:05

I booked for St John's as I'm in the west of the city & friends/family had good experiences there.

However events took over & baby had to come very early so moved to RIE as neonatal unit is there - compared to scbu at St John's.

I found St John's friendlier & less manic but didn't have much choice in the end.

AnotherBrightSunrise · 14/02/2023 20:18

The move of prenatal care was fine, it just wasn’t so much a ‘transfer’ as starting again! Lots of nice areas in Edinburgh, and lots of toddler groups. I liked the pregnancy and parents centre (their pregnancy yoga is a good place to de-stress and meet people), and the Newington toy library, both places your 2 year old might like too!

TomKittensLostMitten · 14/02/2023 20:27

i had my first child in Edinburgh by emergency Caesarian. The midwife led unit where we stared off was a bit shit, but that’s mainly because I wanted a bit more than a tepid bath and 2 parAcetamol after 40 hours in labour. Once I got up to the ward it was absolutely great. The antenatal care also was excellent. As an older mother there were extra scans, lots of supportive care and generally just amazing. Consultant led care from the off.
then I moved south. 3 years older you’d have thought even higher risk. Nope. Midwife led, no additional scans, oh you’ll be fine with VBAC.
I temporarily relocated to Edinburgh to have my second by planned C-section. Absolutely could not recommend more highly.

Boisey · 14/02/2023 21:47

I’ve had terrible experiences at Edinburgh with four pregnancies. Really regret not going toLivingson to have my baby as all Drs I know did.

livibabied · 15/02/2023 06:02

My experience is a bit older (dc are 13 and 10) but at they time of their births we lived about 10 mins as the crow flies from RIE.

First birth - RIE were full so told to go to St John's. Took about 30 mins in car. Turned up, there were only about 4 women having babies. Very chilled, midwives a plenty, got epi quickly as no wait and overall an amazing experience. I was so impressed, I opted for St John's for no 2.

Second birth - got to St John's as planned. Very quick birth, baby came about 10 mins after arriving (I did worry I was going to give birth on M8 hard shoulder at one point!). Speaking to midwives later, they said that when I gave birth the RIE was shut again as full, so I would have been diverted to ST Johns anyway. Although, given I was in such an advanced state of labour, RIE might have taken me. I shuddered thinking that didn't sound fun, being in that state and the RIE being so busy to perhaps deal with me properly.
As it was, my 2nd birth was again very straightforward and the staff at St John's fantastic again. I had a 7 hour discharge so was home the same day.

So despite being so close to RIE, I never saw it! St John's hands down for me.

Sail0r · 15/02/2023 06:40

Had my first at Royal, during Labour the care was great but after care on post labour ward was awful. This was 6 years ago but back then the midwife told me on average they deliver 21 babies a night at the Royal compared to 4 at St John’s. Elected to have my second at St John’s and it was a much nicer experience. It might be different now though, I think they you can request a tour. Royal also has a birthing centre attached.

As you are having a second baby they will likely get you out of hospital pretty sharp if no complications so post labour ward may be less of an issue

Original poster

Whichcity · 15/02/2023 07:33

@Boisey I’m so sorry you didn’t have a good experience with any of your pregnancies, that’s such a shame. Would you mind explaining a little more about why you didn’t like the hospital? It’s currently the closest but the comments are leading me to think St John’s is the way to go!

OP posts:

Callisto1 · 15/02/2023 20:56

Had my 2nd child just over 4 years ago in Edinburgh. The midwife care at Lauriston was great. It was a straightforward pregnancy, but I wavered quite a lot about where to go for birth as my first birth (not in uk) was awful.
For various reasons I decided to go for the midwife led unit at RIE. And it was a very positive experience. Have to say though that my birth was fast and easy so only got paracetamol + gas and air.

Also the NHS had a 1 day course for second time mums. You can ask your midwife if they have something like that available as, think it doesn't run that often. Depending on where you live there is also pregnancy yoga in various places.

Dolares · 16/02/2023 19:15

My first birth was at the Royal in Edinburgh. The second was at St Johns in Livingston. The second experience was much much better for me. We were well cared for. At the Royal on a Saturday night/Sunday we were abandoned.

I have a friend who's had 4 children in Edinburgh and every time has been wonderful so it really is luck of the draw. Just don't go into labour at the weekend.

Rememberal · 16/02/2023 22:17

I've had 2 at RIE. The actual birth was fine as long as you're comfortable with basically "doing it yourself".

The post-natal care however is horrendous. Luckily it's your second baby so if all goes smoothly you'll probably be out of there within hours. I had my second late at night and was being discharged the next again morning. Did however have complications a week later which resulted in HDU followed by a month on the post-natal wards and that was a special kind of hell I would not wish on my worst enemy. From the shit food and cleanliness and constant stream of complete strangers when you're at your most vulnerable to downright medical negligence and everything in between. Thankfully I think most people are just too exhausted/ dazed/ occupied with their new baby to notice it if you're only in there for a day or two.

CoorieIn · 16/02/2023 22:49

I've had children in both ERI and St John's in livingston and preferred St John's.

That said, it depends where you will be living. ERI was still a good enough experience but if I had the choice I wouldn't choose to go there again.

KEG05 · 16/02/2023 22:54

I work in St John’s. Not a midwife but do go over to look after ladies who have been in theatre and lots of ladies who have had first babies at the royal come to St John’s for their second. Feedback has been that it’s a nice size. Your treated more as a person than a number. There’s nothing wrong with ERI it’s just busier ☺️. X

Starryskiesinthesky · 16/02/2023 23:01

I had my 3 at the royal and was very happy with all aspects of my care! They did want rid of me ASAP with my 3rd whereas I would have happily stayed overnight! I had him at 4am and was out by midday.

NaatQ968 · 16/02/2023 23:02

Had an amazing experience with the staff at St Johns hospital. So glad I didn't go to the royal.

Marmalady75 · 17/02/2023 09:32

I wouldn’t touch St John’s with a barge pole. They didn’t listen to my concerns (I later got a copy of my notes that actually had “v v anxious first time mum ++++” written in them. They dismissed me and refused a scan because I’d had one earlier in the week, but I knew something felt wrong. My baby was stillborn and I am left wondering if they had listened that things would have turned out differently. They put us in a room on the maternity ward after her birth and I had to listen to all the babies crying and watch the other mums walking up the corridor with their babies. It was horrific!

Starryskiesinthesky · 19/02/2023 20:34

@Marmalady75 So sorry that this happened to you.

Original poster

Whichcity · 04/03/2023 16:55

@Marmalady75 I am so incredibly sorry this happened to you. Sending so much love

OP posts:

Original poster

Whichcity · 04/03/2023 16:57

Thank you everyone for your responses, I really appreciate it! Apologies for not posting sooner, I have been battling hyperemesis and house hunting...there has also been a slight change in location and it may now be Glasgow we move to which is a shame as I really adore Edinburgh, but I'm sure we can still make a few day trips. However if we do stick with Edinburgh I have a lot of great info. Thanks again!

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