Does anyone have any experience of giving birth at RAH?

[Allosaur]

Induced in a couple of days and looking to hear about experiences which seem to be very mixed at RAH Paisley. Was the care good? Did you have a single room or have to share on a ward?

Does 20 years ago count?! 😄

I had brilliant care. Nearly died and they stopped me doing so. 😁

I had a room to myself for various reasons; normal wards had four beds.

There’s probably all sorts of madness now including dads being allowed to stay overnight.

Hopefully someone with more recent experience will be along …

15 years ago!
Hi risk pregnancy, elective section but completely ignored by nursing staff. Couldn't start breastfeeding but no- one even checked was so helped myself to their supply of formula milk. Discharged myself and baby asap.
Fortunately 15 years later all fine but zero nursing care provided.

I had 2 emergency CS there, 2018 then 2020. First one was off the back of an induction, second was baby coming before scheduled CS.

There were certainly some issues. Staff didn't share information at shift change which effectively led to EMCS 1st time and with my second baby I was bf but they didn't pick up that he wasn't getting enough, but thankfully midwife at home did.

I was on ward of 4 first time and private room 2nd. No visitors in 2020 but in 2018 dads had to leave at 9pm. Think only handful of private rooms.

15 years ago.
Started off in a ward, got paracetamol, tens machine, bouncy ball, bath - where they forgot me and another mum had to rescue me as I couldn't get out.
Got very much ignored on the ward.
Then into a private room for the birth, gas and air (machine didn't work, they didn't believe me), pethidine, and a too late epidural, before being whisked into theatre for spinal tap, ventouse (DD stuck, I was in a lot of pain).
Watch out for their BS about the anethesist being 'busy' - I later read they are told to say this to reduce epidural numbers.
Almost immediately after the birth, they left me and DD in the room so I could recover. She started screaming, I was still drugged up, couldn't walk due to spinal tap, both of us very distressed. I physically could not GO to her.
They also put a lot of pressure on me to breastfeed (can't for several reasons including disability), to the extent they did not give me bottles or tell me where the bottles of milk were. I had to find out from another mum. There's a wee cupboard/store room thing where the bottles are under the counter.
Going for a shower/wash, difficult as you don't want to leave the baby and help not given. You want to look your best for visitors but end up relying on them to babysit so you can go get your shower. I recommend packing some baby wipes for yourself and baby, deodorant wipes, dry shampoo, perfume etc
I didn't have another child.

Yes, 13 year and 11 years ago. First time in the higher risk wards as I had to be induced so was in a shared ward. Second time in the birthing pool then in the low risk wards (can’t remember their proper names) and I was the only one there so had it all to myself for 2 days. It was all good for me. Good luck.

Having had many, many chats with women over the years about their birthing experiences, you will hear positive and negative stories for every board/hospital/ward/staff so try not to worry about it as everyone has a different experience.

Mine are older now but were both born there and it was a good experience both times

just over 7 years ago, and compared to the experience I had at close by hospital I was amazed at how good they were. Everything was better, staff were kind and friendly. A wee cup of tea in the middle of the night from a student stood out as such kindness. I had a VBAC, and it wasn’t 100% smooth but everyone was superb. I live locally and the general opinion is RAH is great. Likely not a single room but ironically the mat wards in the other hospital close by aren’t either.

Should have said, good luck OP.

11 years ago. Started off great in the midwife unit and it was just lovely.

However post birth complications meant I ended up on the main wards for recovery and it was hellish, loud, uncomfortable and understaffed. I was hooked to to monitors etc and couldn't reach my crying baby without dislodging them. I was then told off for trying to comfort the baby even though there was no one there to help me get her. Breastfeeding support consisted of someone coming round to tell us a breastfeeding auditor was coming, and what they wanted us to say if she asked questions. Food was scarce, couldn't walk post epidural but no-one got me anything off the breakfast trolley etc etc. People were moved on and back off the ward through the night so even when the baby was sleeping I was still awake with the noise and talking. I was an exhausted wreck by the time they let me out. My notes made out like I was over-emotional post baby but I still maintain that sobbing to go home was a perfectly rational reaction to the conditions- I hadn't slept for about 4 days or nights by then between labour and the ward.

I had home births for the subsequent 2 babies partly because there's no way I was going to go anywhere near those wards again

Sorry no experience at RAH , I was at the PR in Glasgow .
just wanted to wish you the best of luck .
Please come back and let us know you and baby are well .

You could always look on Care Opinion, people will post good & bad opinions anonymously

A while ago but I had excellent care in the MLU, much better than previous experience at the Southern General.

As a PP said you'll hear good and bad stories for every hospital but I found the RAH much quieter and the midwives therefore had a lot more time for patient care.

I've had two babies born in the RAH. Both quite different experiences.
First was induced then category 1 section due to baby's heart rate dropping dramatically. Both baby and myself very nearly didn't make it but the theatre staff were incredible and we are both here to tell the tale. SCBU staff were also angels!
Ward staff on the other hand were dreadful. Told me off for not breast feeding baby, made me feel like the worst mum in the world for, and I quote, "not even trying".
I was on a really strong BP medication that I was unable to breastfeed on. It was the only one that worked to reduce my BP yet apparently that wasn't "an excuse".

My second baby was a planned section and my experience that time was fantastic. Ward staff were overall much nicer and more kind. Nobody said a word about whether baby was or was not breastfed. Staff really went above and beyond to ensure me and baby were well looked after and checked in on us both regularly. I wish my first experience had been more like that as it made such a difference to my mental health those first months.

You will be fine, my only advice is if you're at all unsure of anything at any point- don't be afraid to speak up for yourself.
Best of luck with your baby, and congratulations!

Funny enough my first was 12 years ago and exactly the same as you describe with the telling offs, breastfeeding crap, and yes unable to lift baby without setting off alarms which seemed to just annoy staff.
I was also moved from lovely MLU to the consultant led.
My second was 10 years ago and what a difference! I even had a midwife (who'd been a student first time around) apologise to me for how she'd treated me. She recognised me and my husband and came rushing over to say she had since become pregnant herself and felt awful for how she had spoken to us. That was appreciated and can't have been easy for her to do.

My first two were born there, 24 and 23 years ago now, though. No issues either time, the care was fine. Each time the midwives were very pleasant, supportive and professional. I understand that it was a long time ago. My third was born at the Princess Royal in Glasgow as we'd moved by then, again, no issues.

All three times, after delivery, baby and I were on a bay, six or eight beds as I recall, but no problems. I was actually offered a single room after my third, as it was fairly quiet, and also the option of staying for a third night. I declined the single room as I'd have felt too isolated, and the third night as I was getting bored by them and was ready to go home.