Experiences of having a baby at the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh

[BeUmberRaven]

Hi everyone! Has anyone had their baby at royal infirmary Edinburgh? Looking to hear about everyone’s experience there - good and bad. Very early stages of pregnancy so hoping to get as much info as I can.

When you go into labour you might not get in to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary if they are busy. My daughter was sent an hour away to Melrose to deliver her baby.

I went into labour and was delighted to be told I would be giving birth in what was then the brand new birthing suite at the Royal. My labour stopped and restarted 24 hours later and was disappointed to be told it was full and had to go to St John's. Had a good experience there.
I know many people who have given birth at the Royal and not heard any horror stories.

I wouldn’t go down this road. There’ll be at least one negative experience and it’ll make you anxious. It’s a major hospital in a first world country staffed by a variety of professionals, end of.

Spend your time OFF social media, enjoy this time with your OH, read some childbirth books and prepare yourself for the momentous shift into motherhood in ways that don’t involve writing prompts for social media content that you can then doomscroll.

Congratulations on your pregnancy x

It will be no better or worse than any other NHS Scotland hospital.

I had a good experience on the labour ward. The midwives were just wonderful! I needed constant monitoring due to a relatively mild complication and they were so good about it. I was disappointed not to go to the midwife led unit, but very happy with the delivery of my baby. Because it was a good experience, I feel I don’t have much to say? So let me know if you have any questions.

From my antenatal class groups 17/18 intending to deliver at the Royal did. Only 1 was sent to Melrose. I feel like I spent my whole pregnancy fearing “being sent” somewhere else when actually it’s not that common. I understand why the midwives warn you about it though.

Also, as a pp said you are likely to hear horror stories on threads like these, even more so as most high risk cases in the area go through the Royal.

I will say I did not love the post natal experience. The nurses are overworked and unstaffed but from speaking to people this is a problem across the uk and not unique to the royal.

a few years ago now as eldest is 16 and youngest is 14

but back then we lived literally a stones throw from RIE. When I went into labour with my first, the RIE was full so was told to go to St John’s. Had an amazing delivery there, there was only me and 2 others in that night giving birth. Everything was very calm and chilled.

so much so that when I was preg with no 2, I elected to go to St John’s as part of my labour plan. My labour intensified very quickly an we made it to St John’s just in time. Again, a straightforward birth and I was discharged after 7 hours. I was told at St John’s that even though I had opted to go there, had I chosen RIE, I would have been diverted to St John’s as they were full. Speaking to my home midwife a few days later, she did say had I turned up at RIE in my very advanced stage of labour they would have had to of taken me, but she said that she was glad I went to St John’s as the RIE when at capacity is not fun and potentially would have been rushed and chaotic. Her words!

anyway, just some advice to keep your options open and be prepared to divert if needed. I remember panicking when my husband told me we had to go to Livingston but looking back, it was the best decision thing.

I had a bad experience on the maternity ward pre birth as i was admitted during pregnancy so opted to move to a different hospital. Where I live, we are offered Royal, St John's or Borders. If you are laid back and not phased then the Royal will probably be fine - the main issue is that it gets very busy so you may need to accept a birth you hadnt planned or switch hospital. I didnt consider St John's but friend's who went there had a good experience - one girl i no ended up there when the royal was full and is now opting to go straight there when second comes in a couple of months. Borders is much quieter and smaller so you get a more personal service. I was highly recommended this hospital particularly for first time mums who want a bit more 121 sort of care. I only no a couple of people who have gone to the borders but both had great experiences. The facebook group egg has a lot of discussions on this topic. Ultimately im sure there are good and bad in them all

All of this. To be honest, I’m not sure what you’d get from this information. You’re not likely to have a huge amount of choice at the time, they’ll send you where they can best help you.

I had my 13 and 9 year old there and was lucky enough to leave the hospital with two healthy and beautiful children. Had good and challenging moments in both births but anecdotes can be really frightening so please don’t let anyone scare you.