choice where to give birth

Savvy_Sue

I have a friend who had her first baby in France and her 2nd in the UK and she said it's certainly different!

Magali, do you feel confident that you are understanding and being understood during your appointments? Clearly your written English is excellent, but if you would find it helpful I believe you can ask for an interpreter, and maybe that would be helpful for at least one appointment to discuss epidurals etc.

Elle00

Hiya hun, every patient is allowed a minimum of three choices when it comes to being cared for in a hospital. I didn't like the hospital I was sent to as I had to wait for over an hour for my first scan with a bursting bladder! Plus I heard horror stories about how over-crowded the wards were so I decided to pick my own hospital and my GP just went ahead and referred me. As it happens, the hospital I went to was 20 miles up the road but in a different county therefore a different trust; it made no difference.

Have a look at http://www.drfoster.co.uk/ for statistics on local hospitals and make your own choice. If you GP is not being helpful you can either go to the practice manager and explain what has happened to her or if you don't want to make a fuss, simply book in to see a different GP.

Your GP should not have told you that you have no choice where you give birth - it's totally untrue. We're not a brilliant country when it comes to maternity issues in recent years but there's nothing to stop you from getting the best care available to you so long as you are realistic in how far you can travel. All the best - and remember it'll all be over before you know it!