How to get the best hospital treatment for pregnancy.

starbump

Oops, noticed I pressed the thanks button by mistake. Meant to just press the quote button. Sorry for any confusion! lol

squashy

I would recommend a home birth like a shot. I wanted one with this baby but was told my pregnancy was high risk so I couldn't. That said I looked at all the hospitals around (c-section rates, baby friendly awards etc) and chose one that is not the closest to where I live for all sorts of reasons. You are perfectly within your rights to ask your GP to refer you to a hospital other than the one on your doorstep.

A homebirth is a great idea if you are worried about cleanliness of hospitals or whatever as you are in your own environment, and the hospital will provide things like waterproof sheets to protect your bed, and you can hire a birthing pool etc...you are also more likely to get a midwife you know- around here the community midwifes are in a seperate team to the hospital ones so the ones you see in ante and post natal care are not the ones who deliver you in the hospital.

kj*daisy

I live near you (wakefield) and although usual for people to go to Pontefract Hospital from wakey, I could also have used Wakefield Birth Centre, LGI, St James, Barnsley or Dewsbury hospitals. So no - you don't have to go to the LGI just because you live in Leeds.

I have no idea about private health insurance but doubt it pays out for having babies.

The maternity guide someone mentioned earlier would be a good start for you to look.

I've had children in 2 hospitals (one now has no maternity unit) and there were excellent/good and not so good points about each of them. But if you want to sleep while you are there - try and get a private room!

audioblackout

well first of all i just want to thank everyone for your incredible responses. i think the choice we have is to have a home birth or check out the maternity guide, phone a few places, arrange appointments and speak to midwives.

i didn't actually realise you could choose where you go, so i will do this and i think the very fact i'm doing it will get me much more focused onto what will be best for my girl.

btw, i wasn't saying maternity unit at leeds was bad - i really haven't done the research here - but i remember going there a few years ago for a problem i had with my hand and it was really, really dirty. perhaps the wing you mention is better

thank you again. you've all been so helpful.

LondonDiva

speak to your GP / local PCT PALS. They will be able to tell you which hospitals they have a maternity contract with and which you can choose from. look up your local PCT on www.nhs.uk

You have a right to a choice from a list, not to choose randomly, if that makes sense.

misspenny

i had my son at pontefract so not farfrom leeds and it was ok facilities and clenlyness wise but some of the midwives where pretty rude to me, and spoke to me and my partner like compleate morons. i know how over streched they are both me and my partner are nurses working in the same hospital trust at a different site and it wasn't untill the midwives found out we where 'one of them' that they acctully started talking to us like reasonably intelligent adults. i'd second what the above poster said about the birth center its fab (i was a chicken and didnt have my bub there as i was afraid of something going wrong)

daveyjp

"The general hospital where we live (Leeds) is not the best"

Based on what?

My daughter was born in LGI last year and plenty of friends and colleagues have seen their children arrive there. I have yet to hear a bad report.

The maternity unit is very busy and it can seem at times that you are neglected, but once my wife was due to give birth she received excellent one on one support throughout the whole birth - thanks to Zoe her midwife.

Supermom

I have private healthcare with Bupa, but I've had all three of my children at the LGI, and I could not fault the hosptial, staff and care I received, they were all wonderful (ok so the meals are not as good as Bupa, but your going to have a baby not a 5* meal) don't waste your money on a private midwife the community care I received was second to none.

However do not go to Jimmys its filthy and badly understaffed

I also thought about a homebirth but I live about 30 minutes from the hospital (and thats not in rush hour traffic) and it wasen't a risk I was willing to take if something went wrong.

Good look to you both whatever you decide

kj*daisy

I've always noticed that the Maternity bits of the hospitals I've had babies in have been much cleaner than the more public areas like A&E. One preganant one can go and look round places as well.

Running_Horse

Our experience is we had to fight like mad with arrogant consultants to get our choice of birth, the delivery team were excellent, but the maternity ward was a bit of a conveyor belt. But no doubt everyone's experience is different.