Where to give birth? That’s the question! + Happy weekend ladies ❤️

Happy Fri-yay beautiful ladies!

Another week is over and that means my scan day is getting closer 😱only 4 sleeps now! Omg!

I am a bit of a planner so was looking into option to choose the hospital where to go for antenatal appointments plus giving birth.

I have no idea how to pick the hospital!

I need to give you a bit of a background on me: I work for the NHS (although not a clinician) but I have access to all data re London hospitals performance, and this fact has always impacted on every decision I had to make as a patient.

This time around I am trying to keep my job on a side and ‘just be a patient’.

So, as a patient, how would you choose a hospital? I live in Essex but close to east London- so one option would be Whipps Cross Hospital.

Please share your thoughts and suggestions always so very welcome!

Sending love to you all 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

[KiboXX]

Not sure if it helps because you probably know a lot of it already because of your job but once you have your scan, you’ll need to book your first midwife app with the GP. The midwife will go through the nearest hospitals and what facilities they have and how to book tours if want to 😊 xxx

[Hidden in reply to KiboXX]

Oh yeah a tour is exactly what I need! Lol xx

[RhinoCat in reply to Hidden]

Haha 😂 never knew this!

[ttcemmie in reply to KiboXX]

Oh, I didn't know this booking tours was a standard thing! I've only recently heard about it! Lol.

[KiboXX in reply to ttcemmie]

My nearest hospital has a birth center or a delivery unit so you have to pick one, I figured that’s why they do tours! Maybe they all do though 😂

[Hidden in reply to KiboXX]

I am definitely going for the consultant led ward, where there is an emergency room close in case something happens...no ‘hippy’ water birth for me 😂😂😂I need to have as much control as possible!

[KiboXX in reply to Hidden]

😂😂😂 the birth centre looks amazing though! And it’s only downstairs at ours so if needed you can be moved!

My midwife did start talking about home births and I was like, you can stop right there 😂

[Hidden in reply to KiboXX]

Lol OMG home birth is so scary (plus it’s dangerous in terms of bacteria in the water- in my job I also have access to incidents data- you have no idea what I get to read 😂😂😂🙈🙈🙈)

[Mmmpudding in reply to Hidden]

Issy, you going for natural birth? The thought of going through labour scared me and I chose to have three sections. I also chose a London hospital with a neonatal unit and an emergency room just in case! Do visit the different hospitals and see if you like the staff there. X

[Hidden in reply to Mmmpudding]

No idea- too early to think about type of birth yet 😂🙈I am thinking more at the safety/logistics of the whole situation....having said that, it also depends from the kind of pregnancy one has? Low/high risk? So many questions 😂😂😂💋💋💋

[Mmmpudding in reply to Hidden]

Many considerations indeed. Are you in general comfortable with medical procedures? X

[Hidden in reply to Mmmpudding]

Yeah I guess, I go in with the mentality of ‘got to be done’ 😂😂😂xx

[ttcemmie]

Don't know the hospitals around you specifically, but a friend of mine did some "tours" with the hospitals in our area. You know, like you would for wedding venues etc. Apparently that's a thing at some places! It really helped her to decide looking at the various maternity wards and learning about the facilities, what to expect etc.

[Hidden in reply to ttcemmie]

Yes that would be great! I’ll need to enquiry that! Thanks Emmie hope you’re well hun ❤️

[Picalilli99]

Perhaps the NCT group might be a helpful place to ask this sort of thing. There’s lots of knowledgeable ladies on there! Wishing you lots of luck for your scan lovely ❤️ xxx

[Hidden in reply to Picalilli99]

Thank you Hun! How are you? 💋

[Picalilli99 in reply to Hidden]

Up and down at the mo so just trying to take it one day at a time xx

[Hidden in reply to Picalilli99]

That’s absolutely the best thing you can do ❤️Take care of yourself and enjoy the weekend 🌸

[Hidden]

Many congratulations to you on your pregnancy.

Ie maternity care you can’t pick & choose on the nhs. It’s the only service you can’t choose.

There is a follow group you might be interested in - NCT there are lots of ladies from the fertility forum. It is perhaps a better place to post pregnancy related questions- it covers pregnancy, birth & beyond!

The successful stories are essential for this site there has to be hope but some ladies might find it a struggle to read posts on pregnancy when they are having a particularly difficult day. I love seeing positive tests scans & baby pictures so lovely to look at. ❤️We were lucky our daughter arrived last June after a 7 year struggle which I’m forever grateful for.

I know how nerve wrecking it is to be pregnant after infertility I feared every scan & heart beat check sense of relief when all was okay

Good luck with your scan hope all goes well ❤️ xxx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Jess. I apologise if my post upset you, wasn’t my intention for sure. Yes I have recently joined the NCT community, you’re right I’ll be more careful about the subject of my posts. I have been (for many years!) in the position where I was the one reading other ladies pregnancy posts and when I used to have bad days, I either didn’t go online or scrolled down if I saw something I didn’t want to read.

Have a good weekend ❤️

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. It didn’t upset me at all don’t worry I was lucky to have my daughter last June.

Over a year ago there was a hoo ha on here over pregnancy posts some found them upsetting it got decided to have “milestone moments” positive tests ✅ scan pictures ✅ birth announcements & baby pictures ✅ All with a sensitive warning.

Infertility is so awful. That’s why I get so happy when I see positive tests, scans & baby pictures. It’s such a fight for some of us to get our beautiful baby’s but my goodness it’s so much more appreciated. I don’t even mind the sleepless nights that is parenthood! It’s easy compared to fighting infertility 😘

it’s lovely that so many ladies are moving over to the NCT site so we can support each through the pregnancy it is nerve racking. It was lovely to have the ladies I bonded with on fertility site support. I don’t think other mums to be understand how much more we worry when it’s been such a struggle to fall.

I still come to this site you form friendships here & if I can help advise I do try!

I hope my reply hadn’t offended you.

I wish you the best with your pregnancy xx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Absolutely, I understand! Thank you 💋

[Tiddly1984]

Was going to mention the NCT forum, but then realised it had been mentioned above. However definitely the best place to move to with pregnancy/birth related questions post positive testing. Many women will scroll past topics such as this but it may still act as a trigger for those struggling with infertility and only wishing they were in a position where contemplating which hospital to give birth was an option. The NCT forum is very informative and helpful too...x

[Kaylon]

Hi Issylove, we live in Herts but close to the Essex border and have chosen Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow. They've got fairly good reviews. We've only had our 12 week scan there so far and the nurses were all lovely and helpful. X

[Hidden in reply to Kaylon]

Hi Kaylon, yes that’s an option for me! 👏🏻Congrats on your pregnancy 🍀🤞🏻🍀🤞🏻🍀❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Kaylon in reply to Hidden]

Thank you 🥰 same to you!

When are you due? We may be hospital buddies 😄 x

[Hidden in reply to Kaylon]

Aaaaah it’s still a long road for me I’m only 6w2d! Still a lot of milestones to hit 🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

[Kaylon in reply to Hidden]

Fingers crossed for you everything progresses nicely. The first few weeks are so nerve racking but try to enjoy it a little too xxx

[mimisquiz77]

Hi, personally I chose the one closest to home with “good review”. I would strongly advice you to visit the maternity ward though. You will get a feel for it. This should help you to make your decision. Good luck x

[Hidden in reply to mimisquiz77]

Thank you Mimi- yes I’ll do a tour and see 😃🍀👏🏻❤️

[RhinoCat]

If it was me as a patient :

I would be considering distance for journeys and reputation .

I’m driving distance from three good hospitals .

One is good for emergencies, one for critical care and other .... not sure I always am told not to go there 😂🤣

I guess it depends on your care and what is required. One of my friends drove to the critical care hospital for her stuff as she knew the top doctors work there and she felt she would get better care .

Yet, the hospital I was born in has a massive maternity bit and all the babies are born there round these parts .

Do you know anyone who is close to your hospitals and can say if their level of care was boast worthy ?

I’d also say with the ivf slant you’d be wanting people who get all that comes with this journey .

Do ya get to pick or how does that even work?

Sorry , I haven’t really helped but maybe asked a few things. I’m sure some of the bfp gang will be better st this. I haven’t googled ‘how to pick your hospital for birth of child’ yet for obvious reasons , but I’m sure other ladies can help soon 😘

3 sleeps to scan day for ya, so exciting 💖😘💐 maybe you could ask advice at that appointment ?

Love and hugs,

Rhinocat x 💖😘💐

[Hidden in reply to RhinoCat]

Hey Rhino love 💕 how are you Hun? Yes of course your messages always help! Ahahaha you cracked me up with ‘and one I don’t know because everyone telling me not to go there’ 😂😂😂I know what you mean!

Yes 3 more sleeps to scan day 🙈exciting but scary 😱fingers crossed 🍀🤞🏻🍀🤞🏻🍀🤞🏻Xxxx

[RhinoCat in reply to Hidden]

😱🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️Now I feel naughty for replying when all the girls above have said go to the NCT wall with this chat. Whoops 😬

I joined it too , just in case 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Hidden in reply to RhinoCat]

Don’t, we got the message 😉🌈🌸