Antenatal & postnatal care done by two different hospitals: issue or no issue?

Hi everybody,

Can I please have your thoughts on having antenatal and postnatal care done by two different hospitals?

I’m about to choose a hospital for my pregnancy and the one I really like is on the border of my catchment area- so they can do my antenatal care but not postnatal, which will be done by another hospital.

I’m thinking antenatal is definitely more important than postnatal so inclined to still pick this hospital, do you have any suggestions?

Many thanks all 🍀🤞🏻❤️

[Hidden]

I haven’t experienced this - my antenatal & post natal care was all at the same hospital. We didn’t get a choice of hospital either.

Both are equally important for you both -sometimes birth doesn’t always go to plan & complications can occur ( not wanting to worry you)

I would ensure both the hospitals are efficient at communication. Do your homework 👍

I hope other ladies may have experienced this & have much better advice! xxx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Jess! 🙏🏻🍀🤞🏻

[BethJ7]

I had this. I didn’t have any problems at all, only slight issue was that the numbers that were given in my LG’s red book were for the hospital I gave birth in rather than the hospital I would be under for post natal care but I just made sure that I crossed them out and wrote the correct numbers in.

[Hidden in reply to BethJ7]

Thank you Beth! ❤️🙏🏻🤞🏻

[Camellia90]

I opted to do this and had no problems. My postnatal care wasn't actually done at the hospital, it was a health visitor and midwife coming to my house so to me it didn't really matter which hospital area I was under. After birth, the hospital just contacted the NHS area my address falls into and passed over my notes (verbally) and they then took over. I would definitely say choose the hospital you want to give birth at. Good luck x

[Hidden in reply to Camellia90]

Thank you Camellia, I definitely agree with you! 😃🙏🏻🍀🤞🏻

[bob712]

I did exactly this as the ‘out of borough’ hospital was half the distance of my borough hospital. I had no Major issues, but 1) they forgot to tell my local midwife team but I rang them myself and they visited on the same day no issues.

The only issue we had, was my daughter was then jaundice and needed testing (and then admission), we were given the choice of the midwife making an appointment at the borough hospital for the same day, or going to the out of borough but nearest hospital but having to sit in a and e for assessment so baby was admitted to borough hospital for 2 days. Wasn’t the end of the world but a bit irritating for husband who was back and forth (and had JUST passed driving test 😂)

Would do the same if we have another one though 😊

Good luck!

[Hidden in reply to bob712]

Thanks for sharing your experience Bob! 🙏🏻🍀🤞🏻

[Canadawaterchick]

My midwife is at a separate clinic and all my scans etc etc are all at the hospital so it’s a mixed bag really hon! X

[Hidden in reply to Canadawaterchick]

Thank you so much! 🍀🤞🏻

[Annalieseonline]

You are right antenatal care is more important and is for longer than postnatal care.

For postnatal care a midwife comes to see twice at home 5 days pp and then at day 10 then you go to the hospital I can’t remember how many days pp. If all is well with you physically and mentally and baby then you are discharged, and your care is followed up with a health visitor.

The health visitor sees you a few times at home and weighs baby then you go to monthly clinics.

I had my antenatal at a hospital that was way out of my borough, the only issue they raise is that if you need an ambulance they will most likely take you to your nearest hospital. But we drove down when I was in labour it was a 15/20 minutes drive with no traffic.

My antenatal hospital is really excellent I would go there again for my next pregnancies and my postnatal hospital is really crap I would never go there for even A+E but it was the one that falls in the area that I live.

[Hidden in reply to Annalieseonline]

Thanks Hun, this is really helpful! And congrats 🥳🍀👏🏻❤️