Anyone give birth in Taunton Musgrove Hospital?

[Geme26]

Hi, just popping over from third trimester...

My Midwife has been nagging me to make a decision on whether I want to give birth on the Labour Ward at Musgrove, or the Bracken Birthing Centre.

I'm unsure! I like the idea of the birthing centre, it is supposed to be more relaxed, nicer surroundings and more of a one on one delivery. And of course the birthing pool sounds attractive too.
BUT I am very open to the idea of pain relief, ie. epidural. I am not sure how I will cope with the pain, i'm not sure what to expect but I would like the option. And of course at the Bracken Centre they cannot give you an epidural. But they can take you over to the Labour Ward if you want one.
But am I being too negative worrying that they may not take me if I ask them too?!

Any of your experiences would be greatly appreciated
Thank you

 

[pinkstarbinks]

heya, had ds1 at bracken, they'd of transferred me if i'd wanted to, as they explained how far they could help me and they ways in which they couldn't. booked in for ds2 at bracken, it's lovely, but if you want pain relief dont worry they'd have no qualms transferring you for some good luck x

 

[Geme26]

heya, had ds1 at bracken, they'd of transferred me if i'd wanted to, as they explained how far they could help me and they ways in which they couldn't. booked in for ds2 at bracken, it's lovely, but if you want pain relief dont worry they'd have no qualms transferring you for some good luck x

Thank you this helps me a lot. I was edging towards Bracken but don't have anyone I know to ask their opinion!
I have to let me midwife know, because then she said she can arrange an appointment for me to view it (although can't view labour ward because of norovirus apparently).
I think I will say yes to Bracken, and anyway it's not like it's set in stone i'm sure I can change my mind!

Thank you again

 

[pinkstarbinks]

that's alright ahh we're touring bracken next tues for my oh's benefit being his first child. it is so so so relaxing there! really lovely they def don't push anything on you. Good luck either way xx

 

[pinkstarbinks]

oh an extra day to wait boo its next weds not tues lol. time goes so slowly in third tri

 

[....Jess....]

I'm due to give birth at Musgrove, but haven't decided between Bracken or Labour ward.

Can I ask, did you ladies book your tour of Bracken or did your midwife book it? When i asked my midwife about tours, she said musgrove dont do them? But clearly they do as you ladies are going on one :/

 

[Geme26]

I'm due to give birth at Musgrove, but haven't decided between Bracken or Labour ward.

Can I ask, did you ladies book your tour of Bracken or did your midwife book it? When i asked my midwife about tours, she said musgrove dont do them? But clearly they do as you ladies are going on one :/

Hi Jess
My midwife is booking me in. Apparently it happens at 36 weeks...this is why I had to make a decision!
I have decided to go to Bracken ward as I have heard a lot of good things and I think that it will be good to be in a more relaxed environment.
But my midwife did say that you can't visit the labour ward at Musgrove due to the noravirus.

When are you due?

 

[Geme26]

I'm due to give birth at Musgrove, but haven't decided between Bracken or Labour ward.

Can I ask, did you ladies book your tour of Bracken or did your midwife book it? When i asked my midwife about tours, she said musgrove dont do them? But clearly they do as you ladies are going on one :/

Hi Jess
My midwife is booking me in. Apparently it happens at 36 weeks...this is why I had to make a decision!
I have decided to go to Bracken ward as I have heard a lot of good things and I think that it will be good to be in a more relaxed environment.
But my midwife did say that you can't visit the labour ward at Musgrove due to the noravirus.

When are you due?

oh haha just seen you are due 25th March...exactly 1 month before me!
I would have thought your midwife should have arranged a visit to bracken for you by now...perhaps contact them direct?

 

[....Jess....]

I'm due to give birth at Musgrove, but haven't decided between Bracken or Labour ward.

Can I ask, did you ladies book your tour of Bracken or did your midwife book it? When i asked my midwife about tours, she said musgrove dont do them? But clearly they do as you ladies are going on one :/

Hi Jess
My midwife is booking me in. Apparently it happens at 36 weeks...this is why I had to make a decision!
I have decided to go to Bracken ward as I have heard a lot of good things and I think that it will be good to be in a more relaxed environment.
But my midwife did say that you can't visit the labour ward at Musgrove due to the noravirus.

When are you due?

oh haha just seen you are due 25th March...exactly 1 month before me!
I would have thought your midwife should have arranged a visit to bracken for you by now...perhaps contact them direct?

aww i thought for a moment we would have been due date buddies, haha!

i seen my midwife today and asked her about it, she called Bracken and the next appointment they could offer me was 26th March... 1 day after my due date LOL!

 

[Geme26]

I'm due to give birth at Musgrove, but haven't decided between Bracken or Labour ward.

Can I ask, did you ladies book your tour of Bracken or did your midwife book it? When i asked my midwife about tours, she said musgrove dont do them? But clearly they do as you ladies are going on one :/

Hi Jess
My midwife is booking me in. Apparently it happens at 36 weeks...this is why I had to make a decision!
I have decided to go to Bracken ward as I have heard a lot of good things and I think that it will be good to be in a more relaxed environment.
But my midwife did say that you can't visit the labour ward at Musgrove due to the noravirus.

When are you due?

oh haha just seen you are due 25th March...exactly 1 month before me!
I would have thought your midwife should have arranged a visit to bracken for you by now...perhaps contact them direct?

aww i thought for a moment we would have been due date buddies, haha!

i seen my midwife today and asked her about it, she called Bracken and the next appointment they could offer me was 26th March... 1 day after my due date LOL!

oh dear that's a shame. I would have thought she should have booked you in earlier!
Well anyways good luck! not long for you now

 

[pinkstarbinks]

just to give u heads up i was surprised to hear at tour today only 1 woman can give birth in there at a time :O xx

 

[....Jess....]

Really? So if i go into labour next week and there is already somebody in there giving birth then i would have to go round to labour ward instead? x

 

[pinkstarbinks]

yeah 1 lady at a time gets: the msot gorgeous birth pool ever it's about 5 foot tall looks like a spa haha, a hospital looking room with a fold u bed, a resus room for checks and emergencies, a room with a birthing stool a low sofa birthing type thing, and some normal chairs, a bath and a toilet for herself it's basically like a 4 room medium/large flat for the person birthing, all private for yourself. felt so bad for the lady in labour yest, us walking past touring felt a bit cruel really! but yeah if they are tied up and your baby is insistent on coming right them.... u go to labour ward or wherever else u had lined up. Im a bit shocked really cos babies can't be put on hold, and it makes me think someone else could kinda pinch your place by turning up or something after you've just driven there, put kids with childcare or arranged any other bits and bobs cos we don't even live in taunton... but it was def amazing the the staff were so so so adorable all of them really kind and caring x

 

[pinkstarbinks]

ps to reassure u about transfers she said to me "if u are birthing here and u need more pain relief than we can offer, or theres a emergency, theres a direct internal corridor to labour ward we'd whip u over there in no time" x

 

[Geme26]

Yes I heard this at ante natal class on Friday. I was shocked that only one lady can give birth there at a time. Considering Taunton is a large town and it also covers surrounding towns! So surely the chances of having your baby there would be quite slim!
But yes I also heard that if you wanted stronger pain relied, or needed other medical attention, that it wasn't far from labour ward. Although I haven't been on my tour yet so don't know how close!

But I was also told that the labour ward is nice too. That they are attentive and they have some of the same facilities as the birthing centre. So i'm quite happy with either one!

 

[Gemble]

I had my baby girl at Musgrove they are amazing. Which ever bit u decide on

Xxx

 

[Geme26]

I had my baby girl at Musgrove they are amazing. Which ever bit u decide on

Xxx

Thank you

Did you use the Bracken Centre or were you on Labour Ward?
I'm not too bothered where I end up (as long as it's at the hospital!) but Bracken does sound nice.
Congratulations on your little girl

 

[Gemble]

I wasn't booked in there but things didnt go to plan so I was transferred from weston super mare to the labour ward there, if they hadn't done what they'd done and been so switched on my little girl wouldn't be here so I can't praise them enough really. I don't have experience of the birth centre so not really much help everyone there was just so lovely and it's a fab place to be

Xxx

 

[Geme26]

Thank you
Sorry to hear things didn't go well for you, but at least it all worked out in the end.
Thanks for your comments

 

[Geme26]

I visited my midwife yesterday who contacted Bracken to book me in for a tour. They couldn't fit me in until i'm 38 weeks.
I am slightly concerned...if I haven't had my assessment at Bracken and I go into labour, does this mean I can't give birth there then?