Changing where to give birth? (UK)

[whigfield]

So by default they have said that I will be giving birth at Lincoln County Hospital as that's the closest hospital to me. I've had my scans there, but have my midwife appointments in the village doctor's that's close by.

However, after an extremely distressing experience with Lincoln in my last pregnancy, which resulted in a horrific miscarriage and absolutely shocking and terrible treatment from staff, I cannot face giving birth to this much wanted baby there. I can't forgive the way we were treated, and I just do not trust them to deliver my baby safely. Even in this pregnancy we have had some pretty crap treatment at times.

My parents live in Norfolk (I only live in Lincolnshire because my husband is RAF - I miss Norfolk terribly and feel it is 'home' to me, and we will be moving back there once his time is done here) and I would like to deliver at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital instead. I have heard fantastic reviews about it and my family have all received treatment there and it was second to none. The hospital itself makes me feel safe and I think for a first time mother after suffering RPL and feeling extremely anxious in general, that's a pretty big deal.

The hospital is approximately a 2 hours drive from my house. Not exactly ideal, but doable if needed.. However. We would likely have me move back in with my parents for the final month so that I could be near the hospital and taken there straight away if needed. Hubby would still be living back in Lincolnshire but back each weekend and possibly midweek, and obviously on standby to race over if anything kicks off.

But:

How do I get myself 'booked in' for this hospital?
What will happen with midwife appointments? Don't you get more as you get closer to your due date - and what about the appointments after the birth?
What if I end up needing to be induced or such before the 'final month'? I can't imagine anything worse than being trapped at Lincoln after our experiences. It actually gives me nightmares.

I'm scared to talk about it with a midwife in the local area because I think she's just going to be rude for not picking "her" hospital or whatever. I also only have phone numbers for local services, and no contact details whatsoever for Norwich.

 

[MummyToAmberx]

I dont know for sure, if i wanted to change my MW would be first person to talk it through with to ask them how i can make the change.

 

[Sunseal]

Yeah, to be honest if I wanted to change hospitals the first person I would go to is my midwife. I wouldn't have a clue where to start otherwise.

Could you not phone the hospital that you do want to give birth in and ask to speak to a midwife about it? I'm sure if you explain your situation and say it's stressing you out and making you really anxious, they will be happy to put you through to a midwife there, or at least someone who could guide you.

 

[Bex84]

different situation but my default hospital is not one I want to go to. I had my first at a birth unit and they were fantastic, the council are currently mucking around with decision if will re open (they have closed two local birth units as hospital I would go to by default is under staffed, the decision is supposed to be this month but they have put off. I am still currently booked for birth unit if re opens) I want to transfer to another hospital if birth unit doesent reopen, its same distance away but has much better safety record and low dependency unit. For me I just looked up maternity units number and rang them, they gave me number for person who decides and they will look at whether they will accept me. I am waiting for gestational diabetes test at moment so need to wait for that before I can see if they will take me and do want birth unit if possible. If you explain circumstances I am sure they will consider you, it will mean your antenatal appointments transfer to them as well

 

[Gingerspice]

Slightly different as by default I'm in nearest hospital but after delivery of dd which they were awful with, I told my midwife at booking in I was going to other hospital as no way I could set foot in that hospital again after our experience withour it having an adverse effect on me. She said that's fine and just used their notes (that hospital uses their own notes system) and at around 10 weeks I phoned that hospital direct and asked if they had me booked in for scan. They did, so midwife obviously sent paperwork off. All my midwife team at my drs and local area though are based at hospital where DD was born, so just means once out of hospital I'lol technically be back into that hospitals care, but it wasn't the local midwife team I had issues with,(in fact they were ace) so that's fine.
The only condition for me was I had to have all scans at that hospital and bloods also. I wasn't able to have scans at one and then plan to give birth at the other. Equally because my drs come under hospital where DD was born, they can't do bloods and send to other hospital, I have to go direct to that hospital for the blood tests.

I think I would just tell them you're moving house on X date (approx week you're planning to move to parents) so how do you go about transferring as you will be at this new addrest for delivery.I wouldn't start going into details about how it's a temporary arrangement etc. Just keep it basic so they can understand you will be at a different County when approaching delivery date.

People must move house while pregnant all the time, and in their eyes surely this is no different

 

[NotNic]

I moved at 38wks last time. Originally we were expecting to move much sooner, so I discussed this with my mw. I was told it was very easy for them to arrange but I would expect to have a new booking in appt. with my hospital and bloods. As we moved late I stuck with my original birthing suite (45min drive) and didnt swap. I registered with my new GP and was asked if I needed a mw, but I told them that I was keeping my antenatal care at the other trust, so they didnt arrange. Then when I gave birth the mws at my hospital (bs was on site) gave the community mw in my new town my details and I had all my postnatal care arranged for me. This time I am considering going back. The bs are all 30mins drive away from the nearest hospitals and as I had complications last time an on site unit may suit me better.

 

[whigfield]

Thanks everyone. I have an appointment next Tuesday so I might gently approach the subject with the midwife then. Hope I don't get my head bitten off for daring to change!

 

[Yo_Yo]

Good luck honey. So sorry you had such a bad experience at your designated hospital. Don't blame you for wanting to change-and don't worry about your midwives reaction...this is your birth here and you need to do what you feels best

 

[smurfette85]

With my first I started my care in Scotland but as I wanted my mum with me I went to Kent and changed everything over it was easy just had to register with doc ect but I moved in with my mum for 4 month as I was about 6.5 month and stayed till I was able to cr back to Scotland but it was slightly different my dad was still in army at the time and I was a single mum so needed the support x

 

[MrsG_TTC42012]

My sister did this. She is posted with her husband who is in the army at Salisbury but they wanted a cornish baby. So at 37 weeks she moved to our parents house and signed up with the doctors surgery as a visitor. They then referred her to the midwife. 10 days later she gave birth very quickly at treliske in Cornwall.
I am planning on deciding on the day if I give birth in the midwife led hospital with a water pool or treliske main hospital with all the drugs. I think it just matters that you are on the local nhs database.