Maternity Units in Manchester area??

[et_and_bean]

I have just moved to the Derbyshire/Greater Manchester area and so do not know my way around alot yet!
The mid-wife has given us a choice of 4 places we can have the baby:

1. Stepping Hill
2. St Marys
3. Tameside
4. Corbar maternity unit Buxton

Does anyone have any feedback on any of these units? I am more interested in hearing what people have liked, than hearing any horror stories, but I suppose we should be aware of all possibilities! I guess I am looking for something that is going to feel comfortable and personal, as well as give security of knowing good back-up is there, just in case - but then I guess those are similair wishes to everyone else!
Any info greatly appreciated!
Thanks

 

[Kimboowee]

Theres something on the NHS website where you can compare hospital maternity unit statistics, stuff like cleanliness, how helpful the midwifes were etc...

 

[Cariad_bach]

hi hun,

I had my first at Stepping hill ... i was living at Buxton and wanted to give birth at Corbar (id heard alot of good things about it)
But the thought my LO might have Downs so i went for Stepping hill in case there were complications,
Its a very busy place and id heard alot of bad things about them but i couldn't fault them, they were fantastic ...
....also my step son was born there, he was very prem and had massive complications but they saved his live before transferring him to Manchester.

So my and my OH experiences of Stepping hill have been great, but it doesn't have the best reputation (and this was over 6 years ago lol ... weve since moved away so ive know idea what its like now)

Corbar always used to have a great rep as long as your pregnancy has been problem free and your not likely to need emergency intervention.

Cant help with the other places tho, good luck deciding xxxxxx


Edit to add theres a member on here called Tink and shes had experiences of Stepping hill to ... dont know if they were good or bad tho, it may be worth PMing her because she may know more about the other hospitals to xxxxx

 

[et_and_bean]

Cool thanks for those bits of info.

I am tempted with Corbar - but a bit worried that if things do not go to plan I would have to be transferred and all the problems that could cause......

Will check up on the website too

 

[Hevz]

You can choose any hospital at all, your midwife was probably just telling you the few closest ones.


They all have pro's and cons but when it comes down to it, it really depends on the midwife who is looking after you on the day if you have a pleasant or unpleasant experience....I promise you


I have had 3 babies at St Mary's and although a very busy unit coz they have all the complicated pregnancies etc there coz it's a specialised unit and had one of the few regional neonatal units...I found the staff were mostly pleasant and attentive. My babies were all born early but were well enough to come onto a normal ward with me and the staff were very helpful when it came to breastfeeding advice etc.


Good luck with your decision, you can change your mind at ANY time during your pregnancy...including labour so don't ever think you have to go to a particular unit. I've been booked in at one hospital before and given birth in another at the last minute as it was closer at the time

 

[colsy]

Can't answer your question, but thought I'd say hello, as I think you prob live quite near me. I'm more Derbyshire/Sheffield rather than Derbyshire/Manchester, but you'll probably soon find out that the Peak District and surrounds is a pretty small world! Where abouts are you? xx

 

[et_and_bean]

Thanks for that info Hevz - that really helps to make me feel I should not feel under pressure at this time!

Colsy - I am in Charlesworth - just outside Glossop - how about you? I think we might be quite close in terms of pregnancy as I am about 6/7 weeks - just getting used to the idea!

 

[bailey4eva]

Hiya, i got the choice of stepping hill, tameside and st marys too. I was born at stepping hill and heard lots of good stories about it, seein as most of my family live locally to there. I hear St. Marys isnt great, just alright, tameside i hear mixed things and i havent heard of the other one. I will hopefully be goin stepping hill though, I just get a good feelin about there, plus its probably closest to wer i live now. i cant imagine u are gona be treated badly at any of them, as they are supposed to look after you! Whichever u choose, make ur own mind up n ignore horror stories (theres bound to be some from all of them!) x x x

 

[colsy]

Colsy - I am in Charlesworth - just outside Glossop - how about you? I think we might be quite close in terms of pregnancy as I am about 6/7 weeks - just getting used to the idea!

Hiya, you're just the other side of the Snake Pass from me - I live a couple of miles away from Ladybower ressie. And yes, we're close in pg dates too - I'm almost 7wks. I'm still getting used to the idea, even though I've know for about a month!

 

[et_and_bean]

Def. still getting used to the idea - all been a bit of a shock - hubby has been amazing though - which is a great help!!!

 

[Sovereign]

My LO was born at stepping hill. can't type much at the mo cos holding him but pm me if you want more info hun x

 

[flashjackson]

Hi there
Can't comment on Corbar or Stepping Hill as don't know anything about it but for the others:
St. Mary's - as another poster previously mentioned it's the centre for specialist care so always popular. It's also just moved to a brand new building so nice and modern surroundings.
Tameside - I know a nurse who had a baby here recently. The staff-patient ratio was very good (i.e. plenty staff). As you probably know, Shipman was a GP in Tameside and unfortunately it seems people are still suspicious about health services in Tameside even though he was a lone nutcase. This means that the hospital tends to be less popular with women than other centres. This could work in your favour if it means that you get more attention?

It might be worth deciding what kind of birth you want and then going and having a look and seeing what kind of feel you get for the place on a visit. Bear in mind travelling as well. Whichever you choose, is it easy to get to from where you live (assuming the baby comes when and where planned!)?

Hope this is useful

 

[Marleysgirl]

The "baby hospital" programmes on Discovery Health (or whatever it's called now) are based at Stepping Hill and at Corbar birth centre - I have to say that Corbar looks brilliantly informal!

I don't really remember getting a choice, but I'm happy to go to St Marys as it's a brand new hospital now (opened 2 weeks ago) with improved facilities - so the stats & info on websites about StM should be taken as old data now. I know they've got more individual rooms, and increased facilities for water births; not sure what else, as I haven't seen it yet! But I will probably have a bit of a nosey around when I'm there for a scan next Wednesday.

 

[Hevz]

Marleysgirl....you can choose to go to whichever hospital you like. Miswives often presume you're going to use the local hospital as it's usually closer but you can go wherever you like and change your mind at anytime too....even in labour (but it's best to plan ahead a little more than that)


Good luck.


I've had 3 of mine at St Mary's and had really positive stays and births there

 

[Maffie]

Hi im south manchester and im under wythenshawe. Easiest for me as I dont drive and OH doesn't have a car. When I was unwell a few weeks ago they were full but they instantly contacted St Marys to get me booked in there. So helpwise Wythenshawe have been great but not stayed on their mat wards yet. Stayed ona surgical ward at 19 weeks and it was nice, clean and friendly.

I have stayed in the new St Marys hospital on antental ward altough lots of ladies had had their babies. The new hospital is lovely although the odd teething problem with water pressure, room temps. They did seem to fill up the mutliple person rooms before the single rooms.

If I was choosing where to go again i'd be tempted by St Marys but I might have a different opinion after going into wythenshawe as doctors have been so good during all my complications.

 

[Hevz]

St Mary's only have maternity wards, antenatal and postnatal are mixed. Which is sometimes good and sometimes not. I was in and out a lot as I go into early labour and needed to rest but it was a nightmare trying to rest when you had peoples family and partners....and kids visiting all the time. Luckily they put me in a side room on a couple of occasions so I could rest in peace


Been to Wythenshawe twice too but my babies were born too soon and didn't survive. I must say the staff there were brilliant and the wards were clean.

 

[Maffie]

St Mary's only have maternity wards, antenatal and postnatal are mixed. Which is sometimes good and sometimes not. I was in and out a lot as I go into early labour and needed to rest but it was a nightmare trying to rest when you had peoples family and partners....and kids visiting all the time. Luckily they put me in a side room on a couple of occasions so I could rest in peace



Been to Wythenshawe twice too but my babies were born too soon and didn't survive. I must say the staff there were brilliant and the wards were clean.

I thought they were now seperate as when i was admitted they said i was going on an antental ward. I could of been a bit out of it with worry by then

Do Wythenshawe have provisions for early babies, can I ask at what stage you were when you went into labour?

 

[Hevz]

St Mary's only have maternity wards, antenatal and postnatal are mixed. Which is sometimes good and sometimes not. I was in and out a lot as I go into early labour and needed to rest but it was a nightmare trying to rest when you had peoples family and partners....and kids visiting all the time. Luckily they put me in a side room on a couple of occasions so I could rest in peace



Been to Wythenshawe twice too but my babies were born too soon and didn't survive. I must say the staff there were brilliant and the wards were clean.

I thought they were now seperate as when i was admitted they said i was going on an antental ward. I could of been a bit out of it with worry by then

Do Wythenshawe have provisions for early babies, can I ask at what stage you were when you went into labour?

Yes they can take very early babies, as do St Mary's and Salford Royal (Hope Hospital). Rachael was 24wks and Thomas 34wks both survived for a while but neither was strong enough to make it

 

[Maffie]

 

[Marleysgirl]

St Mary's only have maternity wards, antenatal and postnatal are mixed. Which is sometimes good and sometimes not. <snip>

I thought they were now seperate as when i was admitted they said i was going on an antental ward. I could of been a bit out of it with worry by then

As I said, St Mary's is now a completely new hospital, so room availability is different. The following is taken from their website:

Facilities now include:

&#8226; A purpose-built Unit which will be led by Midwives.
&#8226; Ten en-suite delivery rooms including two specifically designed rooms for women with high risk pregnancies.
&#8226; More cots in our Newborn Intensive Care facility.
&#8226; New high tech equipment in gynaecology theatres.
&#8226; Out-patient clinics which are situated on the ground floor to allow easy access.
&#8226; A large increase in number of en-suite and single room facilities in all In-patient areas.

Will find out more next week!