Which Hospital in the West Mids? Help!

[Tracyface]

Right ladies

My ideal birthing scenario of a water birth at Solifull (MW led unit) flew out of the window yesterday as my blood pressure was up (not surprising as it's my last week at work). I don't have any protein in my urine and my blood tests came back perfect.

I am a little annoyed that because of this 'episode' of high BP I am now classed as 'high risk' (16 days before my due date!!!), regardless of if it goes down next time I am checked (today)!

So, it's time to start looking for a hospital.

My options are:

- Heartlands Hospital
- Good Hope
- Birmingham Women's (if there's space)
- Walsall
- Warwick

Do any of you lovely ladies have any experience of giving birth at any of these hospitals?

Many thanks xx

 

[storm4mozza]

I had my son in heartlands hospital. they do tours so u can see the maternity unit. I can honestly say the staff were brilliant and professional and very helpful. i had a trainee midwife with me at all times which brought alot of stress off me. The hospital was very clean and safe, both the labour suite and the wards. If any baby in tags goes out of the wards (upstairs) the whole place locks down until all babies are accounted for. If you become low risk there is also willow suite which offers birthing pools. id highly recommend it, im booked in their again for my daughter in august. the food is also very nice x

 

[Tracyface]

Thanks for the review hun, it puts my mind a little at rest as Heartlands is actually my closest hospital!!

Interested if anyone else has reviews on the others too! xx

 

[storm4mozza]

Thanks for the review hun, it puts my mind a little at rest as Heartlands is actually my closest hospital!!

Interested if anyone else has reviews on the others too! xx

Np at all, its my nearest hospital to, im at ward end, i forgot to mention heartlands also lets the father stay from about 8am-8pm unlike other visitors and are very helpful with breast feeding, also have formula milk if u need to stay in

 

[kittylady]

I'm going to heartlands and hoping to be on willow suit do I have to book in advance though?

 

[Tracyface]

Thanks Storm, the only concern I have is I am petrified of hospitals and I really don't want to stay on my own. If they send DH home I will be a wreck! But I suppose I will have to get through it, the visiting times sound much better than others I've seen!

Kitty, not sure about the Willow Suite, I think it's a case of if it's available you can take it as long as you're low risk?

I have called Heartlands to try and get a tour, but the lady who organises it only works Wednesdays so have left a message. Have you had a tour?

 

[storm4mozza]

i had a tour at heartlands, they also do antenatal classes, everyone who isnt family can visit twice a day if u wish them to, and willow suite.. write in your birth plan that u wish to try willow suits if ur low risk, and then if the facilities u want are not being used when u get taken in u automatically have the right to use them oh and try not to worry about ur hubby being gone, i was the same but they allowed me to have my laptop on the ward so i could speak to him online and u can click a certain button if u need help, even with breast feeding in the middle of the night and they will come help u as soon as they can x

 

[Tracyface]

oh and try not to worry about ur hubby being gone, i was the same but they allowed me to have my laptop on the ward so i could speak to him online and u can click a certain button if u need help, even with breast feeding in the middle of the night and they will come help u as soon as they can x

Wow that's really good to know!! I will make sure I ask them about the laptop!

Thank you for all the advice! x

 

[Tacey]

I was very happy with my experience at Warwick. I had a very straightforward birth, and all the midwives were very attentive to my birth plan. I used the birthing pool on their advice, and it was fantastic! I didn't stay long after the birth though as I wanted to get home, but they were attentive and helpful in the time I was on the ward.

 

[nickibrum]

Im booked in for the womens clinic but having not yet seen the facilities I couldnt help but i didnt want to just r&r.

Ask for a tour. Do some route mapping to find out which is easier to get to in rush hour etc.

 

[Taylorr]

I live in solihull and I had my daughter at warwick. The midwife I had was so so lovely (hope I get her this time!), I was well looked after and was out again in less than 24hours.

Food was rank though....take supplies )

x

 

[Taylorr]

I was very happy with my experience at Warwick. I had a very straightforward birth, and all the midwives were very attentive to my birth plan. I used the birthing pool on their advice, and it was fantastic! I didn't stay long after the birth though as I wanted to get home, but they were attentive and helpful in the time I was on the ward.

I thought the midwives at warwick were lovely and very good too. I was so nervous and she promised not to leave my side and she didn't. I was so very grateful.

 

[Tacey]

I live in solihull and I had my daughter at warwick. The midwife I had was so so lovely (hope I get her this time!), I was well looked after and was out again in less than 24hours.

Food was rank though....take supplies )

x

Agreed! DH ate all my meals. He'll eat anything!

 

[Taylorr]

I live in solihull and I had my daughter at warwick. The midwife I had was so so lovely (hope I get her this time!), I was well looked after and was out again in less than 24hours.

Food was rank though....take supplies )

x

Agreed! DH ate all my meals. He'll eat anything!

lol yes my hubby ate mine too!!

 

[GreyGirl]

My twin gave birth both times in Warwick and loved it there, said it was a fabulous hospital.

 

[smawfl]

I will be at Warwick too!

 

[fl00b]

my two choices were either walsall manor or sandwell but they've just closed the maternity unit down in sandwell

i stuck to walsall manor though cos i'm literally two minutes away from it, but i've heard mixed reviews from friends who have had their babies there - some said they didn't have a pleasant birth experience there due to the staff being half soaked but others have said it's okay =) i'd defo go for warwick though, i would have gone for it if it wasn't so far away!

 

[sharan]

my two choices were either walsall manor or sandwell but they've just closed the maternity unit down in sandwell

i stuck to walsall manor though cos i'm literally two minutes away from it, but i've heard mixed reviews from friends who have had their babies there - some said they didn't have a pleasant birth experience there due to the staff being half soaked but others have said it's okay =) i'd defo go for warwick though, i would have gone for it if it wasn't so far away!

If you are low risk did you know that Sandwell have opened the new Halcyon Birthing Centre which is just outside West Brom towards Oldbury. I visited it in October 2011 which just before it was open for use and have to admit it is well lush inside. Unfortunately I ended up having a Em CS with last pregnancy so will be automatically considered as high risk so I won't be able to go there. However I have been told the Serenity Suite which is attached to City Hospital may be able to accommodate me.