yes the labour was perfect no complaints what so ever. the midwife was with me the whole time.

when i'm at the hospital i think to myself 'i wonder if that lady's on bnb?' while comparing bump sizes Xxx

oh no! im sorry, hope everything is ok with this pregnancy.
Yep we dont need the stress thats for sure. But i think its part of pregnancy lol, always worrying about something. lol.

haha lol i wonder how many of them were lol.
Oh thats good to know about the MW. Had you met her before or was it just a random MW. I was told that it will be a random MW because the ones you see during the pregnancy are too busy or something.

I live in the catchment area for NGH, and decided NOT to go there. I opted to go to Banbury, which is a little further away, but has a much better reputation. Most other hospitals you can reach from Northampton have a better reputation, as long as you're happy to travel - it depends on your exact location. The only one to avoid is Milton Keynes, which has just been in the news for how bad the maternity unit is.

NGH has a reputation for being rather a conveyor belt, and for being so busy that they don't seem to have enough time for you. That's not to say that the staff aren't good, just that there aren't enough of them to fully look after the number of women passing through.

If you do go to NGH, check the situation with birth partners, visitors and tours, as they have only recently relaxed the swine flu restrictions.

I had a poor experience at Banbury Horton Hospital, but I'm still glad I went there instead of NGH.

oh yes when i went to triage two weeks ago there were signs everywhere stating only 1 birthing partner and you can't swap! the visiting is a few hours late afternoon i think with 2 people max! Xxx

oh thats ok. I only intend to have OH in the room with me and then doubt we will have many visitors other then my dad. This is proberly the most silliest question but your birthing partner can stay with you during labour even if it isnt visiting hours right? i mean they wont kick him out when im 1/2 way through labor will they :S

Hi Ladies,

I live in Northampton and will be having my baby at the General, I've been a bit anxious too about what it's going to be like, I'm not originally from this area so don't know that much about the hospital. My OH's aunt had her two children there with no complaints but they are now 9 and 5 so not so recent. Apart from that it's only friends of friends that I know have had their babies at NGH but still I've not heard anything bad.

My due date is Thursday so it hopefully won't be long before I find out !! I did ask my midwife on Tuesday about the visiting restrictions and she said they were still in place but this may have changed already. I do know your birthing partner can be there for the labour the whole time so don't worry and if your then on the ward I was told the partner/husband can be there from 10am-10pm everyday.

Sounds random but when I saw my hairdresser a few weeks back she did say it was very busy at the Barratt at the moment, she had been in there with her daughter but things may be calmer now.

As I said only a few weeks max and I'll be able to let you ladies know my experience x x

i gave birth there on wednesday 20th
they are amazing. my midwife was a 'high risk pregnancy' midwife so she dealt with all sorts of issues etc so made me feel so comforted i was under the best care.

one thing is.. they leave you alone and pop in every now and again unless you're not coping etc.

afterwards the wards are BOILING!!!!!!! warning... have thin pj's. i wore jogging bottoms (which were fine) but could have done with a linen shirt.
the midwives there are under so much pressure but do the best they can and are really helpful if you need them

must go now, being a mummy calls xxxxxx

no your partner will stay with you throughout delivery
visiting hours on the ward are 10am - 10pm xxxx

Ooooh we could be there at the same time My sweep is Thursday and induction soon after! xxx