Bolton Hospital

Not to be negative but I’ve only had bad experiences with Bolton Hosp. Even for non-pregnancy related stuff. The maternity ward is terrible. Always low on staff and the waiting times are HORRENDOUS - even when you’ve had a booked appointment. I had a miscarriage last month and the experience with the hospital made it 1000x worse for me. 🥺

Absolutely fine for me and 3 of my friends! There is only one pool but every room has a bathtub which is handy I asked to see the ward and the rooms beforehand and that was super handy. I also asked my questions and raised my concerns during pregnancy when visiting the mat ward and that also helped. I really appreciate it's dependent on the staff you get and post birth I did have one horrible midwife student (who calmed down once i explained how i felt she was really rude) , but apart from her, honestly everyone was really nice and helpful and open to my suggestions and concerns. My husband also asked the reception team questions as opposed to us assuming and then being told we could/couldn't do something. That really helped!

My actual birth was lovely, I had a lovely midwife, a fab doctor who reassured me so well as I had previous birth trauma from my first birth, I had excellent antenatal care by the midwives in ANDU and in the clinics also. However, I had to really advocate for my mode of delivery (I wanted a C-section due to trauma from my previous birth) and they put me through so many consultations with the consultant saying no that I actually gave up asking (I know I should have kept pushing as it is my right, but I was 38 weeks pregnant and just done at that point). I ended up being induced after 3 days on the antenatal ward where I was next to a lady who would talk all day and night and have 5 people in her bed space and nobody addressing it which sent me absolutely crazy … only for her to be wheeled in next to me on the postnatal ward🤪 Postnatal ward was busy and understaffed, but most wards are. I still ward home 24 hours after birth and my midwife did her best 🥰

@Sophie the thought of the wards are really setting me off. I’m not a very sociable person and I would hate the fact that I’m surrounded by complete strangers, and all their stranger relatives after just giving birth and being all hormonal I think I’ll feel really overwhelmed 🤣 that is another one of my fears!

Go with your gut instinct. My experience was not good so I changed hospital. My two friends who gave birth there had what can only be described as horror stories.

Aww bless you! To be honest, most people close the curtains and don’t speak😂 it isn’t the easiest but hopefully you’ll be home before you even get there because you can do a 6 hour discharge sometimes if all goes well 🤞 I’m sure you will be fine. I hope all goes smoothly ❤️

I’ve just had my baby on Friday and I had an amazing experience with them! I couldn’t have asked for more with all the midwife’s I came across through my birth and postnatal care. I’ve heard the bad stories too but I have nothing but wonderful things to say about my experience🩷

I have had 2 births at Bolton. My first one was bad as I was induced and gave birth on M2 (the induction ward) practically unassisted as they didn’t rush down or listen to me being a young first time mum. However my second was last October and I was lucky enough to be able to have a water birth and it was honestly a 10/10 experience & staff were amazing

I was going to have my first at Bolton, but I changed my care to Lancashire nhs and wanted to go to Blackburn I couldn’t because of gest diabetes, so went Burnley and had my twins and Burnley, best decision every. Nurses midwives and consultants always contradict each other, tried making me take unnecessary blood thinners then told me I didn’t require them so to stop them. If they made a shambles of every appointment I went to I had no hope for the actual birth, I’d always recommend for people in the area to check other options before being set on Bolton x

I had a lovely birth at Bolton (2021) with a great midwife and some really nice ward mates. The aftercare sucked. And I’ve recently had a miscarriage and asides from one sonographer I’ve had a horrible time with staff. I guess I’ve just had a bad time with the community midwives team. The birthing and team for my son were great. I would definitely say go with your gut and find where you are comfortable and best cared for.