Watford Gen Birth 👩‍🍼

Hello lovely, I had my little boy at Watford gen I couldn’t tell you how wonderful and amazing every midwife nurse was, I was like you I was so worried and scared but me and my baby were very looked after The wait time in Victoria will depend on how long it takes for you to dilate/go into labour etc xx

I was on that ward in July last year when I was induced. They said I would be there for a while as there were a couple ladies still there from lunch time the day before! However I was only there 3pm- 9pm and then taken up to delivery suite. Tbh they came and checked me every now and then but otherwise just left me to it. When I needed someone they assisted.

Very kind and supportive when I went in in September. As others have said how long you are there depends on how long it takes. I went up to delivery 2 days later after having dialapan and waiting to be dialated enough for them to do a sweep. I went up to delivery and they broke my waters there.

Walk around, have a shower, come and go! They do need to monitor the baby every couple of hours.

I gave birth here and I couldn’t fault the staff. My induction failed and I opted for a c-section, it all went very well and the nurses were super supportive whilst I was recovering. I ended up being there for 10 days overall due to high blood pressure and baby losing weight and as much as I would have rather be at home, me and baby were in the best place. Good luck xx

I could not fault the hospital whatsoever when I gave birth in November. The staff on the Victoria ward were especially kind and really stood out for me. My partner was also allowed to stay with me the whole time and I was there for a week

I went in on a Wednesday and had my baby Saturday morning. Obviously, this depends on each individual body. For me, they used different methods to induce me and finally the oxytocin drip worked. The staff were amazing. They were really supportive and helpful and I felt very safe during my stay there.

Couldn’t fault them. I was induced at 10am and gave birth at 15:26. (2nd baby) first baby was similar. I had the dilapan rods first with both babies and highly recommend.

Oh my gosh thank you sooo much everyone for your comments! I feel SO much more at ease now. I'm never a worrier of hospitals as I'm in them a lot for my health anyway, but when it comes to a baby and my first 🥹 I am of course wanting to know that the care is there for us. I can't fault the nurses/midwives I've seen already, all lovely. So this has really reassured me! I think I'm having the dilapan rods and then go from there... Fingers crossed it goes smoothly and she arrives fairly quickly 🤞🙊🥰 x

@Emmie pre my baby all I heard was negative stories about others experiences at Watford but honestly they were amazing with me. I ended up with a cat 1 emergency c section and from being induced to the moment I left I couldn’t fault a single person!

They’re shared wards, 4 in a room, take earplugs and an eye mask. I was in with a snorer! They do have a few private rooms which are for infectious patients but they will move you in there if you request and they are available. I was in over 11th Feb and visiting hours on Victoria are 8-8pm but partners can stay overnight now, they’d just relaxed the rules.

@Rosie oh my gosh is this actually true (partners can stay overnight)?! We had our 20 week scan the other week and the sonographer said it’s always been the case that partners can’t stay overnight as the wards are so small! So, surprised if they’ve changed the rules now! Absolutely amazing if so though!!

@Alisha that’s for Victoria ward, not sure about the postnatal wards. They said they hadn’t updated literature but recently changed the rules if partner wanted to stay - there’s only a chair for them though. I suspect post natal is different, visiting hours were something like 3pm-6pm on post natal so might well be different for partners too.

@Rosie ah nooo got so excited hahaha. Thank you!!

Hi :) I gave birth in Watford 10 months ago and a day ago. I was in Victoria ward for a week with my first and a day with my newest baby and I can’t fault any of the midwives. They are all incredibly lovely and patient. I have a severe needle phobia and they were so gentle with the topic and were so respectful. Every single person there is lovely :) I can say the same about Katherine ward and the labour and delivery too!