Derriford

I had awful care up in Exeter in oct 22, they neglected me so much a messed me around so much and sent me home with another woman’s labour details. Just a head up

Hi , my cousin said they were brilliant in delivery room at derriford although lacking in maternity area . She said she was left abit too much on her own but help is there just don’t be afraid to ask! . She had student midwife & qualified in the delivery room & they were so compassionate & lovely! Hope this can ease your nerves x

Hiya, I’m giving birth in derriford in September. Can I ask why it’s bad. Super nervous as it’s my first birth

I was induced in January and had an extremely positive experience at Derriford. Both the induction and labour were fantastic, i was induced early morning and my little boy arrived that evening. I couldn’t have wished for better care. I am so sorry to hear about your experience but wishing you all the best for your next delivery with baby no 2 🩷 xx

I gave birth at Derriford last August. The two midwives I had were incredible, they really went above and beyond and were so respectful of my wishes. I spent a week on the transitional care ward and all the staff I encountered were amazing and I got such great support with breastfeeding. I was so worried about going to Derriford as I'd heard such bad things but I really couldn't have wished for better care :)

Tbh I had great care at both Exeter & Derriford.. However, they tugged my cord after my dream birth and they shattered my placenta meaning I had to be rushed to emergency surgery! They then refused to hold baby on my boob while I was still completely out and was forcing me to hold her otherwise they’d take her away to formula feed! Exeter was wonderful but my first baby and as I was induced I couldn’t have a waterbirth, other than that - perfect care! I’m exeter again with baby 3 and very excited x

I had my son 2 years ago in Derriford. He was super early so I was admitted into maternity for 4 days. I have to say the midwives were brilliant. He is my first so I was somewhat terrified but they really helped me understand what’s going on.

I was induced just over 3 weeks ago and had a really positive experience. My pessery had to be taken out after 2hrs as I was starting to contract regularly. I was on the ward overnight and the midwife couldn’t have done more if she tried. I was in pain and she ran me a bath at 3am, sat with me while I was contracting (I was very nervous) .I was told my waters could be broken so waited for a bed down on delivery. I was taken down at 7am the next morning. I had a midwife and a student midwife who was absolutely amazing. They stayed in the room most of the time and was chatting away to my mum and partner (I had diamorphine and was sleeping between contractions!) they had all made ‘bets’ on the time my LO would arrive and they all laughed when my partner who said she’d be here at 2pm (I’m a FTM and she was actually born at 13:08) I then had to go back up to the ward for one night and all the staff was amazing. They helped me with breastfeeding etc. I had a really good experience! x

I had my daughter 2 years ago at derriford and I would go back with my second future child, I had a midwife and a student and they was amazing, even with Covid still being an issue at the time, my midwife and the student was amazing! When I was taken down to delivery I had more cause of complications and had to have a doctor come in to deliver my daughter and he was great also! All the staff during my labour and afterwards the ward were great, they was reassuring, supportive & helped in every way they could! They were great, they was always 1 of them with at all times and they spoke to me during the complications and really helped calm me down they was really great👍🏼xx

I've given birth 3 times in Derriford, the most recent being 7 mths ago with twins 😃 I can't fault them at all. I had 3 absolutely lovely births and fantastic aftercare on them all. Particularly with my twins when they found out after I'd given birth that I had covid 🤦‍♀️ Had my own room with bathroom and the pink ladies on the transitional care ward are incredible 🥰 x

Hey, I had my daughter in January, although I was in for a while as being induced the midwives in labour were amazing couldn't fault them. It was my first and I was petrified because I have a bad pelvis but they made the room so calm and even going for the emergency c section they all remained calm in my room no rushing into anything they talked me through everything. I'm so sorry you've had a bad experience and I've had crappy experience at Derriford before this which added to my anxiousness but I have to say they were absolutely lovely. You also have Torbay hospital if that's somewhere you would like to go they have a lovely gynecology team. I would mention how you feel when you go into your midwife in labour. Xx

I had my daughter in September in Derriford and there is currently an investigation into the care I received as I ended up with sepsis and had to be readmitted into theatre twice! I wouldn’t go back and have plans to go to Torbay for any further pregnancies

I had my 3rd baby on October.. overall it all went well. Midwives were so so lovely and stayed with me the whole time. The only downside for me was when I had the drip put into my hand they put it into a nerve despite me screaming and crying with the pain and my hand ballooning. It took hours for them to notice! Other than that all was okay and they were supportive.. my other 2 labour's were fine too and again the midwives on delivery were so lovely

I just gave birth at Derriford 5 weeks ago and the care and midwives were great! I didn’t get to have the water birth that I wanted but that was due to my heart rate being the same as baby’s and needing to be monitored. I was pushing for almost two hours and getting pretty tired so they threatened me with an instrumental delivery which I really didn’t want so I braced myself and pushed super hard and managed to give birth with just an episiotomy. Baby girl was quite big at 8lbs 7oz. I was then stitched up and transferred to the ward for overnight as I gave birth in the evening and they just wanted to check my bloods before discharging me. The first night alone in the ward was better than expected. I was scared to not have my fiancé there to help but the midwives did a great job. Overall I’ve been pretty happy with my experience and wouldn’t call my birth traumatic at all. Also props to the midwife that stitched me up as she did a damn good job, healed beautifully 👌🏻😂

I had my second baby in Derriford back in January and it was the most amazing experience. I’d delivered in another trust in wales and had a really traumatic first birth and honestly the care there felt like a third world country compared to Plymouth. It was amazing. Truly the healing experience that I needed. Good luck! X

1st birth horrible at Derriford 2nd birth was a week ago with induction- AMAZING

@Siobhan if you don’t mind what made the 2nd better ?

It was Controlled, I was informed and had an amazing midwife & team leader looking after me, my midwife just kept the room so calm and looked after all 3 of us, listened to me and made sure I got the pain relief I needed x

I gave birth there last week, it was pretty traumatic although not due to any fault of the team. The midwives were amazing and throughout my stay (Tuesday - Saturday) everyone I saw was super attentive and helpful. There are a lot of students and I was seen by student dr’s and midwives - I was checked up on a lot (I could have said no to it at any time) As someone else said I was perhaps left alone a bit too much during my actual labour which didn’t help my situation but you can always ask/make sure you advocate for what you want. I wanted to slog it out naturally and so they let me but my labour wasn’t progressing. It ended in an emergency c section for me but after 24 hours in labour that was the smoothest 20 mins I had and everything was dealt with and explained so carefully. I honestly think births are case by case and you can have a good or a bad experience anywhere depending on the day and time. Generally the care I’ve had at Derriford throughout has been brilliant.

I gave birth in Derriford on Saturday and majority of the staff I came across were amazing. The midwives and student midwife I had were so lovely, friendly and reassuring. I ended up needing a c-section as they couldn’t leave my having contractions any longer as baby’s heart rate was dropping and the theatre staff were also amazing and talking me through it every step of the way. Couldn’t recommend the team I had enough. Up on the ward they were ok, got left on my own quite a lot and did ask for pain relief twice and no one ever came back but I got my partner to bring me some in the end but some of the girls on the ward had someone constantly checking on them. My cesarian was pretty straightforward and cause I was doing okay after I think they just left me to it. But still friendly and helpful if you ask! I personally couldn’t fault them x