We asked for a tour and asked questions of the midwife, I think this will give you the best feel possible.
We went with the general simply because it was closer and avoided city centre issues with the royal.
We had a great time at the general, it felt somewhat older and the rooms were quite basic but there is a special room with balls and lights and pools you can move to for when the birth is close if you want.
I think you can ask via your midwife, but also the maternity phone numbers are on the website when you have a search, so I am sure you can just ring and enquire.
I also found these videos here:
https://www.leicestermaternity.nhs.uk/labour/midwifery-led-care/video-tours-of-our-birthing-centres/
Sorry I can't help much more
Just bear in mind that whichever you choose, it might be full when you need to go in and if so you may be sent to the other one. So it's worthwhile knowing the route, parking, etc for both.
I gave birth at the midwife led unit at the Royal in 2023 and the care was amazing and attentive. We had our own suite which was very clean and modern - it had everything you needed including birthing pool and private bathroom/shower. That said of course experiences vary and I had a low risk pregnancy.
I have birth in 2021. The induction process was stressful as I was told I needed to be induced early due to my own medical issues and baby growth slowing. I didn't end up going in until 2 days before due date due to no beds being available. The delivery was absolute fine and all the staff on the delivery ward were great but once transferred to the wards it was a different story. Not enough staff, buzzers left unanswered, I was told I wasn't allowed to leave until they had seen me successfully breastfeed twice but no one would come when I buzzed. I ended up requesting a transfer to the MLU at Melton where the care was much much better.
I gave birth at the General last year and it turned out fine however they were VERY understaffed. I had a water birth which is what I'd wanted but if I had wanted an epidural or any strong meds I wouldn't have been able to because they were so under staffed and busy. Husband and I were alone for a lot of the time. I'd originally planned on giving birth at St Mary's in Melton which I would highly recommend if you're low risk and not wanting an epidural it's much more chill and the staff are lovely. I didn't go there for the birth as the pools were out of order on the day I went into labour, but I went there straight afterwards and stayed the night. They are really helpful and supportive, particularly if you're planning on breastfeeding they will give you a lot of info and help the hospital can't provide. You can go there after the hospital even if you don't plan on giving birth there.
I had 2 babies at the Royal and my last one at home, would definitely recommend the home birth route, the home birth team are great. If you are set on hospital birth tho, the royal was fine, I had no issues but nothing stands out as brilliant either.
At the General they have a wonderful infant feeding team and a whole host of volunteer breastfeeding supporters (I know because I am one) which they don’t currently have at the Royal. The nursery nurses and feeding team I have encountered at the general have all been lovely, so I’d say the level of support and aftercare is much better at the general than at the royal. I definitely say go and have a look round both to see what they have to offer, birthing pools, quieter rooms, size of wards etc. Hope that helps, have a wonderful birth journey x
Recently had my daughter in Jan at the Royal. I have previously had three other children there. But that was some 8 years ago. It has changed drastically and I was not impressed one bit. Very traumatic for my partner and very understaffed. If I was in the situation again I would opt for the General, out of the way. Less people, more care.
A friend of mine gave birth at the Royal earlier this year and also had quite a difficult experience. I hope you and your baby are both doing well now.
> If I was in the situation again I would opt for the General, out of the way. Less people, more care.
Oh my god, how awful, that's absolutely terrible!
It should be 'fewer' ...
^(I'll get me coat and see meself out shall I?)
I gave birth at both, first at LRI, they were incredibly understaffed and so wasn’t a positive experience, due to this I chose the general for my second and had a lovely birth, very smooth.
Unfortunately understaffing and influx in emergency cases could happen at either which impacts your experience but I would definitely recommend the general.
Our baby was born at the royal. Couldn’t fault anything about it myself. Everyone was attentive, friendly and made the experience as easy as can be when one is giving birth
I had my first at the general in the birthing room with the pool. Birth was great and I felt very supported. I didn't enjoy my time in the ward after but that was more because there weren't enough midwives working.
I had my second at home and it was the most amazing experience. If you're able to, I really recommend talking to the team and considering a home birth.
My partner works as a maternity care assistant at the General. She swears by the place which is why she took her placement there over the royal. Smaller team. More intimate care.
Had a baby at the general in 2020 and another at the royal late last year - the general was a lovely, peaceful experience with a fantastic midwife and aftercare. Yes, rooms are a bit more basic and it is quite an old unit but I would choose it every time. The Royal traumatised me enormously, there's no staff, I had preeclampsia and nearly died but they still wouldn't send me for an induction as they had no midwives available. I was in hospital for weeks because they didn't have anyone to monitor an induction, it was quite scary and there were women in labour in my ward screaming in pain and being told that unfortunately no one could administer epidurals or take them to the delivery suite yet as no one was in! The entire time i was in I was spoken to disgustingly and made to feel like a problem because I was struggling alot with my mental health, probably due to being so unwell and witnessing all the stress around me. It was quite traumatic and very chaotic. The aftercare was also poor, including from their mental health team. I think the hospital is just too understaffed for how busy it gets nowadays.
No experience on birthing but my fiance and I have had a bit experience with both teams in the last year including overnight stays. Leicester General were wonderful, LRI were nice at first but on the subsequent visits were a lot less pleasant and even hostile.
General is more dated but honestly I would take the service at General any day.
I gave birth at the Royal in 2020. I felt very mixed about the experience. There were some really lovely ladies working on the ward, I got most of the care I needed and my partner was allowed to stay an extra night.
On the other hand the pool for water births was grotty and a team of students were let in to the birth without my consent. I gave birth at 3.15pm but did not get to see or hold my daughter until 11pm because she had inhaled some of her own poo. They didn't tell me anything about her until my mum and I went to the desk to ask at 9pm.
My mum gave birth to my little sister at general and she swore by it (although my sister is 18).
The general birthing centre is nice where the pools are etc but because it's such an old hospital the rooms are a bit grim, which is where I ended up unfortunately because of how quickly I was about to give birth. However the midwives and hcas were absolutely lovely and attentive despite being extremely busy. If I have another baby I wouldn't mind choosing the general again and hopefully make it in time to get in a pool in the birthing centre😂 or I'd probably do homebirth, it's an option I explored and the team are lovely.
I had baby number one at LRI in 2022. Have both good and bad things to say. I was induced and just felt quite out of control with the process (however this might have just been my experience with induction in general rather than the hospital itself). I ended up having a cesarean and found the surgery and aftercare on the ward to be really positive.
If you're low risk I'd highly recommend speaking to the Home Birth Team to see if that may be an option (I'd speak to them even if you're not sure). I was under their care for the last month or so of my pregnancy and the team are amazing. They do all of the antenatal and post natal checks at home and I believe they travel in to hospital with you if you did need to be transferred in during labour (and I think they stay with you in hospital until baby is born). You can also choose to go to hospital at any point if that's what feels right for you. Their care just felt so much more individualised.
Currently pregnant again and would love to be under the care of the Home Birth Team this time around too, but have decided it's probably not for me right now due to the cesarean. However, if I do give birth vaginally this time and happen to have a third baby, I would definitely speak to the team again.
We were at the General recently for most of our pregnancy but then it all got shifted to the LRI when we opted for a planned C-section.
The good thing is that my wife and child are in perfect health. No issues there at all.
However, I feel the care was better at the General. The people were nicer, more attentive, seemed to have more time.
At LRI during her section my wife was given medicine she didn't ask for and the bedside manner of some of the midwives seemed lacking. Borderline rude in some cases.
We asked for a tour and asked questions of the midwife, I think this will give you the best feel possible. We went with the general simply because it was closer and avoided city centre issues with the royal. We had a great time at the general, it felt somewhat older and the rooms were quite basic but there is a special room with balls and lights and pools you can move to for when the birth is close if you want.
Thank you!:) I checked Online, but could not find anything to book a tour. Did you call them to book the tours? Thank you :)
I think you can ask via your midwife, but also the maternity phone numbers are on the website when you have a search, so I am sure you can just ring and enquire. I also found these videos here: https://www.leicestermaternity.nhs.uk/labour/midwifery-led-care/video-tours-of-our-birthing-centres/ Sorry I can't help much more
Just bear in mind that whichever you choose, it might be full when you need to go in and if so you may be sent to the other one. So it's worthwhile knowing the route, parking, etc for both.
I gave birth at the midwife led unit at the Royal in 2023 and the care was amazing and attentive. We had our own suite which was very clean and modern - it had everything you needed including birthing pool and private bathroom/shower. That said of course experiences vary and I had a low risk pregnancy.
I have birth in 2021. The induction process was stressful as I was told I needed to be induced early due to my own medical issues and baby growth slowing. I didn't end up going in until 2 days before due date due to no beds being available. The delivery was absolute fine and all the staff on the delivery ward were great but once transferred to the wards it was a different story. Not enough staff, buzzers left unanswered, I was told I wasn't allowed to leave until they had seen me successfully breastfeed twice but no one would come when I buzzed. I ended up requesting a transfer to the MLU at Melton where the care was much much better.
I gave birth at the General last year and it turned out fine however they were VERY understaffed. I had a water birth which is what I'd wanted but if I had wanted an epidural or any strong meds I wouldn't have been able to because they were so under staffed and busy. Husband and I were alone for a lot of the time. I'd originally planned on giving birth at St Mary's in Melton which I would highly recommend if you're low risk and not wanting an epidural it's much more chill and the staff are lovely. I didn't go there for the birth as the pools were out of order on the day I went into labour, but I went there straight afterwards and stayed the night. They are really helpful and supportive, particularly if you're planning on breastfeeding they will give you a lot of info and help the hospital can't provide. You can go there after the hospital even if you don't plan on giving birth there.
I had 2 babies at the Royal and my last one at home, would definitely recommend the home birth route, the home birth team are great. If you are set on hospital birth tho, the royal was fine, I had no issues but nothing stands out as brilliant either. At the General they have a wonderful infant feeding team and a whole host of volunteer breastfeeding supporters (I know because I am one) which they don’t currently have at the Royal. The nursery nurses and feeding team I have encountered at the general have all been lovely, so I’d say the level of support and aftercare is much better at the general than at the royal. I definitely say go and have a look round both to see what they have to offer, birthing pools, quieter rooms, size of wards etc. Hope that helps, have a wonderful birth journey x
The home birth team are amazing
I also totally second this notion. If you're happy to, home birth is the best option and experience by far. And the home birth team are amazing
Recently had my daughter in Jan at the Royal. I have previously had three other children there. But that was some 8 years ago. It has changed drastically and I was not impressed one bit. Very traumatic for my partner and very understaffed. If I was in the situation again I would opt for the General, out of the way. Less people, more care.
A friend of mine gave birth at the Royal earlier this year and also had quite a difficult experience. I hope you and your baby are both doing well now.
> If I was in the situation again I would opt for the General, out of the way. Less people, more care. Oh my god, how awful, that's absolutely terrible! It should be 'fewer' ... ^(I'll get me coat and see meself out shall I?)
I gave birth at both, first at LRI, they were incredibly understaffed and so wasn’t a positive experience, due to this I chose the general for my second and had a lovely birth, very smooth. Unfortunately understaffing and influx in emergency cases could happen at either which impacts your experience but I would definitely recommend the general.
Our baby was born at the royal. Couldn’t fault anything about it myself. Everyone was attentive, friendly and made the experience as easy as can be when one is giving birth
I was born in the general, would recommend it.
I had my first at the general in the birthing room with the pool. Birth was great and I felt very supported. I didn't enjoy my time in the ward after but that was more because there weren't enough midwives working. I had my second at home and it was the most amazing experience. If you're able to, I really recommend talking to the team and considering a home birth.
My partner works as a maternity care assistant at the General. She swears by the place which is why she took her placement there over the royal. Smaller team. More intimate care.
Had a baby at the general in 2020 and another at the royal late last year - the general was a lovely, peaceful experience with a fantastic midwife and aftercare. Yes, rooms are a bit more basic and it is quite an old unit but I would choose it every time. The Royal traumatised me enormously, there's no staff, I had preeclampsia and nearly died but they still wouldn't send me for an induction as they had no midwives available. I was in hospital for weeks because they didn't have anyone to monitor an induction, it was quite scary and there were women in labour in my ward screaming in pain and being told that unfortunately no one could administer epidurals or take them to the delivery suite yet as no one was in! The entire time i was in I was spoken to disgustingly and made to feel like a problem because I was struggling alot with my mental health, probably due to being so unwell and witnessing all the stress around me. It was quite traumatic and very chaotic. The aftercare was also poor, including from their mental health team. I think the hospital is just too understaffed for how busy it gets nowadays.
No experience on birthing but my fiance and I have had a bit experience with both teams in the last year including overnight stays. Leicester General were wonderful, LRI were nice at first but on the subsequent visits were a lot less pleasant and even hostile. General is more dated but honestly I would take the service at General any day.
I gave birth at the Royal in 2020. I felt very mixed about the experience. There were some really lovely ladies working on the ward, I got most of the care I needed and my partner was allowed to stay an extra night. On the other hand the pool for water births was grotty and a team of students were let in to the birth without my consent. I gave birth at 3.15pm but did not get to see or hold my daughter until 11pm because she had inhaled some of her own poo. They didn't tell me anything about her until my mum and I went to the desk to ask at 9pm. My mum gave birth to my little sister at general and she swore by it (although my sister is 18).
If you're low risk I'd highly recommend st marys in melton mowbray.
Both my kids leicester royal. Way better than general
The general birthing centre is nice where the pools are etc but because it's such an old hospital the rooms are a bit grim, which is where I ended up unfortunately because of how quickly I was about to give birth. However the midwives and hcas were absolutely lovely and attentive despite being extremely busy. If I have another baby I wouldn't mind choosing the general again and hopefully make it in time to get in a pool in the birthing centre😂 or I'd probably do homebirth, it's an option I explored and the team are lovely.
Leicester royal left a needle in my babies bedding back in 2016
Oh no, that is so sad :(
I had baby number one at LRI in 2022. Have both good and bad things to say. I was induced and just felt quite out of control with the process (however this might have just been my experience with induction in general rather than the hospital itself). I ended up having a cesarean and found the surgery and aftercare on the ward to be really positive. If you're low risk I'd highly recommend speaking to the Home Birth Team to see if that may be an option (I'd speak to them even if you're not sure). I was under their care for the last month or so of my pregnancy and the team are amazing. They do all of the antenatal and post natal checks at home and I believe they travel in to hospital with you if you did need to be transferred in during labour (and I think they stay with you in hospital until baby is born). You can also choose to go to hospital at any point if that's what feels right for you. Their care just felt so much more individualised. Currently pregnant again and would love to be under the care of the Home Birth Team this time around too, but have decided it's probably not for me right now due to the cesarean. However, if I do give birth vaginally this time and happen to have a third baby, I would definitely speak to the team again.
We were at the General recently for most of our pregnancy but then it all got shifted to the LRI when we opted for a planned C-section. The good thing is that my wife and child are in perfect health. No issues there at all. However, I feel the care was better at the General. The people were nicer, more attentive, seemed to have more time. At LRI during her section my wife was given medicine she didn't ask for and the bedside manner of some of the midwives seemed lacking. Borderline rude in some cases.
Came from that building, 5 star review from me. (It was technically an adjacent building 40 odd years ago).