Recent experiences of Kings College Hospital maternity unit

[lizined]

Hi, we're expecting our first baby in the autumn and just wondered if anyone has recent experience of the maternity unit at Kings College Hospital? It looks like the closest one to ED so we'd be grateful for any advice or positive/negative experiences people can share. Thanks in advance!

[Oliverocks]

I had my baby there a year ago and wouldn't go anywhere else. Great midwives and they dealt with an emergency and the aftercare very well.

I was being dealt with by the specialist midwives this time throughout my pregnancy due to a previous issue, they were just wonderful. I wouldn't even consider any other hospitals!

[KikiMac]

From my experience, definitely the place you want to be if things don't go according to plan!

[mima08]

I had my son there 2years ago and they were brilliant, I felt in really good hands, especially when decisions about emergency c-section had to be made. You can go on a tour to see the birthing rooms etc - it used to be on a Thursday early evening, but you better check.

[midivydale]

I gave birth there a year ago and medically they are fantastic. My community midwives never made the birth but I was looked after by a brilliant midwife.

We had complications, I have posted these on another thread but the care me and my baby received was amazing.

Having said that, the post natal ward is a tough place to be. I hink this is the case for most hospitals and not just for kings. Following the complications we had at birth we spent a week there and that really took a toll on me. Again, staff were amazing on the whole but I normally describe it as a week long live show of Jeremy Kyle.

You are in safe hands at Kings, we are very lucky I feel to have this hospital so close by.

One bit of advice would be to have someone with you at all times on the postnatal ward. You are likely rather vulnarable post birth and its hard to manage stiches, washing, lifting baby etc.

[klove]

My little boy was born there on Christmas Day last year and we thought the staff there were fantastic, very caring and professional. The only major problem was that they were really busy (apparently there was 'no room at the inn' according to one nurse, ha ha) and we had to wait ages for a room and then ages for an anesthetist and this was after an transfer from an tempted home birth. It just meant that a really stressful, painful situation was prolonged because of staffing shortages. But of course this could have happened anywhere so don't let it put you off Kings, just try and avoid Christmas Day!

[K4ti]

I had my daughter there 14 months ago after a planned home birth failed to progress. Kings were absolutely fantastic. Once I made it to the hospital the care I received and the support through labour was faultless and for me a much better experienced than the part where I was at home. I was worried I would be ignored/treated like a number etc etc and I wasn't at all, I had 2 midwives due to shift changeovers who were caring, supportive and warm. After care slightly less impressive but that was mainly due to being kept in for 4 days and getting bored/no sleep as on a ward.

[EGL]

I've had two there. One emergency c-section 3 years ago and one planned section 4 months ago. As others have said, you definitely feel like you're in good hands at Kings. The post natal ward is a bit of a struggle, but I'm sure that's the case in most hospitals. It is busy, but again, that's not a problem which is exclusive to Kings. If I have another one, I'd go there again.

[Pickle]

I've had three births there after complicated pregnancies. Excellent care, I felt like I was in good hands every time. Post natal is hit and miss, but more a reflection on the people you share a ward with than the staff/hospital. I stayed a few days first time round but managed to get discharged within a few hours after #2 and 3.

Good luck x

[bluesuperted]

Just had my second there (attempted VBAC, attempted forceps, eventual EMCS... Sounds worse than it was!) 18 days ago. I can't fault my care. I was lucky enough to have the phenomenal Lanes to support me, managed to get a pool and laboured in water to 10cm, then when the going got a bit tough (baby couldn't descend) I felt completely supported by my amazing midwives (who made my eventual c section fantastic with skin to skin and breastfeeding while being stitched) and medical staff. Lovely anaesthetist, very good consultant care pre and during birth, lovely recovery nurse etc.

Am hoping to move to Forest Hill imminently but will go back to Kings for future births - I will have to have elective section next time - as couldn't imagine going anywhere else now. Post natal not as bad now partners can stay (big improvement) but yes hit and miss. I was SO lucky and got to leave after one night which is rare after EMCS but I was desperate to get home to my eldest. Hopefully your birth will be very straightforward but if it isn't the care is second to none in my personal experience.

[Nirish]

I've had 2 births there, my 2nd six weeks ago. I received excellent care both times. I had to be induced due to large baby(10lbs 10)and the midwife was amazing, no tears or complications. They let you get on with it once you're in the post natal ward, but I guess that's due to me not needing any help. Good luck and wishing you a good experience.

[lizined]

Hi all, thanks so much for sharing your experiences and for your reassurance - it's much appreciated! :)

[Kells]

I'll let you know, I'm due on 8th so fingers crossed will be there shortly (though hopefully not for too long though!) but I have heard good things about it, and at least you know that the midwives have the experience. She says confidently......

[lizined]

Best of luck Kells - hope it goes smoothly and is a great experience for you

[minder]

Really don't think you can fault King's in anything really. Maybe the post-natal ward but I'm going back 20 years.

Was down there today in the gynaecological unit with my Mum (she's 79) and they were fantastic!

[Sonners]

The post-natal ward is really busy but the midwives are fantastic and give you a lot of support. One of them told me during my stay in January that the ward had been built to deal with half the number of births which they actually have to deal with! The 24 hour partner visitng policy is also amazing compared to other hospitals.

King's is also one of the leading paediatric hospitals in the country I believe so definitely the place to be if there are complications.

Good luck!

[LauraHW]

Our son was in the SCBU at Kings for 2 weeks when he was born and he required surgery. The care that he received was truly outstanding and the compassion that the doctors and nurses on the ward showed us was amazing. We felt so lucky to have the hospital so near us, especially when parents were travelling every day from as far as Hastings. Some sections of the media (esp Mail) love to have a pop at the NHS and portray it and all health professionals (esp nurses) as uncaring and unprofessional but this couldn't be further from our experiences. Not saying that it doesn't have its faults but how lucky we are in this country to have such an amazing service, free at the point of delivery. Hurruh for the NHS I say.

[midivydale]

LauraHW Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Our son was in the SCBU at Kings for 2 weeks when

> he was born and he required surgery. The care that

> he received was truly outstanding and the

> compassion that the doctors and nurses on the ward

> showed us was amazing. We felt so lucky to have

> the hospital so near us, especially when parents

> were travelling every day from as far as Hastings.

> Some sections of the media (esp Mail) love to have

> a pop at the NHS and portray it and all health

> professionals (esp nurses) as uncaring and

> unprofessional but this couldn't be further from

> our experiences. Not saying that it doesn't have

> its faults but how lucky we are in this country to

> have such an amazing service, free at the point of

> delivery. Hurruh for the NHS I say.

I agree wholeheartedly! I hope your son is well now Laura. X

[Saila]

Reiterate - when something is wrong you don't want to be anywhere else

If there's nothing wrong with you, care is hit and miss. But I know I'd much rather it this way around!

Good luck

[Monkey]

I would not have wanted to be anywhere else when I had my daughter. Fantastic midwives and ob gyn. Post natal ward a different story but nothing to worry about.

[WorkingMummy]

I agree very strongly with the positive posts on this thread.

The Kings unit has a very strong reputation throughout Europe. The standards there are incredibly high and we are very lucky to have them. The breadth and depth of expertise there is very strong. They are at the forefront of research.

On the care side, although I've had three home births, with my third baby I was in the labour ward for a short while because, at 40 weeks, my midwife visited me at home and told me two awful things: 1) my baby was lying, she thought, laterally across me, which was dangerous as I was due and they could not let me go into labour like that and 2) she could not detect a heartbeat. My husband was not at home. I was alone. It was a nightmare of panic and grief.

I was sent to the labour ward at Kings immediately. They were lovely to me. One midwife and one doctor saw me, assessed me. They immediately told me my baby (sweet jesus!!) was fine but they kept me in for a good few hours just to keep an eye on the monitor and - frankly - to minister me back from the abyss with their kindness and gentleness.

I gave birth to a strapping lad at home 12 days later. But as always, I was only confident to do that because Kings was right there if needed.

They are ace.

[yeknomyeknom]

Hello,

I did not have a good experience at kings. Nor did three other mums in my nct group so perhaps things have changed. Initially there were no rooms so I was sat in triage. When I got a room it had a standard bed in it, 20hrs into labour they turned up with a far more comfortable and secure labour bed. They had to roll me from one to the other mid contraction. The monitors were attached to me with knotted elastic and the knots dug into my swollen belly. I was told there was no alternative. After 20hrs with no pain relief, it became a bit much and i asked for an epidural. it took 6hrs before i was given one. None of the midwifes knew each other and their handovers were far from comprehensive, leaving my husband to pass on important information. My room also contained a store cupboard which many medical staff frequented. I am not exaggerating when I say I saw at least twenty people visit my room for supplies. There isn't enough equipment so randoms kept coming in my room and taking my drip stand, my husbands only chair etc. My husband suffered severe back pain as he was lifting me from bed to bed etc as the hospital preferred to let him do it. He even had to show one of the midwives how to work the scan machine. I agreed to donate cord blood but my placenta was placed in a carboard kidney dish on the floor, left until it went brown and a new midwife declared it was no longer sanitary. The stories about the two days i had to spend on ward after are too many to recount. The other stories I have heard from recent births (nov/dec 2012) are similar.

Oh, and contrary to bluesuperted, I was not allowed to hold my baby whilst being stitched and had to wait an hour for skin to skin contact, even though I protested and afterwards my midwife said this wasn't the correct practice.

[reren]

I had a great experience with kings even though i was hoping for a homebirth that didnt happen- even the much discussed post-labour ward was ok! It probably helped that i wasnt there for very long - but the staff were lovely. When i was being taken down to the post-labour ward they did this lovely thing where every member of staff i encountered in the lift, hallway etc called out congratulations in this delighted, heartfelt way. It still makes me teary thinking how wonderful that was to hear from strangers after a pretty tough birth- and impressive considering they must see so many women who've just given birth. You need to be prepared that you are'nt going to get much help w the baby from midwives on post labour ward(though they are there for important things like making sure your baby is healthy and i had some fantastic help w breast feeding). Now that your partner can stay it must be great. I was on my own and was pretty hard to move around...but still i'd say kings is a great place to have a baby.

[Redbus66]

I found kings were fantastic. I was hoping for a home birth so I hadn't had a tour and was completely in the dark why it would be like. All the staff were lovely,I spent a week on the postnatal ward as my son was in special care and the midwives were always asking after my son - even the ladies serving lunch would keep mine back if I was up on the special care unit and even ordered me something they'd embers I'd had previously when I wasn't there to take my order so I didn't miss out on food! That was a tough week and I think everyone at kings was fantastic to help us through it

[gebbjane]

I unfortunately didn't have a great experience at kings for my Labour last September. I developed high blood pressure in the last few weeks and due to a previous section I was advised to go in once my waters broke as would need to be monitored. I was hoping to be a mobile as possible as well. I went in when waters broke but due to the Labour ward being really busy and a shortages of staff I was stuck on triage, was told my fore waters needed breaking which they would do a few hours later. This did not happen until at least 10 hours later so I was stuck with nowhere to be mobile as there is no space in triage, I hardly saw a midwife and did not get the birth I wanted. Once I did get into a Labour room most of the care I received was fantastic. I know the reason I did not get the birth I wanted was due to it being really busy and lack of staff and space.

My previous birth had been at st Thomas's and ended in a emcs after 36 hours of Labour and if I was to have a 3rd I would go back to st Thomas's as I found the whole experience so much better. The midwife care I received could not be faulted I knew what was happening every step of the the way and i do think the whole setting of st Thomas's on the river makes for a more relaxing experience, whilst I was in Labour I enjoyed watching the sunrise and sunset over the Thames.