Giving birth - hospital recommendations?

[sandy_rose]

That's a really good point.

My friend has had two bad experiences at Kings, the second time was by far the worst. They were basically full when she arrived, so she had to give birth on a desk in a back office (the desk wasn't even long enough for her to lay flat - and she's tiny!), midwife nowhere to be seen.

This is why I thought I would look elsewhere but perhaps she was unlucky and got there at one of their busier times. Your posts has put my mind at rest and I will definitely go for Kings having read what you've had to say about it. I'll just make sure I have enough people with me for support.

[Fuschia]

If there any issues that particularly concern you about your birth plan, then you can email or speak to the supervisor of midwives to discuss them (as I did with my desire not to have continuous monitoring)

If later on issues arise like going overdue and induction being proposed, you can again go through the pros and cons with the staff (in an uncomplicated pg it's midwife led, but if you need a consultant I'd recommend Leonie Penna, very supportive of womens's choices, she supported me in my natural twin birth while backing someone I know who wanted an elective CS for her twins)

Having someone with you who knows about birth... your community mw, a doula etc, would be a great help on the day to avoid the worst scenario of unnecessary intervention being foisted on you.

Both my hospital mws were lovely, actually. The first was quite militant and suggested I didn't have the pessary at all, and was quite keen to get me into the special birthing pool room if she should... despite the on call consultant looking totally shocked at the suggestion a twin mum might get into water! The one I had after shift changes was equally nice.

My birth plan was adhered to, with a bit of help from Mr F (it included no paediatricians (unless required) , students or casual observers in the room, he did have to keep shooing people away... but having two independent mws with me was a great strength I'm sure to make sure high professional standards were maintained. I found the mws were quite laid back about interventuion, the drs I saw (wasn't Leonie's on call day) were a bit more gung ho.

Planning a homebirth if you can is a good option, as you can still go to hospital if/when you need or want to, and water and gas and air are both available to you at home.

[The Nappy Lady]

Just to say the wait lists for Albany, Brierly etc. do come up now and again...I know someone who got a call at about 36 weeks to say they had room to take her, so she switched with great delight, so don't despair.

Must admit, with No.2 as soon as I got the two little lines on the stick my priorities were;

1. tell hubby!

2. phone the Brierly!

Or was it the other way around??? Hmmm, in any case I was their first October birth at the point when I rang them in the January 2008!!! You do have to get in fast.

Molly

[Belle]

In terms of switching when you've moved house, I moved when I was about 20 weeks pregnant, had previously booked in with UCH and switched once I'd registerd with DMC down here, so ended up with the Lanes 'by default' in the sense that I hadn't wittingly chosen them - was very pleased I got them though! I was initially told there wouldn't be enough cover for a homebirth but was subsequently given the go-ahead, though in the event I had to go to King's. I personally had excellent care during the labour (mainly provided by the Lanes) but the post natal experience was a very different and depressing story. HOWEVER, I understand anecdotally and from King's themselves following a complaint I sent to them that things are very different there now and many improvements to the post natal ward have been made. Go and have a look round and see what you think is my advice. As others have said, if any problems should arise with the baby, they couldn't be in a better place - and you'll be glad it's so near.

[Fuschia]

I didn't like postnatal. Furthermore I left hospsital Sat lunchtime and no commnity modwife came to see me till Mon at 5.45pm. So beware if you leave at a weekend. An early home visit is important to make sure all is well with feeding etc.

[sillywoman]

sandy_rose Wrote:

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

>

> My friend has had two bad experiences at Kings,

> the second time was by far the worst. They were

> basically full when she arrived, so she had to

> give birth on a desk in a back office (the desk

> wasn't even long enough for her to lay flat - and

> she's tiny!), midwife nowhere to be seen.

>

> Hmmm, it would be interesting to know the full details of this story, I hear it often. TBH, though I know it does occasionally happen, if as many women were having babies unattended in back offices as I hear about then I think Kings would be closed down by the Health commission by now! Anyhow, if it did happen in the way your friend described, it might be worth throwing into the mix the reasons why your friend was in an office. Kings have an open door policy. Unlike many of the other hospitals they won't turn away any woman in labour, no matter how full they are - even if they only have an office available whilst they are waiting for a room. If your friend had gone to St Thomas', for example, and all their rooms had been full they would have turned her away. Her labour must have progressed very quickly if there was no time for a midwife to be present, so with that information, in the St Thomas' scenario she way well have given birth on the Southbank!

It may just put a different complexion on the story?

For more information check out the latest detailed statistics on www.birthchoice.com(?). They can be a really useful comparison tool.

Lastly, as Ann points out, if you can't get with a group practice all is not lost. The kings midwives are lovely, and if you know what you want/ don't want, & have a well informed & supportive birth partner with you then you'll do just fine.

[Fuschia]

When I was in the antenatal ward with pre-eclampsia waiting to be induced (for twins they start this off only in the labour ward and I waited all day for a room) there was a woman who looked to be quite far advanced, on the ward itself, and I was told that women sometimes give birth in the siderooms on the antenatal ward, or in the antenatal ward. TBH, I doubt you'd care where you were!

[sandy_rose]

Molly - HILARIOUS!

Fuschia - thanks for sharing, very brave to nave a natural birth with twins.

I managed to get hold of Albany today and I'm on their waiting list. I'm going to swap GP's to the one that refers all their pregnancies to Albany, as she said I would be likely to get on to the list straight away if I did. They don't start taking anyone on waiting list apparently until you're 24 weeks. Considering predicted baby boom I don't stand much of a chance...

I also called the Brierley team which were SO lovely! I'm on their list WOOP! But I'm slightly worried about having to go with home birth. Apparently they will only come to hospital with you if there is a medical reason why the plans have changed, not if you just change your mind. I haven't had a chance to think about what I want yet, but the thought of not having to go to hospital at all is very appealing.

[Fuschia]

If you give birth at home, you know you have the undivided attention of the midwives, and can guarantee access to a pool, if you have hired or bought one. You are more likely to know the midwives who attend you. You can still transfer quickly if there is a problem. Most problems develop slowly, rather than in the blink of an eye. Although you can't have an epidural, you can have gas and air and water and your pain may feel more manageable when you feel safe.

I presume if you start at home then need to transfer then they will come with you?

[sandy_rose]

Yes, I'm sure they will if that was to happen. And I'm sure it would be much more relaxing to be at home (poor neighbours though!)

[Fuschia]

sandy_rose Wrote:

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> Yes, I'm sure they will if that was to happen. And

> I'm sure it would be much more relaxing to be at

> home (poor neighbours though!)

My IMWS said neighbours rarely notice!

[The Nappy Lady]

If you book a home birth and change your mind you can easily swap, much harder to do the reverse.

With Brierly I saw the same midwife for every appointment bar two, and was lucky enough to even have her at the birth, I was in tears when she signed me off (blame it on the hormones)!! I felt I had a real relationship with her tho and we have met up since with other mums and babies which has been lovely.

We live so near Kings and if you do need to transfer to hospital in labour it is usually a calmly discussed decision and midwives escourt you, very rare indeed to be blue lighted in.

Plenty of time to consider it all anyway ;-))

[agathoise]

Hi sandy-rose -- if the idea of a home birth appeals, you might find the Homebirth Reference Site useful: the aim is not to convince anyone to have a home birth, the site simply presents the available research, with links to references to allow mothers to make the choice that's right for them. It's written by a former research academic and former NCT National Homebirth Support Co-ordinator (also happens to be my best mate!).

She says "What are my qualifications to discuss medical research? Probably the same as yours - that I am a rational individual, and I can read! I am not a health professional, but non-medics should not be afraid to look at research on health matters. Medical staff often will simply not have time to keep up to date with research on a specific subject, so when we read up on the subject as clients or patients, we are not only making sure that our own decisions are informed, but we may also alert our midwives and doctors to new developments in the area. Please note that this site offers only information for you to discuss with your own healthcare providers - it does not offer medical advice. ... Anyone can set up a website - it does not mean that they are qualified to talk on a subject, or that they are telling the truth. For these reasons it is vital that claims are well referenced, so that readers can check for themselves. In fact, I do not want you to take my word for anything - this is why I give sources for all research quoted, so that you can check it for yourself." In addition to the research there are loads of home birth stories - not all babies ended up being born at home & not all stories are good, because these are real stories, not fairy tales. It's a very useful resource for any expectant mother.

As a few people have said - if you book a home birth you can always change your mind, even part way through labour; it's much more difficult to have a midwife attend a home birth if you haven't booked for one. For this reason alone, anyone considering a home birth might be better to book one than not...

Good luck and best wishes

Agathoise (4 home births, 3 in water, one on land, one a BBA ).

[prdarling]

I was nervous about Kings after the horror stories you read on here but I had a positive experience both times with the fabulous Oakwood midwives, one in 06 and the other in 07. Back then you could choose a hospital birth and the Oakwood midwives would look after you at home then come with you to Kings to help birth your baby...am I right in thinking they will only do homebirths now? Am tentatively considering number 3!

Anyway, with both babies, the midwife phoned ahead to see if Room 12 was available (the big one with the pool) and both times it was free, so far from having the baby in the broom cupboard/on the table etc etc, I had the room of my choice. Babies were delivered with just me, the midwife aand my husband in the room. One of my sons was born mid September which is apparently one of their busiest times (Christmas fun and games) so I don't know if I was just very very lucky, but I can't really say a bad word about it.

The antenatal care is excellent even though the waiting times can be horrendous and it's a bit like a scene from Little Britain up there most of the time, the postnatal care is not so hot, but it's pretty poor everywhere - not enough staff. Take your own painkillers or better still , if all is OK get discharged from the delivery room as I did with baby number 2. I was at home in the bath with a glass of champagne 3 hours after I had him! The Oakwood midwife came to see me at 5pm. Perfect.

My experiences are obviously tinged with the rosy glow of time and it might be all different now but like others have said, you can start at home and transfer if you need to. I was told that the hospital midwives tend to leave the pool rooms to the community midwives such as Oakwood, so if you do transfer in you may have more chance of a pool room.

Hope it goes well either way - best of luck prdarling

[crystal7]

Prdarling:

I had my baby in February with the Oakwood midwives, although she ended up being born at home (very quick!) we had planned to go to Kings accompanied by them.

[sandy_rose]

I've now found out they are anticipating a massive surge in births next year so you can't choose which hospital you go to...after all that! I'm happy with that though, and will hopefully be either with Albany or Brierley team anyway so well looked after I'm sure.

Again, thanks for all the advice.

[ymenik21]

Hi sandy Rose

Sorry i did not have time to read the whole thread.Albany were GREAT for me.I was 6 months preg when I came to the UK and could not even reg with the GP for another month till I got my address proof.I tried calling and e mailing Albany but it did not work and next thing I know was that I was knocking on their door at Peckham puls and was almost in tears (6+ preg no GP have not been checked by a doc for few months bla bla bla).

Their list was full but mw asked me to come next day for their antenatal group for a chat,and that was it.I got the best couple of MWs i could ve ever imagined and they were there through out my 4 1/2 DAYS labour at home.From my exp they always somehow get you in to their list .

They are angels.Good luck hope you will get some lovely care.

XX Sam