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Childbirth

Does anyone have any recent experiences with Thomas's?

12 replies

chocciemousse · 03/01/2013 21:13

Hi, I think I posted my question in the wrong area previously so I will try again. I am looking at having my first baby at Thomas's. Does anyone have any recent experiences with them? Does anyone know if I can give birth under the NHS then pay for a private room? I am really worried about the lack of privacy on a postnatal ward and want to try and have the best experience possible. Thanks 😊

OP posts:

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TeaandHobnobs · 03/01/2013 23:16

I gave birth there in April (having been on the antenatal ward for 3 weeks). They were absolutely excellent.

My understanding is that they have put up the cost of postnatal private rooms on the Landsell Suite to discourage people from just using the private care postnatally - but it is still possible.

There are a number of private rooms on the postnatal ward (I had one as DS was premature and on SCBU rather than with me) but they will generally be allocated to those in greatest need, unless things are very quiet (unlikely!).

General opinion is that the postnatal ward is the least good part of the care at St Thomas' - however in all other respects it is fantastic, so I wouldn't let that put you off - with any luck you will be home quickly anyway

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Hooliaaa · 04/01/2013 05:24

I had a baby on the mlu at St Thomases 2 weeks ago. She was overdue and was induced but we still had a fantastic experience. The communication with all staff was great, we had a private room for induction, delivery and recovery and lovely Christmassy walks up and down the South bank to encourage it all to kick off. I couldn't have been happier with the support we got.

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chocciemousse · 04/01/2013 12:21

Thanks guys. That really helps. By any chance did you do your anti natal classes there too? I don't have any family in the UK 😢so want to try and get the best support I can.

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lovetomoan · 04/01/2013 20:38

If you can afford it, use the private post natal place at St Thomas'.
It's about £1000.00 now but I am sure it will be worth it.
I had to stay in the NHS post natal ward after an EMCS 3 months ago and it was not fun. In fact, I decided to discharge myself when I was not well (lost lots of blood) but I couldn't stand one particular midwife, she said to one baby next to me: drink (formula, mother was diabetic) your milk or you will be in the NICU soon.
She said that my baby boy was naughty and greedy (I had my nipples bleeding from a bad latch).
She also said that my baby was crying too much and was keeping the other women and their babies awake. By then I was fed up and I said: Well, this is a post natal ward, all babies cry and if the women wanted a quiet night, then this is the wrong place, this is a hospital and not a hotel.

Like I said, I discharged myself, still anemic and not strong enough to hold my baby boy.

Good luck and PM if you wish

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lovetomoan · 04/01/2013 20:39

Sorry, I copied this from the other thread you were on.

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littlemrssleepy · 04/01/2013 20:41

I thought you meant boys with that name!! My DS Thomas has been a right pain in the arse today if that is any help??

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TeaandHobnobs · 04/01/2013 21:55

Hahaha my DS, born at St Thomas', is in fact called Thomas!

choccie I am pretty sure antenatal classes are run at the hospital, but I'm not sure who for. My classes were in my local health centre as I was under a community midwife team attached to the hospital. Where has your antenatal car been so far?

Maybe consider a hypnobirthing class as well? I found it very very helpful (despite only doing one half of the course as DS arrived in between the two classes!) - Judith Flood runs classes at the hospital, which I consider reasonably priced against others on offer in the area, and I would very much recommend her.

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chocciemousse · 05/01/2013 13:09

Thanks again everyone for your help.

TeaandHobnobs, I am only 6 to 7 weeks pregnant so my care hasn't started yet. My doctor has been asking me where I wanted to have the baby and suggested Thomas's or Kings and I think that may depend on the antenatal care?? I really have not been given much information so I am flying blind. The hypnobirthing sounds interesting and something I will look into. Thanks!

Lovetomoan, is that £1000 per night?

Hooliaaa, how do organise a room for for induction, delivery and recovery? That sounds so much nicer, especially for your first. Did you go as a private patient or can I go as an NHS and pay a bit extra?

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wouldyoupleasemove · 05/01/2013 15:11

I had DD at the Home from Home two years ago. Ante natal was totally crap. Struggled to get seen by midwife and they share care with GPs for low risk woman which the GPs hate. Amazing birth experience - water birth/ no pain relief, lovely midwives/ beautiful rooms etc. They were apparently full that night but I was never left nor did I see anyone else. Got discharged after 24 hours with a jaundice baby and had to go back to postnatal ward as baby wasn't feeding. Really good bf support which meant we kept going for 18 months but hell on earth even though I got a single room. Completely disorganised - lost my notes- ended up staying an extra night because no one could find weight of DD on admission. Begged doctors to let me leave. Post natal support by Kings. V good.

37 weeks with DC2 and have gone for a home birth with Kings. Very pro it here but have 3 specialist teams of midwives who do them. Am with the Brierley group which is a case loading, home birth team and its been fabulous. Sometimes I have to pinch myself that this is NHS and I haven't employed a private midwife. Home visits at start of Preg and from 36 weeks! The scans are done at the Harris Birthright centre which is headed by the world's leading prof in scans. Many people pay extremely good money to be seen by him privately and I'm sure that if you are high risk it's the best place in the country to be but I found the scans too scientific. Ended up having a silly row with them about extra scans for my big baby ( am 6ft, husband 6ft 3, no surprise really!). No home from home though so if you don't want to go for home birth, I've heard the labour ward is a mixed bag! Hope that helps!

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lovetomoan · 05/01/2013 15:21

Hi chocciemousse, yes, £1000 per night is what a midwife at St Thomas' told me it would cost, however, I have found this link with a different price:

londonpregnancycare.com/wp-content/themes/tlpcc/Lansdell-Information-Brochure.pdf

bear in mind that is from 2009, it would be best if you can ring them and ask for a brochure/price list.

Good luck

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2blessed · 07/01/2013 01:05

I was discharged from thomas' ln sat with ds1.
Wasn't the easiest labour, had to have an emergency c-section but felt so looked after and confident in the team inn the birth centre. I got dp to bring in chocs foe them when I was discharged.
Post natal ward? I wasnt too happy with my experience, will factor in that it is a huge busy unit and I have nothing to compare against. Nothing negligent, just the level of care was different to the birth centre.
Antenatal care was absolutely fab!
Still believe I made the right choice for me out of lewisham, kings and st thomas'
Good luck OP