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Childbirth

Queen Elizabeth Hospital Kings Lynn

10 replies

jessikart · 20/05/2008 22:45

Does anyone have any experience of the QEH in Kings Lynn? Change in our plans means I'm booked in there now and whilst I know the visiting times on the ward etc, I can't find any information online about what it's like from the point of view of a mum!

Apparently there will be places on a tour of the labour suite in six weeks time.... and I'm currently 37+6

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LookingForwardToSummer · 21/05/2008 11:37

i had my dd there in feb and have been singing their praises ever since. the mw was lovely, they let me 'lead the way' and when i needed to be told things they weren't bossy - suggested birthing ball, it didn't feel too 'hospitally'. they have a birthing pool which you can use if avaliable. i had my own room afterwards - you can't book ahead but if one is free it is £70 for 24 hours. well worth it for me as i had my own loo and didn't need to worry about being quiet, also could monitor the cleaning!! some people would prefer to be with others though. i had lots of help getting bf established and there was no pressure to go home too soon, i stayed for 3 nights which was great. i didn't do a tour but it might be worth checking out the parking and making sure you know where the entrance is. car park is pricey but you can get a cheaper week long ticket that they keep a bit quiet about. HTH
Good luck!!!

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windygalestoday · 21/05/2008 11:41

i was there for a c section in 2000- they nearly killed me!! left parts of placenta in and i haemoraeged badly at home i had c sect thursday afty i was home saturday morning- it wasnt v pleasant it was dirty and cold ........having said that the nurses were fab and the surgeon so hopefully its better now.

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jessikart · 21/05/2008 21:11

Thank you ladies! My main concern has been what the medical staff might be like as I had some rather unpleasant experiences when I was in the NNUH after having DS and I don't want to go through that again!

If I can, I'll definitely go for a private room - had one with DS after a night on the ward and the privacy etc was invaluable.

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OFSTEDoutstanding · 21/05/2008 21:57

QEH was great when I had ds in 2005. Was in labour for 3 days and luckily was the only one on thee delivery suite that whole time the poor midwives were cleaning out cupboards waiting for me to get to 10cm!! Would definitely reccommend private room and all the staff were excellent and really friendly. I am back in there at the end of August to have dd and I am really looking forward to it. I have no worries about being in there at all. Good luck with your birth.

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4andnotout · 21/05/2008 22:06

Hi i had all my dd's there, in 2001,2005,and 2007 and due to do it all again in october. Last september when i had dd3 i was the last person in before they shut the ward down due to lack of staff, and i have only had the one waterbirth out of 3 that i wanted due to lack of staff. Other than that most of the midwives are lovely, one delivered my dd1 and dd2 and was on duty when i had dd3 but was busy with someone else, im hoping she will be on duty for dc4!
I must admit i did make a few complaints when i was on castle acre ward though as the toilets were left bloody for a long while, and when they tell you that you can go home add a few extra hours on to wait for your notes to actually be completed!
Cant believe there are so many mumsnetters who have given birth there!

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jessikart · 21/05/2008 23:46

4andnotout - woah, you're one busy mama! I know exactly what you mean about waiting to be released into the greater community, the NNUH were exactly the same!

The QEH has got a huuuuge catchment area - which is why I was bit confused that I couldn't find anyone online who had had any experience of it....when I posted this last night I visions of no one ever responding and then of me in a labour ward calling 'Hello? Hello-oh? Anybody there?' whilst tumbleweed rolled past

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4andnotout · 22/05/2008 08:24

No one i know in r.l uses mumsnet so i was at how many people must be localish to me, im in Gt Massingham between Kings Lynn and Fakenham.

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laura032004 · 22/05/2008 08:33

My little sister was born there, but that was nearly 19y ago now, so probably not very relevant.

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Sunshine78 · 22/05/2008 08:40

Have had both mine there and yes at times like all hospitals are shrt staffed but MW do all they can for you and I doubt I would have got better care else where. With DS he ended up in SBCU and they always had time for me when I needed reassurance that he would be OK. With DD I wanted to get home as soon as possible which they allowed but also made it clear to me there was no rush and i could stay a bit longer if I wantded.

Parking is expensive and if you park in main car park it is a little walk to hospital so DH dropped me off both times at the door.

They do I tour which I did with DS and was well worth it as they went through everything and showed us everything!!!

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jessikart · 25/05/2008 03:16

Completely ridiculous and superficial question, but do they have CD players in the delivery suite? Chances are I won't have time to think of wanting any music, but NNUH had a CD player in each room and I've suddenly developed a craving for music - it'd be good to know if I'll have to entertain DH & the midwives with my caterwauling!