St Thomas's

[AliKatt]

Our ante-natal class was visited by a new mum who had recently had her baby at St Thomas's (London). She sounded like she'd had a really good experience, but she did mention (in passing!) that both the Home from Home birthing centre AND the Hospital Birth Centre were full when she arrived and she'd spent most of her labour in the ante-natal assessment unit waiting room, only being transferred to a delivery room, which fortunately became available, when she was just about to deliver!

Has anyone else had an experience of the hospital (either the Home from Home or Hospital Birthing Centres, or both) being too busy? If so, what did you do? Were you sent to a different hospital or did they manage to find you a room?

The new mum who spoke to us seemed totally calm about the experience, but if that happened to me I think it would totally freak me out!

I'd also be delighted to hear from anyone who's had a good experience at St T's, without any problems... might help to put my mind at rest a bit

Thanks, Alison

bump

Curious to know as well. Am booked in there. But saw on the website that the Home away from home suite only has 6 rooms, which didn't seem like very many to me.

I gave birth there in 2008 in the Home from Home and it was great. I was lucky as I turned up 5cm dilated (despite them telling me not to come in). Throwing up (accidentally) on the checking in nurse persuaded them to take me seriously. It wasn't busy and I got to use the pool. I was 5 hours start to finish. Unfortunately, I had to transfer to the hospitalised bit for stitching. They were very keen to get me to the post natal ward (no visitors) asap so they could free up the room. We ended up packing to use the Landsdell Suite so my husband could stay with us.

When my parents arrived there were loads of women being kept in the waiting areas because of rooms full. My friend who gave birth there in 2008 was also kept waiting. This time round I can't even get in there as I live out of area and they are full. I can't pay to go private there as they now only do consultant led private births.

So I think its excellent if you can get in, but not too much fun if not.

My best friend had her baby there a couple of years ago, so this is second hand. Although overall she was impressed by the level of care, she did mention a couple of things.

She was called in for her induction, and then sent home again as there were no beds.

She also said the induction pessaries were given 12 hours apart when it should have been 6?

But they managed a serious PPH and she is now fine.

She also said that she did feel like she was kind of left to get on with it without much support as they were so busy.

She isn't having her second baby there, but only because they can't fit her in.

Hi Alison, I had my DD in the hospital birth centre in 2008. They were extremely busy the night I went in but I was booked in to be induced as my waters had gone 24 hours earlier so got in thankfully!

There is a lovely garden room, I walked around there for as long as I could. I had a midwife with me pretty much constantly and she was wonderful. The induction failed and it ended up being a very long labour but the care was excellent and when I felt I needed an epidural, I was lucky and the anaesthetist came straight away. DD was in distress towards the end and we had a roomful of doctors and midwives, with a paediatrician standing by. I ended up having surgery to remove the placenta and the consultant who did it was very kind (dh had gone with dd to the NICU). Post-natal was a different story but I couldn't fault them at all for the birth.

I had DS2 there 3 weeks ago and ummm...when I got there they were full. I was left in the waiting room...

However, I had an Independent Midwife with me (was initially booked to go to the Lansdell but they closed the midwife led service down, so I went down the IM route). She got 'cross' on my behalf saying that we had called an hour ago, requested an epidural etc and that they had an obligation to find us another hospital if I could not get a room (she also mentioned that the baby's heart rate was slowing ). We eventually got a room after 2 hours of waiting and a few tears from me.

The anesthetist (sp) was held up so I waited another hour or so, but to be fair, when he did arrive I was fully dilated and he gave me a spinal and then cited the epidural. Cue: a big sigh of relief from me and I 'enjoyed' the rest of the labour.

I can not fault the hospital staff - they were phenominal. Never made it to the postnatal ward - too full - so stayed overnight in an ante-natal room.

I chose Thomas's becasue I had a horrendous time at St George's (hospital full blah, blah). I think all the London hospitals are stretched and busy.

I have healed well, my baby is perfect - I have mostly forgotten the labour etc. Please do stay with Thomas's - they are an excellent hospital!

Good Luck.

I had DD2 at Tommy's April 2009. They are a very busy hosp and I think the experience of waiting in the assessment area isn't unusual - I know at least one person this has happened to and saw it when I was waiting there.

I had all my anetnatal care there due to obstetric history and cannot fault that apart from VBAC protocols.

Loved my MW, hated the doctors on the birth centre - I wanted a VBAC but had another EMCS. It was probably the right call clinically (DD2 OP deflexed so yucky presentation) but docs started hassling me very early on.

Thanks ladies - that's reasonably reassuring Hopefully it'll be ok when I go there!

I had a stop start labour about 10 weeks ago - went in at 5am - no issues
came home again and then went back at 3pm and they were full

If they had told me on the phone we could have gone to St George's
However they did get us a room reasonably quickly

Postnatal ward was shambolic and understaffed