QMC Nottingham - any experiences to contribute?

[comtessa]

I'm booked into the QMC and just wondering if anyone can give me an idea of what to expect please? Hoping to have waterbirth, if pool available, otherwise want to try for active birth with gas and air, all things permitting.
What is the aftercare like etc? Any information gratefully received. Thanks!

Bump

hi...
Sorry for the late reply....hadnt seen the thread b4...

Had DS2 in QMC on 11th August 2010.
i went into labour on 40+1.Though the midwives werent very helpful in the initial stages of labour(kept trying to convince me to go back home and come only when contractions were 3-4 minutes apart).But since i had a very quick first labour,i was sure that going home wouldnt be a good idea.Was asked to lie in the ward till they felt i was ready to have the baby..didnt bother giving any pain releif ..in fact nobody attended to me for around 3-4 hours!!!!!Suddenly the pain was so intense that i was screaming for an epidural,and DH had to actually shout at the midwives to get them to come.but come thy did and were shocked that i was this far and rushed me to the delivery suite!!!Things were brilliant from there (though thy said i coudnt have an epidural as it was too late!!!i could have killed them!!!),the midwife who attended to me was excellent ,very patient throughout the whole pushing stage and after.I was very impressed by the way they handled things from there as i was a very noisy and reluctant pusher!!!!

After care is allrite ..nothing major ,if u r a first time mum i would say keep asking for help dont be shy ,if u plan to BF thn make sure thy help u latch on /show u positioning,coz u wont get it if u dont ask.

HTH...

Haven't heard great things about it I'm afraid, especially the aftercare. The people I know who've been there have found that it's understaffed and manically busy.

Have you looked at Darley Birth Centre in Matlock? It's lovely, you're pretty much guaranteed a birth pool and you'll get 1-1 midwife care throughout your labour and birth. They only have 5 beds and you can stay in for a few days afterwards in peace to get to know your new baby. You'd get all the help you might want. You can also transfer for postnatal care if you're certain you want to give birth in a big hospital and they have beds free.

Hi Comtessa,
Think you know from the Nov thread that I had DD at QMC- the experience was ok, I was already 8cm when we arrived and luckily the birth pool was free so laboured in there. The room was lovely- big pool, MW asked if we wanted aromatherapy oils in the water, dimmed the lights, put the CD player on- but I have to admit they did seem really overstretched, with the MW just sticking her head round the door every now and again.

Also, postnatally not great, which I think is similar to most hospitals that I was in a four-bedded ward with other mums and babies overnight which was noisy and there wasn't much support for BF... so overall, it's fine- I'll keep my fingers crossed that the pool is free for you and definitely don't be shy about asking for help afterwards with feeding.

I had DD there but not recently....tbh my experience wasn't great - they sent DH home as they said I wasn't in labour...it was my 2nd birth and I knew I was! So he barely got back in time for the birth. They messed up on quite a few things - won't detail them all here as i realise every birth is different. However I do think you have to be VERY assertive there otherwise you get left to your own devices and it can be pretty traumatic. I personally would never have given birth there again. Would definitely choose City hopsital - it seems to have a better reputation.

Hi Comtessa!

Not long now.

Just to add my twopenneth worth here. 2 births at QMC and the delivery suite experience was good both times. Fantastic mws both times. I was even offered the birth pool 2nd time round but didn't want it. The only thing was the 2nd time I wanted an epidural but they were too full to put me on consultant led care, and had to stay on mw led, hence the offer of the birth pool.

Post natal ward not so good. I would echo someone else on here though, ask ask ask ask. If you don't press that buzzer, no one will automatically help you. There is (or was and am hoping there is still one) a breastfeeding specialisst available and so if you feel you are struggling, again ask ask ask. Of course, you may avoid the post natal ward if you have a straighforward birth as you can get discharged direct from delivery suite.

It can't be that bad as I am having the twins there shortly!!! And some friends of mine who happen to be consultants, one in neo natal intensive care and the other in pediatrics also chose to have all 3 of their children there.

I had DD in July this year in QMC, my thoughts...

They like you to stay at home as long as possible. They will literally send you home if you're not far gone enough. By my 3rd 'phone call my hubby grabbed phone off me (straddled on sofa having contractions every couple of mins) and shouted we're coming in and put phone down!

Met student midwife and Snr Midwife, the two most delightful women on Earth, would literally seek them out for baby number 2! Offered and accepted water birth, just adored it, calm, softly lit room, beautiful experience. However there are only 2 tubs and they take ages to fill so if you really want one say so when you call before you arrive. So after the most fabulous birthing experience, being stitched up etc it was 5.30am. Given option of going home or going onto ward...and there the story changes...

went to ward, what an f'ing nightmare! Women on ward were noisy talking to the midwives at all hours, no consideration for someone who despertately needed sleep. Midwives give help to those that shout loudest and that just isn't my style. My DD slept for first 39 hours of life and midwives were determined to get me to b'feed her...erm how exactly do you force a sleeping baby to eat? After 42 hours of no sleep, shite food (thankgod I took crisps and museli bars in) and no shower as I was scared what I might catch in such a skanky environment, I called my hubby and demanded he come and pick us up! Midwives were very mardy with me and put in bold letters on my notes, 'BREASTFEEDING NOT ESTABLISHED, DETERMINED TO DISCHARGE HERSELF, WILL NOT BE PERSUADED TO STAY'!!! Makes me laugh to read that now.

So in summary...go to QMC, have a great midwife led birth, then go home and recover (oh and you will have to come in on the 1st Thursday after the birth to have you DCs hearing check done, you can get your GP to check over baby so don't let them say you have to stay for that). Good Luck!