Has anyone given birth at MAYDAY hospital?

mummynumber2 · 2010-10-26T11:25:27+00:00

And NOT had a terrible time. It's walking distance from me so it seems mad to go anywhere else. But I've heard so many bad stories!

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lollipopshoes · 26/10/2010 12:26

never heard of it, but not sure I would want to voluntarily put myself in the hands of people who think it's a good idea to call a hospital after an international distress signal

Original poster

mummynumber2 · 26/10/2010 12:42

Lol. Maybe that's why everyone has such a problem with it.

OP posts:

AlexCMA · 26/10/2010 13:24

You can always tour the maternity unit and see how you find it?

Details are on the website: www.croydonhealthservices.nhs.uk/services/Maternity_Services

(It's also no longer called Mayday, renamed as Croydon University Hospital).

lollipopshoes · 26/10/2010 13:25

wonder why

Seeline · 26/10/2010 13:33

I had both of mine there and survived Seriously, the first was not a good experience although mainly due to a rough labour, rather than the hospital itself. DS ended up in the special baby care unit - where the care was fantastic. Second time was a much better experience. But even that was over 6 years ago now so not an up-to-date review.

Original poster

mummynumber2 · 26/10/2010 13:41

Thanks alex I've seen the web site but it's not actually very good asd was wondering if anyone had some personal stories. I have no idea why that web site is saying it's changed name. It hasn't, I got a letter from them only today and they refered to themselves as the mayday university hospital!

That's quite reassuring seeline. I've heard it's supposed to be improving so if you recon it wasn't that bad a few years ago maybe it's ok now.

OP posts:

nothappywithhome · 27/10/2010 13:57

I had my No.1 in Mayday and can't complain! Will be having No. 2 in a week or so, and see no reason to worry, honestly.

EmmalinaC · 27/10/2010 14:16

I had DD1 at Mayday and didn't have a great experience. I had pre-eclampsia and was kept in for 7 days and the post-natal care was pretty grim. The medical staff were mostly ok (but always seemed soooo harried and rather rude) but the sub-contractors (catering and cleaning) were bloody awful. Food was terrible - you had to order 24hours in advance so most patients got whatever had been ordered by the previous occupant of your bed! And the bathrooms were filthy - blood on the floors etc that would be uncleaned for hours after reporting.

That was in 2006 so maybe things have improved...

I had DD2 at St Helier and was again kept in for a week (because she was in SCBU) and can't praise it highly enough, even though the maternity unit was being refurbished. It was clean, food was good, staff were always lovely.

Sorry, probably not what you wanted to hear but my good and bad experiences were more about having an extended stay, which most people, thankfully avoid!

tittybangbang · 27/10/2010 14:48

Birth centre is FAB generally - really, really fab.

Labour ward can be a bit.... ahem...(cough).... variable... like the -last night of the Somme--

Postnatal care can be a bit shite too.

Had DC's 1 and 3 there. On labour ward sadly. But I hear consistently good things about birth centre.

tittybangbang · 27/10/2010 14:52

Meant to add - are you thinking labour ward or birth centre?

If you're thinking 'labour ward' have you considered Tommies or Kings? If you live in the north of the borough.

South of the borough you've got the PRU - nice midwives I've been told but VERY high c/s rate.

susie100 · 27/10/2010 14:58

I have heard terrible things from my friend who worked there as an anaesthetist.

Said the birth injuries and women requiring stichting in theatre were the worst she has ever seen and she has worked in a lot of London hospitals.

Her advice to me was to avoid it like the plague. Sorry.

sunnyM · 27/10/2010 15:18

I had my daughter there in July 2008.

I think it deoends what midwife you get. I had an ok midwife in the birth centre but we did have to call her. I ende dup with emcs. But docs , etc were lovely . Post natal care was good when i was there for 3 days. Food on one day was brill but breakfast was dire - cold toast, no butter, etc. Again depended on who was looking after you.

My sister had son (Apr 20080 and daugter (october 2009)in mayday birth centre. She had lovely midwives who looked after her. Can't fault her care and neither can she ( I was there both times.)

on another note birth centre is gorgeous - like hotel room. Labour ward - i went to a room which i thought was a rather nice room. Bathrooms were clean and clear of blood and sheets were changed when dirty. So overall ok Am going to be back there next April and fine with that.

pinkdelight · 29/10/2010 08:28

I had my first there (in the labour ward) 3 years ago and am due to have my second there in January. But having been back there for a check-up, I am seriously considering transferring. The attitude of the midwives brought it all flooding back - how powerless and objectified they make you feel. Perhaps the birth centre is much better, but when things go wrong you need to feel cared for and I remember feeling like an annoying inconvenience as far as they were concerned. I honestly think they just like the babies (so the car of 'baby' is fine) and find the mums a PITA. Like you, we live very close, but am still wondering about St George's or even going private.

sandyballs · 29/10/2010 08:41

I had my twins at Mayday but it was nearly ten years ago so lots may have changed.

I had fab care, couldn't praise them highly enough but I do wonder if that was maybe because it was a multiple birth. I remember the ward and loos being grubby and blood stained and DH complaining but again that may have changed by now. I hope so!

Ewe · 29/10/2010 08:47

No personal experience but a friend had a crap experience with them too. Actual birth was fine but post natal care was hideous.

The reason they had to change the name is of course because everyone started calling it the Maydie hospital!

liquoriceandtomatoes · 29/10/2010 12:05

I very recently had a homebirth that transferred to the Mayday at the end as it lasted so long. My experience overall was good, when I was transferred I was immediately surrounded by a team of 8 dr's/nurses/mw's, which I ended up not needing tho' I had I infected stitches afterwards so I had a lot of post-natal care, which was excellent: my advice get the most senior mw to stitch you up if needed, but that applies everywhere.

I stayed overnight and I really liked all the staff members and even enjoyed the food but that just might be me and my liking for soft, mushy, comfort food. It was hard to get the ok to leave but that's a niggle. I've recently heard as many horror stories from King's so I can only rec the Mayday and in my exp the friendly staff.

Lots of warm wishes with your approaching labour x

nothappywithhome · 29/10/2010 15:17

I would also like to add that I loved Mayday food, choice of breakfast, soft comfort food as liquor just said.

knackeredlou · 29/10/2010 15:36

I had DS there in 2007, on the labour ward. The midwife was ok but the postnatal care was terrible as were the nurses etc on the ward. As a first time mum I felt very ignored. Also, I?m a vegetarian but was only given meat as I hadn't ordered the day previous!

Having said that I did decide to go back there to have DC2 (which has now sadly ended) as I figured it's local and I could discharge myself after 6 hours.

Sorry but it's a no from me. Following the awful care I recently received from the EPU, I will never set foot back in Mayday.

As others have mentioned though, the birthing centre is supposed to be very good.

All the best!

moirasings · 29/10/2010 17:44

Had both babies there and agree that the births were okay but post natal was grim. Got my camera stolen while sleeping on the ward with all my new baby pics on it. (Couldn't have a private room as I was too out of it and they wanted to keep an eye on me.) And all they offered me to eat after being in labour for 12 hours was a grey boiled egg and some lettuce leaves.

Took DD back to Mayday at 4 weeks with a temperature as they wanted to do a spinal tap to check for meningitis and a cockroach scuttled past as I walked him up to the ward!

Nurse told me off for not dressing DD 3 hours after we had an emergency transfer to hospital for an undetected breech birth. Well... in the panic we had not grabbed the hospital bag so we had no clothes with us. She was horrible and not remotely understanding.

I have heard St Helier's is better...

moirasings · 29/10/2010 17:44

Had both babies there and agree that the births were okay but post natal was grim. Got my camera stolen while sleeping on the ward with all my new baby pics on it. (Couldn't have a private room as I was too out of it and they wanted to keep an eye on me.) And all they offered me to eat after being in labour for 12 hours was a grey boiled egg and some lettuce leaves.

Took DD back to Mayday at 4 weeks with a temperature as they wanted to do a spinal tap to check for meningitis and a cockroach scuttled past as I walked him up to the ward!

Nurse told me off for not dressing DD 3 hours after we had an emergency transfer to hospital for an undetected breech birth. Well... in the panic we had not grabbed the hospital bag so we had no clothes with us. She was horrible and not remotely understanding.

I have heard St Helier's is better...