kits twins
Yes, I have. Sometimes they see us in some of the rooms and one time I asked to be shown around - just call in advance to make sure someone is available to do sop around your appointment. And bear in mind they are now a bit snowed under by February's snow babies and they can't show you rooms if they are full
both birthing and recovery rooms look similar but the birthing ones are in a cluster at the front near the internal desk and are slightly smaller.
Some look outside onto fulham road and rooftops but other have windows opening onto the hospitals inner ourtyards. There seems to be practically no difference pin light between the two but I think we would all prefer outside looking rooms. One birthing room seems always to be set up with a birthing pool and balls but th ey said they can bring them to any room own request.
All have your usual high adjustable hospital beds. There is space on the floor for a mattress which they bring for birthing partner to use if needed.
All rooms have modern small ensuite bathrooms with towels and some toiletries. You are advised to bring extra shampoo etc for a longer stay. They used to be molten brown, now it's something similar but I forget the brand. Oh and they have baths or showers and try to give the showers to women after a c section.
The rooms are light with cream/ magnolia walls, a huge panel for plugging in kit behind the bed, one bedside table, a small wardrobe - adequate for a few days worth of stuff and a giant flat screen tv on wall opposite the bed above a sideboard. The TVs also functions as a DVD / music players I think. there is wifi and the sideboard can be used as a small desk by the daddies in need of a laptop fix - apparently their biggest emergency in the week I visited was when wifi didn't - they had a lot of irate men running around. DH is planning to bring his laptop of course - guess how I
feel about that.
The postnatal rooms also have a breastfeeding chair and one of those small wheelie cots with transparent sides for the baby. They told me they leave junior with you as much as possible but will take it away to nursery if you ask so that one can rest.
It all seemed very clean. Although one time I was seen in a birthing room for monitoring minutes after someone left with the ward completely full of women - everything was fine except for a small stain on one of the stirrups which I pointed out to them - I think they
were to rushed to notice it,
.
Hope this is not too much info.
Someone who just gave birth said the most annoying thing was small size of bath - but that means you can climb in after c section and the waitress who kept asking do you want tea / pasta / food as she was trying to focus on birth. I think you could prevent that by getting dh to guard the door.
Oph they seem to leave doors to labour rooms open but have a curtain they pull across if they do.