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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

anyone given birth yet at the new pembury hospital?

15 replies

slowangels1 · 04/02/2011 17:12

Just wondering really. Am due to give birth there very soon and no tours allowed. Have been for consultant apt in the women and children bit but not allowed to have a look at labour/post natal area. Would be really interested if anyone has any experiences of there, although realise since it's so new those who have given birth are probably a bit busy with the new LOs

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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Metalhead · 04/02/2011 20:16

No experience here, but look at it this way: it can't be worse than the old one! :o

Nancynew · 04/02/2011 22:32

Agree with you Metalhead

missmakesstuff · 04/02/2011 22:40

I'm interested - if we stay where we are, likelyhood is I would have to travel there for any further children - due to the closure of our local hopital - gutting really, for lots of reasons, partly the distance, the roads, the fact my DH doesn't drive...but at least if its nice I might feel a bit better!

missmakesstuff · 04/02/2011 22:41

sorry, hospital, and not full closure, just maternity services. (Just!)

Original poster

slowangels1 · 05/02/2011 10:36

take it you're near maidstone missmakestuff.

Just hoping all the things I hear about it being good are right and that the staff arn't too much like headless chickens trying to find their feet in the early days

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Original poster

slowangels1 · 15/02/2011 15:30

just bumping incase anyone else been there in past week or so....

OP posts:

Osch · 17/02/2011 12:04

Hiya,

I spent 4 weeks in the new (got transferred over form the old) hospital when it opened, i was in the ante-natal ward not the post natal ward but all rooms are the same, i also never saw the labour ward in the new hospital, thankfully! It is MUCH better than the old hospital, all rooms are quite large and most importantly private! With a private shower/wet room. Food is still as bad but there is a restaurant that opens until 7.30 and also a WHSmith. There will be a Costa Coffee opening but not until the whole hospital opens - September, i think! Oh and husbands/partners are allowed to stay over night on the post natal ward. The majority of the staff there are also really good.

I hope that helps!!

Original poster

slowangels1 · 17/02/2011 13:12

thanks osch. I'm due to stay at ante natal on monday to be induced so will see ante, post and delivery rooms!

Good to hear dh can stay on post natal as I was told this had been changed and he now couldn't. We're currently confused as have been told conflicting things re: if he can stay on ante natal overnight when I'm being induced .

Can I ask an odd question - do the rooms have windows that open? I know that sounds mad but had a scan there last week in womens and childrens new bit and it was soooo airless DH and I both felt really faint after an hour in there (we are both fresh air maniacs). Also - I'm terrified about the whole labour thing and on ane natal one worry is that I'll hear all sorts of screams/shouts of pain from others going through induction - are the walls thin?

Thanks so much for feedback.

OP posts:

Osch · 17/02/2011 15:26

There are windows, they are actually doors that open with slats on the outside so you can't escape!! If you look at the entrance, the ante natal rooms are on the 2nd floor above... Also they each have their own temperature control so you could always switch it completely off if need be.. I went for a scan in the womens & children and completely agree it's far too hot!
With regards to hearing others, they will have been shipped off to labour ward Way before the screaming starts, which is just down the hallway incase you need to get there quick! But in my experience you definitely don't hear anything.
I'm not sure dh will be able to stay on ante natal with you, I was told no partners to stay the night on ante natal and I never noticed oh staying but they can come really early and stay till late. Apparently on post natal they can as long as they sign a form to say they will be fully dressed at all times and are going to help you out?!? Maybe someone who's had a baby there may be able to answer that one... If not let us know when you go in!
One thing that's frustrating is that I struggled to get any phone signal... Ah, and also take your own towel! The ones they have are more like hand towels and are no good with bumps!!
I hope that helps and Good Luck! Keep us posted...
X

Original poster

slowangels1 · 17/02/2011 16:16

thanks osch - I have a towel all ready to take in. Did you (sorry for more qs) get internet access and tv? I've been told we have free (???) tv access in each room and internet access but no one can confirm how and if the internet access works (like if I need to bring in my own laptop). Are the nurses nice and friendly? I'm a really anxious patient and worried about EVERYTHING! Also, do you manage to chat to other friendly pg people there or are you a bit shut out in your room?

that's so helpful. I find it so frustrating not having any tour and the doctor i see at pembury tells me a different thing every time as to facilities/policies as does my mw so I get all confused with everything.

OP posts:

Osch · 18/02/2011 14:26

That's okay ask as many q's as you like! You have a tv in your room on the wall, which is free, they were talking about charging £1 for the disposable tv control, but you don't have to pay to watch it... Internet access was not up and running when I was there, so I took my iPad which doesn't need wifi.. Although I'm sure they will be getting wifi connected up soon, in which case you would need to take your laptop as there isn't an Internet cafe type place.

The nurses are really nice and friendly, don't worry about asking them anything, they are really good! Breakfast lunch and dinner is brought up to the ward on a trolley and when I was there I sat and ate in the "lounge" which is basically a room with a table and chairs and a coffee/tea/hot chocolate machine, but it gives you the opportunity to sit and chat with the other women who are in so you don't feel too isolated...

I think the reason they aren't doing tours (when I was in) was for in-patients privacy also they had sooo many people phoning up for a tour they wouldn't have been able to show people round, to be honest there actually isn't a lot to see as all the rooms are private they would just be able to show you a corridor with lots of room doors... Not very exciting! When you get there on Monday they'll show you around the ward and show you where things are...

Try not to worry, the nurses are so nice and will answer everything that you need to know and clear up all the conflicting advice for you... If there's anything you really want to know before you go in maybe call the hospital and ask to be put through to the ante-natal ward...

If you want to know anything else, just ask!
x

Osch · 18/02/2011 14:27

Oh also, there's no cash point anywhere in the hospital so make sure you take cash with you for the shop and restaurant...

Original poster

slowangels1 · 18/02/2011 14:52

thanks osch. They think they won't want me to go in until the evening on monday so I'll probably be half asleep by the time I get there (sooo tired in evenings) and prob not take in much of what's about.

Did you get any choice in foods brought up to you? I have a super odd diet (veggie, gluten free and avoid lots of things due to IBS and I have pg diabetes) not to mention food adversions from pg so not sure what they'll give me - maybe nothing but baked potatoes!

Thanks for the advice re: cash - I think we have about £20 in my bag in various coins so if we need more will just have to send DH out to tesco or sth (actually, might have to send him out there for my meals anyway!).

I'm guessing we won't have any excitement like a microwave to heat our own food or just a kettle for my camomille tea?

I'm so glad that the staff were nice though - as that makes all the difference. Not long now until my induction date

OP posts:

Osch · 19/02/2011 17:24

I don't have and dietry requirements so i'm not sure what they do, sorry! No microwave i'm afraid but on the coffee machine there is just hot water so you will be able to make your camomile tea!

Good luck with your induction, i hope it all goes really well for you! Come back and let me know what the labour and post natal ward is like! 5 weeks and i will be there too!

Take care
x

beabea81 · 16/03/2011 14:56

hi, i'm due to have a c-sec at pembury in 2 weeks so found all this info v interesting, thanks! only thing i would say is that partners are not allowed to stay the night until the hospital is fully open in september.

i queried this with them as had heard it through a friend. my husband is my carer atm due to a severe relapse of m.e & also severe spd, i'm pretty much bedbound. i asked if they would make allowances but they said no! not sure how i'll cope without dh to help me, i know they can stay with you from 8-8 but am worrying about the nights as i'll be kept in for 3-4 days after the c-sec.

did you find the the nurses helpful at night? have heard stories of others hospitals where they just leave you to it & without dh to help me am not sure how i'll manage :(

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