has anyone had a baby on the Mini/temporary Lindo Wing during refurbishment

[BuzzingNW3]

Hi,
Has anyone had a baby on the 'mini' or temporary Lindo wing at St Mary's whilst the main Lindo wing is being closed for refurbishment. I hear the mini temporary wing is has between 3-5 private rooms. I am interested to hear from anyone who has experienced this and what the facilities and general experience was like? Is it up to the same comfort standard as the main Lindo wong etc????xxxx

Me too, what happens if all 3 rooms are full? I spoke to them and the cost is the same as if you went to the lindo wing which doesn't seem quite right as there is no nursery or nursery staff and last time that was so nice, for the first night to have the baby sleep in the nursery and be brought to you for a feed so I did manage to get some sleep before i went home. WHen are you due?

Due in August, and you? So you had your last on the Lindo Wing? This is our first, so excited!
I know what you man about the possibility of 'overcrowding', the doctor said they don't book in enough for it to be full but if someone should come early then what! The only other alternative is the Portland but we feel safer within St Marys's.
Going to call them now to ask them some questions and see if we can look round, have you?xxx

Am due in early sept it is my third , had v good experience at the lindo with the first two, excellent midwives who stay with you constantly and v kind whose your Dr? I just spoke to Lindo, they reassured me about not overcrowding, but am like you still concerned re unpredictability of babies. My first was born in Aug and I was only woman there! apparently cant visit now because of swine flu.

Do you live close to st MAry's we r closer to POrtland but not keen on it. And I adore my dr at lindo.

I think we r closer to St Mary's but there is not much in it. We are with Raj Rai...and you? So excited just told everyone today after a good result at the nuchal scan!
I know really want to go visit! My friend when i told her tonight said her friend gave birth there last week so I asked her to ask her some questions...will let you know what she says! I am sure if thy are charging the same price then the standard and comfort must be the same?!
xxx

Congratulations on nuchal scan result. How funny I am with raj as well he is wonderful.
Be interested to hear what your friend says.

I wouldn't worry too much about them not having availability, as this could happen at any hospital. I heard that the neo-natal and paediatric unit at St Mary's is the best which is always reassuring.
My GP recommended that I book into the Portland and Lindo Wing, which is what he did with all four of his children. He said that if there were any complications or I went into labour before I was at 37 weeks to go to Lindo wing but otherwise go to Portland. I ended up at the latter.

I have to say, The Portland was brilliant. The only problem is that I am always embarassed to tell people I had the baby there because I think it has a bit of a stigma attached to it in terms of certain celebrities and everyone assumes you had a caesarian. But it is literally like staying in a hotel, and it has only just been refurbished last year so everything is nice and new and homely. They have all the best medical equiptment and it is actually run by an American Provate Medical company called HCA so everything is very professional as Americans are the Kings of private medical care!

thanks roary bear! I know what you mean about the stigma of the Portland. I think we will def go with the temporary Lindo. As my husband says it doesn't really mater if its not that plush its all about the care and the baby and st mary's does have the back up of the full hospital and as you said an excellent neo natal unit.
I am sure the Portland is excellent and the comfort sounds lovely...especially as i have never been in hospital and don't really like that hospital feeling but at the end of the day i suppose it's not a holiday! Thanks for the advise x

coffeeicecream: ove Raj he is mad but so lovely! I will def let you know what my friend says. Also spoke to Lindo and she said tours should be restarting sometime in the future so thats good just want to have a look round at least so i know what to expect!

xxx

I heard from a friend of a friend today and she said the temporary wing is very good. In fact she thought it is better as new and more fresh than the Old Lindo wing that is now being refurbished.x

Thanks for posting that buzzing, I totally trust the lindo staff and they would not compromise themselves or us in any way and raj is only taking on 2 patients a month to prevent overcrowding, i spoke to Mary his secretary at length who said there have been no problems so far and no one has complained etc etc.I am feeling much better about it now. X

Yes me too, heard from another friend of a friend who had a baby there a few weeks ago and she said it was fab! wishing you a good pregnancy and a safe and delivery etc xxx Let me know how you get on...if you get the chance!x

Yes all the best to you too, may see you unknowingly in raj's waiting room! Take care x

I hear the tours are back available now after the swine flu thing has calmed down...has anyone had a look yet?x

Talked to my dr. and the senior midwife at the lindo. they both assured me there is night nursery available. even if it became full the midwives will come to your bedroom to help with the baby during the night. Also did the tour, it looks really nice and clean. bedrooms are big and bathrooms are nice. Operating theatre for the main maternity of St Marys is a short walk away, in case theres an emergency. I got a good feeling about it.

Hi, I am so glad i found this post. I am booked end of january 2012 with Karl Murphy for my 2nd baby. My first was born at the Lindo, and even tho the doctor was different I absolutely loved the way they handled and took care of me...and thats why I'm willing to fly half way across the world to have my no.2 there too ! But now i find out that it wont reopen till mid feb ! And i have the option of the temporary unit on the nhs side or portland. I've been told you can only stay one night for a normal delivery and 2 if u have a c-section...is that true anyone? Also are the mid wives the same as at the lindo or are they the nhs one's ? Portland is way too expensive !!

Hi there,
I had my last two babes at the Lindo and I LOVED it.
I am also due in January 2012 and despite them saying Lindo would definitely be open, it is of course not going to be :-(

I have been to The Portland and done the tour and I don't feel 100% reassured by the facilities and care they have should something go wrong. But, I know lots of Mummies who have given birth there and they have had a brilliant experience. I'm a Lindo girl and I'm having a tricky pregnancy this time, which is making me think that I should stick to my gut feeling and opt for the temporary facility at St Mary's. I would probably feel more relaxed.

One thing though, I did go in for observation to the Lindo temp unit recently and it is noisy. Rather too noisy. Both in terms of other patients on the ward and the nurses' station which was somewhat off-putting, I don't think you would get much rest after birth and you might be ushered out hastily too.

I think if I was having a trouble free pregnancy and there were no problems envisaged I would opt for the Portland.......Just a thought. I don't think there's a huge difference in price, is there? There both extortionate?!
Good luck,
Peanuts