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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Has anybody given birth recently at the QE in King's Lynn. Or the N&N? I need to choose.

15 replies

CilantroLarry · 22/02/2011 15:21

I had a traumatic delivery nearly 4 years ago at the N&N. The post op care and postnatal ward caused a lot of my subsequent PTSD.

I am 3 months pregnant with dc2 and I've chosen to go back to the N&N solely because the obstetric consultant who did my debrief is bloody excellent and has offered to be my named consultant. He's the reason I decided to try for dc2. He understands me and what I want/need.

But because I've moved and I'm nearer the QE now my notes are all from there though this won't be a problem. The difference though is amazing. There are questions in there and sections for me to fill in about traumatic experiences in the past. The visiting hours are listed and they're excellent. At the N&N it was a couple of hours at a time and even then dh struggled to be let in.

I ruled out the QE originally as I was a birth partner there 11yrs ago and it was dire but I believe it has turned itself around. Won awards even.

I just don't know now. The care seems better, the visiting hours are better (I really needed dh post emcs and I was left alone at 2am with no buzzer and nobody checking on me all night).

But I trust this consultant and he's based at the N&N.

What to do?

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Original poster

CilantroLarry · 22/02/2011 15:23

The QE also had a dedicated birth trauma psychologist who yes I can see even if I'm under the N&N but it's just another way in which they seem better tuned in to the patients' previous experiences.

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5GoMadOnAZ650 · 22/02/2011 15:30

I had all 4 of mine at the QE in 2001, 2005, 2007,2008. When I had dd4 it had just had a major revamp of the labour ward. The mw's have been mainly very good.

Original poster

CilantroLarry · 22/02/2011 15:33

Postnatal care okay? Food? Staffing? Checks?

Are you 4andnotout?

I don't know how to decide between an excellent consultant and what seems to be a better level of general care.

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bamboobutton · 22/02/2011 15:39

i had an elcs at NN 8 months ago.

i can't really remember much except that the post natal ward was hotter than hell.

visiting hours were still restricted to a couple of times a day but i was actually glad dh wasn't hanging around all day as he gets bored and plays with his phone which pisses me off no end.

all the staff were very nice apart from one mardy grab and shove midwife when i had trouble getting dd to latch.

5GoMadOnAZ650 · 22/02/2011 15:47

Yes I was 4andnotout :)

The food is ok, no better no worse than any other hospital I've been to, they could always do with more midwives on duty IMO as I couldn't have a waterbirth with dd1 as there just wasn't enough staff. The aftercare is fine, admittedly I was out within about 12 hours.

Original poster

CilantroLarry · 22/02/2011 15:49

Congratulations bamboo. Yes it was hotter than hell! Think that's true of most wards though in most hospitals.

I needed dh there. I was very traumatised and had been left alone with nobody checking on me for 11 hours. They let him in for an hour in the morning then asked him to leave again and return at 7pm. I just wanted somebody to talk to. They needed the bed though as it was and discharged me.

But the consultant is brilliant. Oh gawd. Can't I have it in a forest somewhere at midnight? Sneeze it out?

OP posts:

5GoMadOnAZ650 · 22/02/2011 15:49

The visiting hours are very good if you have a partner as they can visit from 8-8, as I was a single parent first time round my parents visits were restricted to an hour in the afternoon and an hour in the evening.

Original poster

CilantroLarry · 22/02/2011 15:49

Aha, I thought so 5GoMad. You 'know' me under my normal name. Am incognito as nobody knows I'm pregnant.

OP posts:

5GoMadOnAZ650 · 22/02/2011 15:53

Awww! Did you come to a certain meeting place with your dc1?

Original poster

CilantroLarry · 22/02/2011 15:54

Nope.

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Original poster

CilantroLarry · 22/02/2011 15:55

I can't explain who I am without explaining who I am...

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5GoMadOnAZ650 · 22/02/2011 16:13

Ok, somdomi know you in RL or just from here? Just so I don't spend the entire day racking my brains!

Original poster

CilantroLarry · 22/02/2011 16:30

No on here. Hence the 'know' me. Was just trying to reassure you that the fact I know your previous name isn't horribly stalkerish and I'm not hiding but just pregnant and haven't told anybody and we've talked on here quite a bit. I live in Swaffham (used to live in Norwich). Have family that live in Harpley. We've just chatted before...

OP posts:

5GoMadOnAZ650 · 22/02/2011 16:38

Oh yes I get you :) well congratulations on dc2 :)

I was just thinking back to when my aunt had her Ds in nn I was really impressed with how modern it all was but now I think the QE is just as up to date, there was one mw there who is absolutely fantastic, she was there when I was labour with dd1 but missed out on her actual birth but 3.5 years later delivered dd2, she recognised me as soon as I walked onto the ward which I was so shocked about, she also remembered that I'd missed out on a waterbirth with dd1 so I got one with dd2. It was a really personal service as though I wasn't just another patient iyswim?

AnnabellaFagina · 22/02/2011 16:40

I had a crash section at the n&n 2 years ago and I can't praise them enough. They save my life. I was in for 5 days so was in a side room and got my.buzzer answered.when ever I rang.it but that might have been because I had been so ill. Dh stayed all day and even stayed a couple of nights on a special put me up bed they put in my room. Still got pnd and ptsd from the run up to birth though

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