The Homerton - is it rubbish?

[GhostofChristmasNatt]

Feeling a bit dispirited, they lose bloodtests, it looks grim, the one midwife I met seemed mad and it doesn't seem possible to view the labour ward...

Natt, just to say King's lost so many blood tests of mine (I distinctly appear to remember being finally tested in labour - eh?) that it was very disconcerting indeed for a die hard Buffy fan.

I had DD and DS at homerton (3 years apart) and had an okay experience. I never did meet the same midwife for any appt and they did manage to lose one set of blood tests causing me to have another blood test even though I am terrified of needles.

There are some really lovely midwives there and I had good stay. But I was glad to be home after 3 days there.

My mum's a midwife there!

she can be a bit scary i think but i dont think she is to labouring women . in fact i think shes a bit of a modern day heroine-of the-patients-type (albiet with tatoos and stuff, but maybe you cant see then when shes in uniform ).
I think shes bloody annoying at times, but thats coz shes my mum, and honestly, i think if you end up with her delivering you, you'll be right as rain; shes a no-nonsense, stick up for you sort of midwife and will make sure you have the best experience possible.
she is gonna be at my home birth next month, so i know that whatever the local midwives are like (ive moved out of london now) she'll make sure things happen the way i want them.

I'm dubious about hospital birth at all, unless theres some problem or other, but i wish you the best of luck and advise that you take a good birth partner_ to be vocal and pushy about making sure you are taken care of, just to be sure... Lanismum's experience is unforgivable!!!

I have had two very good birth experiences at the Homerton, but have heard some dodgy stories as well, although none as bad as lanismum's.

I was induced first time round due to cholestasis and although this wasn't a pleasant experience, it was no fault of the midwives or nurses. Second time round was an elective CS for my id twins and although we were kept waiting most of the day, it was ultimately a very good experience and the theatre staff couldn't have been kinder or more helpful.

They are obviously rushed off their feet on the ward, but if you keep buzzing eventually they'll come to you. I think I was lucky that my twins weren't my first babies, otherwise I might have felt that they didn't give me enough help, but as it was, they came when I called (they'd given me a side room) and were as helpful as they could be, although their twin experience was a bit lacking!

Antenatal care can be a bit hit and miss, but both times I have ended up seeing consultants rather than midwives so can't comment much, except to say that whoever you're seeing, be prepared for a long wait!!

Oh and the food is awful (probably like most hospitals) so get your OH to bring you lots of supplies. I thought visiting time was ok - 8am to 1pm for partners, then 3pm to 8.30 for everyone else...partners can stay till 9.30, but mine was never thrown out. Our first child was born at about 9 o'clock, and by the time we were settled back on the ward and had stared at her in wonderment for a while, he didn't leave till about 3.30am!!

Sorry, I've rambled, but hope to have helped a bit.

arabica- this was in march this year

GoN i think we must be neighbours! we're half way up queensbridge rd (dp also claims to live in haggerston to wind me up... i say it's london fields). ooooh, exciting.

anyway, i had dd at the homerton earlier this year, having had ds at st mary's 4 years ago. i was very pleased with the homerton. spent an unecessary amount of time there as i have diabetes which means high risk pregnancies. all the midwives who looked after me when i was in labour (went through 4 shifts of them....) were fantastic, especially the one who actually delivered dd. the care was fantastic, really couldn't fault it. i think i had more continuity in my antenatal care as i attended the same clinic throughout. i thought the scanners were particularly nice.

i found the homerton a nicer environment to give birth in than st mary's, more up to date. though i had good care there too. there's a lot to be said for going somewhere local, especially if you're taking your children along to antenatal appointments.

postnatal was crap, but i think that's true everywhere in london. just discharge yourself asap. the midwives who did the home visits afterwards were lovely too, & i only saw 2, they just kept checking up on us.

all in all, a positive experience. good luck!

hoxmaschick-, i live in london fieds! grew up in hoxton, small world

hi lanismum

GhostofChristmasNatt - I've sent you a CAT message .

so have i!

had ds1 there and ds2 at home supported by midwives from there.This was a few years ago but they were (and still are?) very highly regarded in the field of premature care and perinatal complications. My mum worked with many of the consultants as she sold specialist incubators. She was definitely of the opinion that the Homerton was the place to be if something goes wrong (though of course you'll sail through I'm sure ).

First day off work for Christmas and not managed to catch up with this, Very grateful for and touched by replies and will read them all when boys stop rioting...

I'm in london fields too...although moving to N14 in the new year - just off malvern. Will be hitting broadway market tomorrow for final xmas goodies.

i'll look out for you tracy! we have a bright orange 3 wheeler - pretty unmissable...

We just get in everyone's way! One double buggy, a toddler on a trike and a miniature yorkshire terrier getting under everyone's feet as he tries to get at the burgers!