ELCS at Queen Elizabeth, Woolwich?

[HugosGoatee]

I'm under South London Trust, was supposed to be birthing at Princess Royal but have just been told by the midwives that it will now be at Woolwich - apparently all their planned CS's are done there now and PRUH only do emergency CS's.

Anyone with experience of QE in Woolwich? Particularly interested in post-natal care - I'll be in for 3-4 nights I guess for a CS. Is it possible to pay for a private room, or am I being a diva, is the post-natal ward ok?

PRUH is really nice, and close, so bit I have to go somewhere else. Not relevant but my situation for having ELCS is for having a funny-shaped uterus (finally diagnosed properly today at 36+6 ) and baby is breech probably because of it, I can't have an ECV and he's unlikely to turn now.

I had an EmCS at QEH last year. It was fine. Nothing remarkable. Nothing horrific. Showers were a bit rubbish - that was worst bit for me; but I would say there was only one shift of staff I didnt think much of and that was on my last day so I didn't care. The rest of the staff were lovely, if stretched. Showed me how to bath my baby, put my mind totally at ease when I was over emotional & I panicked about her dehydrating (was 35C when she was born - and she wasn't dehydrated), were kind when I stuffed up my first nappy change, were courteous (but functional) over bed bath etc. They don't encourage co-sleeping. They're absolute about visiting hours.

You'll probably be in a bay of 4 other c-section mums - which is nice as you can compare notes. After the first 24hrs night, you can request a private room although as a first time mum I found being with other mums much better for me (although having lights basically on all night in the wards was a bit annoying).

Get your DP to bring you in a nice bowl of fruit, bottles of juice and maybe salad from M&S as the food is a bit (a lot?!) stodgy and bland.

Breast feeding support is good but you have to make sure you ask for italthough; if you intend to bottle feed, you're better off taking in pre sterilised bottles as the milk kitchen can be a walk if your wound is painful.

Parking costs the earth & is scarce during the week, so if you can get a Friday section, then your visitors will be able to park better over the weekend.

As with all NHS they're very busy so if you need something (eg I spotted my catheter bag needed emptying before they did), you need to be kindly assertive and not arsey nor whingey. They are supportive but expect you to make an effort. One woman in our bay wanted them to do everything for her & you could see them getting most frustrated (as were us three other mums with her).

Avoid a Weds or Thurs c-section as you'll get released at the weekend when there's only one paediatrician to sign you out and obviously they're more focused on critical cases so you'll have to wait. Only way to guarantee early release is either to go against advice or to have a private midwife.

Hope that helps. X

Thank you, that's really useful! Ward with just a few other C-sec ladies doesn't sound bad, think I've read too many horror stories about post-natal care on MN and have freaked myself out. I do like my privacy but it might be nice to have other new mums close too I want to breastfeed, hoping it'll work ok after CS. Thanks for the tips about which day too, although basically asap is what I'm currently going for! x

The 4 bay wards are a lot nicer if the other ladies you're with don't insist on the curtains being pulled ALL the time. It can be a bit depressing if they do for all four days if you don't have a window bed. My lot were quite nice. If your little one starts crying whilst you're at the loo, you can be fairly sure one of the other mums will rock his/her cradle til you get back. Oh and everyone thinks their baby is noisier than the rest of the babies at night.

Yup - is easy to scare yourself with bad stories. Tis true that it's not 100% fantastic but they do work hard there and if you're as switched on as you sound, at worse any hassle will only be a minor inconvenience.

Oh - it's hard to get hold of a cup of tea outside of mealtimes unless you can make it down to the cafe at the bottom of the stairs - I felt too sore to try, but then it was too hot for tea when I was there.

All in all, the four days in hospital were actually quite good for me. I could just concentrate on getting to know my little one and establishing breast feeding. Had I been at home then I'd've been trying to be supermum and running myself into the ground.

Thank you so much! This is so useful. Can I grill you some more please?

Do you have the choice to pay there and then for a private room if you do want one?

What are visiting hours like for partners?

How far is walk to showers and loos?

How horrible is it being catheterised?! [boak]

Is baby there right next to you - did you feel physically able to pick him up to feed or cuddle, or will they pass him to you?

Thank you! X

No worries! Knowledge is power!

Private rooms: first come first served. I think they were about £45 when we were there. You have to stay on the ward for your first night (follows some directive issued after the Portland stuffed up a few years ago where they forgot to put the emergency call within reach of the mother overnight and she bled a lot & couldn't call anyone - on the ward at least you can call another mum!)

Catheterisation - I was terrified by the idea of this but had it done three times to me in labour and I don't think I noticed. Yours will probably go in when you're on the table and numbed anyway. Removal was fine too. Very quick. You stay on it for about 24hrs.

Loos are just across the corridor. I recommend having flip flops or no slip slippers - but not the big fluffy things that might soak up water in case your nearest loo is in a shower room and the floor is wet. I took some Dettol wipes for the loo to as some mums couldn't aim & didn't clean up after themselves. It does feel like a slow achy hobble first time you get up so leave for the toilet before you definitely need it!!!

The baby's bassinet is put next to your bed. Twisting to pick them up can ache a bit (especially if you have a drip on one side & catheter on the other!) just take it easy. I found one side easier than the other. You generally do all the baby handling. Take an easy reach small changing pack for changing little one before you're allowed out of bed (eg at night) Hoofing around a big changing bag or getting stuff out of the cupboard is a bit of a pfaff if you're sore. Get DP/DH to recharge it before he leaves.

Visiting hours are very reasonable. Other Half is allowed in morning and longer in the evening. Get him to fill your water jug in the day room before he leaves! Everyone else has a generous afternoon slot. Only kids allowed are yours. After lunch until visiting time is quiet time on the wards and lovely to catch 40winks. TV cards are pricey. 3G Skype seems to work in the wards if you have a lap top & dongle. Phones are asked to be on silent/vibrate. Annoying woman opposite me (the one that annoyed the staff mentioned above) refused to do that and was getting texts at all hours of the night & insisted on shouting on the phone for all her conversations .

One thing I am still miffed about is that I wasn't given my little one whilst I was on recovery. Poor DH was left totally on his own with her for three hours back in the delivery suite. I think the lady next to me in recovery had hers and was feeding... it didn't seem to matter in the long run and to be honest I enjoyed the final chance for a kip having been awake for two days! DH did a fab job and DD was fine breast feeding. I'm thinking their lack of information etc was something to do with it being lunch time and us not being assertive enough/asking the right questions. Much like them telling me not to push whilst in labour coincidentally when shift change over was happening... Or am I cynical???

Old nighties/pjs are good as boobs leak and your wound may seep a bit. I got through two sets a day at first. Incontinence knickers are more comfie than maternity knickers. Thereafter old cotton granny basher style knickers worn back to front are my top tip to keep your wound healthy and rub free. You need your own maternity pads (20-40 depending how things are) If you need extra dressings on your wound at home then maternity pads work there too!