Anyone have experience of Lister in Stevenage?

[nightowlmostly]

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone has used the new MLU at Lister hospital in Stevenage? Or the regular labour ward, come to that. I always loved the idea of having a homebirth in the past, but am due my first next month and I think we have decided that using the new MLU is a good idea, for a few reasons. It is brand new, should be a bit more like a home from home than the main ward, and in all honesty I am a bit apprehensive about it all, not knowing how I'll cope with the pain etc.

So anyone with recent experience of this hospital, I would really appreciate any views on how it was, what the midwives are like and the facilities in general! Thank you!

I had DD at the Lister 6 weeks ago. Its a bit of a mixed bag to summarise though...

The new MLU and CLU are absolutely wonderful. I only saw the MLU briefly as I asked for an epi and went to the CLU, but all the rooms are huge, comfortable, really well decorated, they just look shiny and new and are as nice to be in as those kind of rooms can be. The staff there were amazing. I had my epi and then some really rather invasive internals without my DP being there and the mw who was with me was an absolute godsend. I had an emcs which I didn't even realise was an emergency as everyone was so calm and professional! I also had an absolutely lovely anaethetist who spent 10 minutes massaging my shoulders for me when the spinal gave me chronic neck ache

However the pre and post labour wards aren't up to the same standard . They haven't been revamped in ages so they are a bit '70s, and when I was there were incredibly busy. The mw's were still very friendly and helpful but I think they were struggling to cope, so unless you made a fuss then you generally got left on your own. But I'll admit I could be a bit biased as I had to spend 5 nights there as my DD was in SCBU (which, btw, was also brand new and the nurses were just amazing there) so I had some real cabin fever by the end. I found that the ward mw's weren't too good at dealing with the SCBU baby mums - they kept making me feel bad that I'd missed the drugs rounds by being downstairs with DD! - but obviously that's not normal circumstances so you shouldn't judge them on that.

Really, though, the MLU and CLU are so good, and everyone I know who gave birth there recently had a great birth in the units. Yes, there are things at the Lister that aren't great but the most important part of the maternity unit is good. If you've got no reason to expect to be in for days on end then go for it x

Thank you for your answer, it's good to hear from someone with such recent experience. I hope your DD is ok now, congratulations!

DD is really well now, thanks! I hope I haven't put you off?

Bella, we went to lister today for our tour, it freaked me out a bit tbh, but that's more to do with the fact that it made it all seem much more real to me!

I'm sure it'll be fine, the pregnancy is starting to get me down a bit, spd means I can't do much and I have 4 weeks to go yet! By the time my due date comes I'll just be desperate to get him out of me, I'm sure!

Oh, nightowl, hugs! These 4 weeks will fly by, really they will, and you'll soon have your little one with you. Just get plenty of rest and read some decent books