Lister Stevenage new birthing centere

[babynelly2010]

Did anyone have a baby in there after the new unit opened?
What was your experience like?
There are only 3 units with pool, is it hard to get a water birth in there? Also do they let you stay in the same room until you leave or do they transfer you onto the ward after the baby is born? Can your partner stay with you at all time or are there visiting hours?

I didn't get that far (sadly had a MMC recently at 12 weeks) but I was rather underwhelmed with the Lister (having had my previous 2 Dcs at another hospital). They seemed a bit stretched with times and resources. I couldn't have my booking in appointment until 12 weeks or my 12 week scan until 16 weeks because there weren't any slots available. I organised a private scan instead. If it was all down to the Lister I would still not know that I had miscarried.

I'm booked in there (baby due in next few weeks). Went on the hospital tour the other week and I was really impressed. They have 2 birthing pools in the midwife led unit and also 1 in the consultant led unit. The one in the CLU is hardly ever used and that can be used if the 2 in the MLU aren't free (in which case a midwife comes with you and stays with you). They said that it's very rare that someone can't use a pool if they want to.

As far as I remember, on the MLU you can stay in the room you give birth in for up to 24hrs afterwards. Presumably that's as long as they aren't too busy but I can't remember exactly what they said xx

Oh, and there are visiting hours on the post natal ward but your partner can stay all the time on the MLU if you stay in there xx

I am sorry MrsJohndeere. MC is very difficult, I cant believe Lister could not do nuchal scan for you,that is so important. How many weeks were you when you got registered with them?

wkmmum thank you for your response and congratulations. If you ever get chance after the LO comes could you give a review in this post. I really would like to know about Lister and if it will be good for my and my husband.

I was 6 weeks when I registered with them. They said something along the lines of 'there's been a bit of a baby boom lately, we only have a certain number of appointments and we can't magic them out of nowhere'. The mw at my booking in appointment was lovely, the problems I faced seemed to lie with the admin staff.

oh I see, that is terrible... 6 weeks is very early... So sorry for you. I had early MC and it was not an easy experience I imagine it was even harder for you... Did Lister help after you found out or did you end up going somewhere else?
I am not sure about Lister now than... but I wish you a speedy recovery and quick BFP afterwards :)

I didn't even involve Lister once I'd found out. I was advised that my health insurance would cover an ERPC and I could have it done at the same place As the scan (Harpenden) straight away, so just went for it. It was actually done by the same doctor who did the scan.

I had my son at the lister mlu in march. Phoned when labour started and said I'd like to use a pool and then called a few hours later to say I was going in. Went straight to delivery room with a pool on arrival. The room was very clean, comfortable, spacious etc. Midwives who looked after me were excellent. Early on there was a fairly experienced student midwife in the room all the time and the proper midwife came in every 15 mins then stayed with us last few hours.
I had a complicated delivery in the end so spent a week in ward with baby in scbu, which was a far less pleasant experience but guessing it would be anywhere. I think if things go well your partner can stay with you in delivery room in mlu until discharge though. They have reclining chairs for them to sleep on. As others have said well worth taking a tour beforehand and you can ask plenty questions.
Have to agree with other posters that their admin is shocking though. I had scan appointments moved, notes go missing and no visit from community midwife after discharge as they'd failed to pass on my details. As I said before though, when it comes to quality of care received I couldn't fault them. The midwives who delivered my son visited me on ward and him in scbu at the start or end if their shifts every day to see how we were. They really seemed to care.
Good luck with your new arrival. Hope it all goes well.

Hello, are there more current reviews on Lister?
I am now pregnant again, last pregnancy ended up in early MC. I am between Lister or going back to Whittington where I had my first. I am exactly in the middle for both hospitals distance wise.
Any experiences with water births in Lister?