SE London hospitals - Lewisham v QE Woolwich

[Diggerpom]

Hi,
I am 24 weeks pregnant and starting to think about the reality of giving birth...eeek! I am based in Greenwich and have been under the community midwives at Greenwich (and QE) so far but based on what i have read on the internet (here and elsewhere), and my experiences at the hospital I am just not sure I feel comfortable giving birth there and was wondering what others experiences were?

I think Lewisham would be a viable alternative (and easy to get to), and have heard good things about the midwife lead unit there - would people reccommend?

Finally, because i am still pretty scared of the whole thing I am thinking about looking at a doula - have i left it too late, and would a doula be as helpful in a midwife unit??

Thanks so much in advance for sharing with me.

Lewisham.

Not that I've tried Lewisham, but I've done QEH and never, ever again. Aside from the mistakes that were made (which could probably happen anywhere) that caused me short and long term problems, the place itself is just dire. Mainly because it is so under-resourced, this is after all the trust that went bankrupt.

There are some lovely midwives and healthcare workers there but when they're looking after so many women, they're never going to be able to give as good care as they should do. I really felt for them. Especially as many of their colleagues were so indifferent.

Would have been nice to have had, ooh, a pillow in my postnatal bed. Or the sheets changed in three days. Or something besides the dried cranberries in my hospital bag after I'd given birth over the mealtime as "the toaster is not working and the kitchen is closed, wait for breakfast now." It was only 9pm. And being left legs apart, nothing covering that end immediately post birth for over half an hour (while they looked for someone to fix my stitches) with the door wide open and people gawping in. Some paracetamol within two hours (or indeed any pain relief) would have been nice too given I was begging for it and kept being promised it and they kept forgetting.

That was 2006. I've since delivered at different hospitals (Kings College - better, but still not great, although the medical care was fab, and Chelsea and Westminster - amazing all round considering it's NHS!) It was our local A&E until last year so going by my visits up there for that, I don't think things have improved much.

I have, however, heard a lot more positive stories about Lewisham. Especially the birthing unit.

No advice on the doula, although I wish I had had one myself. I don't think it is too late to get one, not at all.

The birth centre at Lewisham is amazing, I was extremely well looked after there and would go again in an instant.

The antenatal and postnatal care (if you need to go to the ward) were mixed. Some lovely midwives but the majority were overstretched and lacking in empathy and in some cases knowledge of breastfeeding.

I've heard mixed reviews of the labour ward though some people have great support and it is being refurbished to offer a more similar environment to the birth centre, especially for low risk women who for example just feel safer there or want an epidural (g&a, pethidine and water are your choices in the birth centre).

Would the Barkentine birth centre in the Isle of Dogs be accessible for you?

Oh and we looked at doulas around that time and several were available. We didn't click though.