Kensington wing - Makrina Savvidou

[MariaGK]

Hi girls,
I would like to ask for your help.
I booked an appointment with Makrina Savvidou at Kensigton wing. Could you share your experience with her?
I’ve made the choice because I am expecting this baby so long and I don’t want to risk with NHS.
What I’m concerned is it the same practice as NHS to return patients home if they have contractions and broken waters but their cervix has not reached say 4cm.
Can they guarantee a room on my arrival? What is your experience?
Thank you for your support.

Hi, I have had two babies on the Kensington Wing, #2 is now five weeks old, consultant led with Keith Duncan though my first child was delivered by Vasso Terzidou as Keith was away (baby was two weeks early).

No they will not turn you away if you are not 4cm - you can be admitted as early as you want! If you are having private care at the KW, once you have paid your deposit you are booked in and guaranteed a room when you go into labour.

With #1 waters broke in bed a bit after midnight, went down to KW and they checked / monitored me and advised I go home until contractions started. They started at 6:30am same day, went back, was admitted and baby born just after 1pm. With #2 waters broke at 3:30am in bed, I went straight in as contractions started within ten minutes and baby born at 5:20am.

I had two natural deliveries with gas and air. They were both wonderful. Midwives were fantastic, and for #2 the consultant sadly had to get out of bed in the middle of the night to deliver me (v fast labour)! Food is pretty average but if you're that bothered there are plenty of nice restaurants that do takeaway on the Fulham Road .

If you have any more specific questions am happy to answer them!

Hi,

Thank you for your response. It is very helpful.

Could you please clarify what is their approach in the following cases:

*If it is my first baby and I’m having contractions but my waters have not broken. Would I be told to wait?

*Would I be told to come in only if my contractions are regular, strong or on certain intervals of time? What about if my waters are broken but I still have irregular contractions?

If the baby comes early how could they guarantee that there will be available room?

Would I be seen by the consultant immediately on my arrival?

Kind regards,
Maria

As far as I know, you can go in when you like once contractions start (whether or not waters broken), and if you want you can stay there from first twinge til the baby arrives. You're paying (one night is included in package for vaginal birth but additional nights are extra). If your waters break first they will want to see you soonish to monitor you. They might suggest you go home to wait for them to start (as they did to me with #1) , but if you want to stay on the wing while you wait then I wouldn't have thought they would have an issue with that - as I say you're paying. If labour hasn't started within 24 hrs of waters they will start thinking about induction.

Babies rarely come on time (my first was 2 weeks early, second 5 days late) - they take the right number of bookings on the wing to avoid running out of rooms. I guess it could happen but I haven't heard of it.

On consultant it depends on the time of day I would have thought. With my first, when my waters broke in the night I was assessed by midwives. My consultant was on holiday but I assume they will have alerted his cover. it was about half 8 in the morning when I came back in and I was immediately seen by the consultant who delivered me. She stayed in the room for my entire labour, though it was quick for a first baby. If you were in labour a long time with not much happening then I would have thought consultant would check in periodically, but check this with your consultant. For #2, I got to the hospital in the early hours and was monitored by midwives who contacted my consultant. The baby was born within an hour and my consultant arrived fresh from his bed about five/ten minutes before the head was delivered.

Birth is unpredictable but they do their best!

Midwives tend to send women home if they aren't dilated because being in a hospital setting can hinder dilation and labor!

The wing is quite big, there will always be a space. You will be assessed by midwives on arrival and they will advise you what's best whether it's go home (but they won't force you, just advise you), go for a walk (say if it's in daytime, it's quite nice to go for a stroll around there - this is what I did being induced with my first). They will alert your consultant, and if she is around she'll usually come up when she can, but your consultant is there to deliver the baby so generally she will come when you are reaching the pushing stage, and is otherwise on hand for advice, but not for comfort/monitoring in labour (the midwives do that).
I don't know your consultant but some have better records than others at actually turning up to their patients. Ask her how many of her patients are delivered by colleagues on a cover rota.

Hi Maria GK, I don't really have a lot of answers to your questions as I am having an ELCS. However I just wanted to say that Dr Savidoo is my consultant and the C&W. I'm currently 34+4.

I like her a lot, what I like about her is that she is quite cautious, she has sent me for several growth scans as the baby is measuring slightly small when the midwives say all is fine. I like a consultant who errs on the side of caution, personally. She has booked me in for my ELCS on a date that she is free so I don't actually know what would happen if I went early and she wasn't around.
But I certainly feel safe in her hands and confident in her.

I have Mina Savvidou for my 2nd at the Kensington Wing. My first was with another Doctor whom I would LOVE to forget.

Mina is really gentle, very kind and sympathetic. I'm not so keen about her secretary (who doesn't seem too helpful) but Mina herself is a wonderful doctor so far.

I'm scheduled for the 22nd and I'm hoping for room #7.

Has anyone had care under Dr. Savvidou at the Portland hospital?