Lewisham hospital anyone?

[mssleepyhead]

I'm currently receiving antenatal care at Lewisham hospital and have so far been pleased with the care I've had, at the EPU, regular appointments and on the labour ward for a check up. I'm hoping to use the much-praised MLU but am aware I might need to go up to the hospital if things don't go to plan. But I've just heard from another mumsnetter that in the last 6 months things have gone very badly wrong on the labour ward, with all the good midwives leaving when the hospital nearly closed. She's advised I find another hospital. I don't feel like I have a lot of choice where I live (a friend had a very bad experience at another local hospital) so it's left me a bit concerned. Has anyone else given birth there in the last few months and would you be able to share your experiences?

I had 1st baby there 6 years ago. I chose King's for my second baby for various reasons.
Could you transfer to Kings?Where do you live?
I changes halfway through my pregnancy and it was very straightforward and King's were excellent.
A friend of mine delivered at the birth centre in lewisham recently and received excellent care. She didn't have to use the hideous post natal ward though!

I'm due to have my first baby at Lewisham very soon. We did ask about Kings originally but were told that it wasn't an option.

I've only seen the women's health centre where I've had all my appointments so haven't actually seen the labour ward. Is it really that bad?

mssleepy when i booked in for August back in January, I was told that King's was full for my dates and offered Lewisham or Tommies.

I can't go to Kings anyway, not quite in their catchment areas. It's Lewisham or Woolwich for me. Hideous post-natal ward does not sound good... How quickly can you get home after giving birth? Do I need to stay?

Euro - are you going to Tommies?

If you have a straightforward delivery (and no epidural) you may be discharged as quickly as 6 hours after the delivery. Which would mean no trip to the post natal ward.
I have to say that the staff on the labour ward at lewisham were very good,just the post natal bit.
Having said that,if you know in advance that it isn't great then it won't be so bad if you know what I mean.

It's coming up to 3 years since I has DS2 at lewisham in the birth unit, the whole experience was amazing, I felt euphoric and actually wanted to repeat the experience again.
The midwives very friendly and helpful, the room felt like a hotel and I had a water birth that I had requested. I went in at 2.30 am, had baby at 7.30 and was home before lunchtime!! Didn't go onto a ward and in fact only saw 2 people ( both midwives).
I have had to spend time on the wards on 2 occasions and my FIL has been treated for cancer and a broken hip there and although not perfect on the whole the staff are very caring and generally amazing.

Depends on where you live whether you get Kings- have heard that it's very oversubscribed.

If you live in Lewisham itself it's very likely that you won't be accepted at Kings at all- I think they have got very strict whereas a few years ago you could choose them for ante natal care & birth.

A bit late to this but if your options are lewisham or Queen Elizabeth I would take Lewisham. I think all post natal wards are awful. Lewisham labour ward seems fine although I have only been for an ECV and scan there but the doctors were lovely as were the midwives. I am hoping to have a home birth and the community midwives are lovely too.

My recent experience of Lewisham was fine overall, and i actually had a very good experience with lovely staff on the postnatal, both during the initial stay and on readmission. Know more other mums round here who've had good experiences than bad, including other recent births, so touch wood you'll be fine. Good luck!

I had DD at Lewisham 2 years ago and the care I had was fantastic - I could not have asked for better. If intended to go to the MLU but ended up on labour ward due to meconium in my waters. DC2 is due in a few weeks and I didn't even think twice about going back to lewisham. I've had a few complications in this pregnancy so spent a fair bit of time in the EPAU. Also ended up on labour ward for monitoring last weekend and again was looked after brilliantly. I thought the post- natal ward was ok but then I managed to get a private room which I think made a difference! Why not ask for a tour of the ward and to meet some of the midwives if you haven't already?

I had my son at the MLU, and it was incredible. He was transferred to nicu (required extra oxygen), and I spent a few days in the maternity ward. I was given a private room, and could come and go as I wanted. There's definitely stuff that could be improved about that maternity ward, but nothing that should put you off from the MLU.

All of my NCT group has their babies there too, and six had theirs in the delivery suite. All had reasonable births (variety of reasons why they weren't MLU) and healthy babies and were discharged quickly. I think I had the longest stay... I'd happily go there again.

I have had 2 babies there, 3yrs + 15 months ago. EMCS following induction, then ELCS. Both times I was on the post natal ward for a few days. It was fine. I was very pleased with the care I received. The midwives on the labour ward are great - so supportive. And on the post natal ward, well, they're nice just horribly busy. If you ask for help they are there though. No post natal ward is going to be fun I don't think - no one is going to fuss over you. But at Lewisham I always felt safe and cared for, which is what I felt was most important.