I am due to give birth in March, booked into St Thomas's and curious to know how it is in reality there! Its my second baby but first experience of St Thomas's. I am hoping to use the Home from Home unit and avoid interventions if they are not necessary. I managed without an epidural last time so feeling reasonably confident I can do so again as long as the birth is reasonably straightforward and I am not induced.
Many of the threads seem to be quite old regarding St Thomas's birth experiences and I am hoping to hear about more recent experiences. Are the staffing levels good - I had read that sometimes when there is a shortage of midwives the Home from Home unit is closed? Also, I wondered how quick they are to find a problem and transfer you out of the Home from Home into the Birth Centre/Labour ward? Once you are in the Birth Centre/labour ward can you still make use of birthing balls and move around or are you likely to be confined to the bed? How easy is it to get a pool room if you want a water birth and is this only allowed in the Home from Home or is it possible in the Birth Centre too?
I wondered how quick they are to recommend interventions or are they reasonably supportive and helpful in a natural birth? I am an older mum so particularly concerned that they will want to intervene unnecessarily.
And finally what is the aftercare like if you have to stay for a night or two?
Many thanks for any feedback!