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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Lewisham post-natal ward

15 replies

quesadillas · 26/04/2015 14:42

Hi,

Anybody given birth at Lewisham lately? I had my first there and booked in there again. It'll be about three years between births, and all I remember from last time is the post-natal ward being horrendous. I'll probably have a long-ish stay (definitely no same day release!) so was hoping to get a private room. Anyone know their policy? Last time they were reserved for complex cases e.g twins, extra medical need, and I'll definitely be a complex case this time. I know I could ask, but no consultant appointment for a few weeks, and he's only really interested in the medical stuff, and I have no midwife. For some reason it's stressing me out today!

OP posts:
morethanpotatoprints · 26/04/2015 17:24

Bumping, hoping somebody from lewisham is about.

splodge77 · 27/04/2015 22:22

Following yr post as interested to know too. I had hard time on postnatal there 4 years ago - about to have my 2nd any day now. Hoping not to be in as long as last time but I'll let you know re private rooms if I find out!

Original poster
quesadillas · 29/04/2015 13:21

Clearly there's nobody here been to Lewisham lately! Or maybe they all got to go in the birth centre. Wish I could, it's lovely in there.

OP posts:
qumquat · 04/05/2015 00:41

I was in there 16 months ago. I was turned away from the birth centre for no good reason so was especially bitter to be on the post natal ward! I found the breast feeding help poor and I spent most of the night in tears as dd wouldn't latch on. Also hated the fact there were no chairs in the main area so Nowhere comfortable to escape to to stop me and my baby's sobs waking my room mates. The showers also nuclear hot - make sure you shower in your birth room! I was beyond desperate to get out of there but talking to other people it seems post natal wards are all pretty dire.

SummerDreams13 · 04/05/2015 04:49

I was there in October - not the best experience tbh. Nothing too dire and it was my first so pp may well be right in saying none of them are great but, in short:

  • no room in cubicle for anything meaning DH squished up against window in v uncomfortable chair and me finding it v difficult to get up and round bed to pick up baby
  • uncomfortably hot
  • unclean toilet / shower area (blood on floor)
  • nobody checking on you (had to keep calling for advice etc and felt I was inconveniencing them)
  • bloody difficult to get discharged; as a result of all of this I was determined to get out ASAP despite the catheter etc, then it transpired they'd lost the results of the heel prick test they'd insisted on waking my 2 hour old baby to do Hmm took another 4 hours to do test and get results but I still left at 7pm rather than stay a night.

Like I say, more experienced mums might think all this was normal - I just found the experience overwhelming, particularly after the loveliness of the labour ward! HTH Smile

Original poster
quesadillas · 04/05/2015 08:10

Sounds like not much has changed since I was there! I remember squished cubicles, awful showers and waiting an absolute age to be discharged. At least I'm aware this time.

As I said in my original post, I might be seen as a priority for my own room, but probably not top priority. Keeping fingers crossed for that!

OP posts:
SummerDreams13 · 04/05/2015 08:18

Good luck - would otherwise recommend taking a mini fan and ear plugs!

violetbean · 04/05/2015 08:26

I had my own room as was a complex case and the room itself was lovely but they took forever to respond to calls. There were other issues especially re breastfeeding support but I put in a complaint and received a letter back saying things have been improved since then (17 months ago).

splodge77 · 04/05/2015 17:42

Oh I do hope it's a bit better than my last stay 4 years ago. Staff just so busy they seemed to have no time or inclination to be caring & I was an emotional mess after DS born & he was poorly for a week. Am currently a week overdue with number 2. Determined to get out ASAP this time!

splodge77 · 07/05/2015 17:32

If anyone is still reading this thread, just to report that I had DS2 last night in labour ward at Lewisham and spent the night and all today on postnatal. Just been discharged. I find it much improved here. Everyone has been v kind and helpful, we got a private room which was ace and all in all it has been a very positive experience. They now allow partners to stay overnight which is a big positive change!

piglet81 · 07/05/2015 18:46

Thanks for posting, splodge - I'm not the OP but am expecting my baby any day now so it's great to hear Lewisham has improved (had heard some bad reports!)

Congrats on your new arrival Smile

Original poster
quesadillas · 07/05/2015 19:18

Excellent news! Glad to hear things have improved.

Many congratulations on your new arrival!

OP posts:
hurryupandgetout · 12/05/2015 09:43

I got discharged from there yesterday afternoon and I really didn't find it that bad.

I had to stay for 2 nights due to an emergency cs due to pre eclampsia and the first night there was an awful woman in the cubicle next to me who was noisy all night. I complained to the mw when she came to check on me and she told her to turn the tv off and dim the lights so we eventually got some sleep. Second night there was only one other couple and it was lovely and quiet. Staff were supportive and responsive and i got discharged easily and quickly.

I found support with feeding to be good, we had difficulties and a mw took the time in the middle of the night to give advice and she noticed the baby has tongue tie. She gave us some tips, and we decided to mix feed which she helped us get to grips with. She made a referral for us to our Dr to get it treated and we attended a bf workshop. When we tried bf each time we asked someone to come and observe (upon their recommendation) to try out some tips for tongue tied babies. I'm not sure what else they could have done.

I had a very unexpected experience at lewisham - was booked in to birth centre after a low risk pregnancy which quickly became high risk at a routine appointment which ended in emcs later that day, but I honestly couldn't fault any of the staff at lewisham.

Good luck op x

qumquat · 13/05/2015 20:49

That sounds fantastic hurryup and couldn't be more different to my experience. Glad to hear things have improved. I too felt the staff were too busy to help me and I had to camp out at the desk to get discharged at 7pm (no way in hell I was staying another night!). Tongue tie wasn't diagnosed till dd was six weeks. Congratulations to those with new arrivals!!

piglet81 · 14/05/2015 08:55

So, I had my baby at Lewisham this week - weirdly it sounds like the circumstances were very similar to hurryupandgetout (pre-eclampsia, not even suspected until arriving at the birth centre, which led to induction and emcs). Anyway, we were on the postnatal ward for two nights/three days and I thought it was great. Very kind, helpful staff (eg they spent a lot of time helping me get breastfeeding started - weirdly they never mentioned that there was a bf workshop, though!). Not sure of the protocol re the private rooms - we had one our second night simply because it became available. Like any ward I guess it's pretty hit and miss as to who your roommates might be... Anyway, I'd recommend it!

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