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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

St Peters Chertsey vs Royal Surrey Guildford

11 replies

TambosMambos · 26/05/2007 14:59

I've been asked to choose the hospital for the delivery of my second child (first was an emergency c-section at St Georges where we had super care throughout the labour and surgery, the surgeon took the time out to explain that there is no reason for me not to have a vaginal delivery next time, cord was round my sons neck twice! So I'm hoping for VBAC) between St Peters Chertsey and Royal Surrey in Guildford.
We're new to the area - any recommendations or horror stories?

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CarGirl · 26/05/2007 15:03

I live locally and have had all four at St Peters - the deilvery ward etc is fantastic, the after care on Joan booker not great. I have friends who used Royal Surrey and they were not impressed with it. One has gone on to use the hospital at Farnborough and thought it was fantastic in comparison (didn't want to go home!)

Original poster

TambosMambos · 26/05/2007 15:08

4 Wow! Thats a great recommendation. I've heard that there has been large investment at St Peters recently and they have 'homefromhome' delivery rooms...

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CarGirl · 26/05/2007 15:13

yes the home from home rooms do look lovely - never got to use one as I've always been induced. They also have a 4 bedded ward for inductions, waiting for planned section etc so you don't have to be on the postnatal ward (that was grim when it didn't exist). They've got one huge bath for water birth. Go on a tour and see what you think.

So much depends on how busy they are at the time and which midwives you get etc

Original poster

TambosMambos · 26/05/2007 15:19

Exactly, I've had friends who didn't think St Georges was great as they were there at busy times or didn't like the individual widwives. I think I will go for St Peters, see how the pre-natal widwife care is and go on a tour nearer the time. Thanks for the recommendation!

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CarGirl · 26/05/2007 15:22

I also booked for homebirths without a problem just never went into labour to have one! Biggest pain at both hospitals is the lack of parking but there are places for you to get dropped off at outside maternity if needed!

Original poster

TambosMambos · 26/05/2007 15:27

I don't think a homebirth will be an option for me with the VBAC thing....shame but I'm not going to worry about it

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wishingchair · 26/05/2007 22:02

I've had 2 babies at the Royal Surrey and love it. They have a fab water birth room and 2 home from home rooms. To be honest though, the thing that did it for me was the lovely midwives I had delivering my babies. They were wonderful. Really calm and willing to work with you how you want it to go. I'd give it a big recommendation.

lillochum · 26/05/2007 22:35

Hi, had my first two children at St Peters. The labour ward care was good, but Joan Booker not very good. The latter seemed very understaffed, so it was hard to get the support you needed. I was kept in due to high blood pressure the night before I gave birth to DD1. I had been forced to stay on the basis that I would have to have a midnight blood pressure check so couldn't come in early instead, but I had to hassle them to do it - they were going to leave me to "get my rest" (as if I could on an open hospital ward). I reckon the resulting increase in my blood pressure kicked off labour! Well, I could pick holes in other things they did, but I did get support when I insisted on it. I had a traumatic time with DD1 who had to be resuscitated and went to intensive care to start with - made a great recovery. DD2 was a dream delivery. The midwife wasn't there all the time early on, but was great otherwise, and I only needed TENS for pain relief. DD2 had already been diagnosed with major heart problems at 22 weeks, so although she came through labour in great shape she also had to go to intensive care, and was transferred within hours to the Royal Brompton Hospital (as planned). The staff were generally very helpful and supportive about this, though we did have issues with the duty cardiac paediatrician. Hope you have a good delivery wherever you choose. Sorry this is a bit long.

Original poster

TambosMambos · 27/05/2007 10:31

Thanks for the recommendations all. It is clearly down to the individual midwives like anywhere. Fingers crossed!

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TuttiFrutti · 27/05/2007 19:44

I had both my 2 at the Royal Surrey and can't speak highly enough of it. The midwives were fantastic.

Both mine were caesareans (one emergency, one elective) but they do a lot of VBACs and have a home from home room where they encourage active births. There is a pool as well for water births.

Every patient now has a TV by the bed with all freeview digital channels, internet access and external phone access (you have to pay for all of these, but still it's quite impressive).

LizaM · 27/05/2007 20:01

I had my baby at St Peters a month ago and I must say that when I was in labour the care was fantastic. There was complications with my labour and I had a midwife with me the whole time. Unfortunately once the baby was born the aftercare was naff. The ward was full with not enough staff to help mums.

As for tours to St Peters they no longer do this - this was a decision made recently.

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