Any recent opinions of Lewisham hospital and / or Birth Centre please?

[scruffymomma]

hello

Does anyone have anything good (or bad) to say about Lewisham Hospital and or Birth centre?

I've seen some negative comment on previous MN posts but they're a couple of years old now, have things improved?

Am I right in thinking that they have a Birth Centre where you can hire a private room and your DH can stay with you? It's the post natal bit I'm really not looking forward to.

Would like a home birth but may be forced into hospital for medical reasons - though wont know until nearer the time.

many thanks!

I had DD1 there back in 2004 - the midwife was lovely - same one throughout labour, however the after care staff left a lot to be desired and where no use whatsoever.

Had DD2 there last Sept and the midwife I had that time was even better - in fact she was wonderful, even if she didn;t get me any drugs! the labour was progressing too quickly so there was no time for any. The post natal staff were also lovely this time, I asked for an extra pillow and got one straight away.

The only thing I would say is try and get a room to yourself if you can, as in both experiences other women on the ward tended to leave their bloody TV's on full volume - even if they weren't there.

And general advice - take somethin with you to clean the bath or shower in case you want one when still in labour and for after on the post natal ward.

I know other people who had their babies there and there was nothing really bad to report.

Good luck, hope all goes well.

Thanks Quint, good to hear it's not all terrible! Were you in the regular hospital or the birth centre?

Fingers crossed that the HB thing comes off.

And a more general question, in a regular hospital, how do you go about getting your own room. Surely it can't just be as simple as asking for one!

I didn;t know that there was a separate birth centre - as far as I know I just had them both in the maternity ward of the hospital.

Laurence Llewellyn Bowen (or however you spell it) designed a couple of the birthing suites there a couple of years ago!

As for your own room I think you just have to ask and if there is one free you get it although you do have to pay - not sure how much. Wish I'd have asked for DD1, didn;t bother with DD2 as I was in and out - had DD2 at 9.14am and was picking up DD1 from nursery at 5.30pm.

Another tip is take one of those water cooling sprays and plenty of moisturiser - it gets very hot on the post natal ward, but make sure you also take slippers/socks as your feet can get cold and also you really do not want to walk around barefoot!