Lindo Wing, St Mary's

[Rubyshoos]

Hi All
Just wondered if any of you gave birth at The Lindo Wing, St Mary's hospital? I'm 31 weeks now so a bit of time to go yet, but I'm wondering at what point you decided to go to the hospital once your contractions started. Obviously, your room is guaranteed and they are not likely to send you away with it being private - but did you stay at home until you couldn't take the pain any longer or did you check yourself in at the first twinge of pain?

Any feedback on the Lindo (good and bad) and helpful tips too would be much appreciated as this is my first baby (due end of December)

thanks!

Hello! I had my son at the Lindo Wing this time last year! There is a number on your notes for the first floor (labour ward). Ring whenever you want and they will advise you on what to do. I rang when I started feeling contractions and they said to see how it goes .. but I ended up being induced a few days later as it didn't go anywhere despite almost constant bouncing away on my birthing ball.

Your consultant will go through all this with you closer the time. Basically, you can go in whenever you want, as you say, just see how you feel. You may want to stay home longer, you may not - you just have to go with the flow.

My experience there was great! No tips really. Everyone was fantastic, kind and very helpful.

Actually, I do have one tip .. make use of the nursery! You probably would anyway, but I just wanted my son with me the whole time, and kept him in my room. With hindsight it would have been good to let the nurses look after him one night so I could recover and get some proper sleep (I was there six nights in all.) They can bring the baby to you for breastfeeding, if you are doing that.

Good luck! It is a great start to motherhood, they really look after you.

Thanks camgirl - all helpful stuff! Which consultant were you with? I'm with Mr Teoh and he's really great - I've felt in such good hands throughout my entire pregnancy. Was your baby c-section (I'm guessing that because of your six night stay?) my baby is stubbornly breech and not budging, so I'm preparing myself for a c-section and a few more nights at the lindo than i had originally planned!

All my friends who were at the lindo have raved about the nursery too - I can imagine how hard it must be to tear yourself away from your newborn even for a night - but your advice about getting some sleep is definately right for the long nights ahead once we're home with the baby!

many thanks again, ruby shoos x

Hello - sorry haven't been on for a while.

I was with Mr Murphy, who I really liked, but I did see Mr Teoh once when Mr Murphy was on holidays. I thought he was great too.

As you guessed, I had an emergency section .. I think they knew after a few hours that I was heading that way (baby was also in a very awkward position, though not breech.)

What I appreciated was that he kept me completely aware of how things were going throughout, so I had a lot of time to prepare for this. I was quite stubborn and kept going for as long as possible - I had a 20 hour labour in the end - but that was my choice and so I felt fine about it. I could have called it a day earlier if I wanted.

Ultimately I suppose the best thing is that you never feel you are 'fighting the system' as some of my friends have done. Everyone is on your side and aiming for what is best for you and the baby, and what you want.

I hope it goes well for you! I must say, even though I had a very straightforward pregnancy, the birth itself was very difficult - yet I still actually have fond memories of the Lindo and the team who looked after us. I would go there again in a heartbeat for any future children (assuming we can still afford it!!!)

Best of luck!!!

Rubyshoos - I had 3 c-sections with mr Teoh which were very straightforward and all healed nicely. My first was breech, second not breech but i wanted a c-section and twins then breech. You are in very good hands with him. Good luck and congratulations in advance!

Hi- I've had my son there, on 2007 with Dr.Raj-Rai, and everything was good, the care during pregnancy, fab., and labour as well. It's worthing paying every penny, and as they have said before, make a good use of the nursery, the nurses there are amazing, caring, proffesional,....
It's natural wanting to be with your baby all the time, but you'll see that you'll recover sooner+better, having a decent rest from the beginning.

Good Luck!!

Anyone know how much the Lindo Wing charges now? My gynaecologist has just let me know that his prices have gone up 40% and he is charging 7k just wondered what the LIndo was now - it's a saturday so I can't call their accounts dept!!

Hi All, Does anyone have any experience of the temporary Lindo Wing (while it is being refurbished) at Alec Bourne and any experience with Dr Shahla Ahmad as a consultant? I am in my 7th week and was looking for recommendations, so any tips would be helpfil.

HI Amy10,
I am due in January and have just been told that unfortunately the new wing will not be open in time for my to deliver.
But, I'm under the impression that it will be open by the time you deliver? It was supposed to be open in September 2010 (I think) and then the new deadline was January 2011, so I can't imagine it would take that much longer for the final completion.
When are you due?

I have been in twice with this pregnancy to the temp ward (for observation) and although it's not glamorous, the staff are lovely. I had my other two babes at the Lindo and the staff were second to none and you have the reassurance of knowing they have the best newborn medicine unit, should you ever need it. As long as you don't have any complications, you should also have the option of going to The Portland with your consultant. But, it's best to check.......
Hope that helps :-)

Peanuts 777 which doc are you seeing? I am also due end of jan and am with karl murphy. My first time with him. I was with charles wright for my son 2 years ago, a gem of a man and superb doctor. But he has now retired. However, mr murphy comes higly recommended so hoping for the best. I also just found out that the Lindo is now due to open mid-feb but I'm sticking with st mary's. The Portland is just way too expensive !!! I've been told the staff at the temporary unit is still the lindo staff? I guess its the consultant and his team which counts in the end. Good luck to you !

Hello! Does anyone know whether the refurbished Lindo Wing is now open? I am in my 7th week (DD around 22 Sep 2012). Trying to decide between Karl Murphy and Dr Teoh....any suggestions or recommendations? Thanks!!

Hello CityGirl2012. I had my child with Mr Teoh a few years ago. He is very professional, a great surgeon (I have a near non-existent CS scar) and has his own Ultrasound scanner so we had regular scans all through the pregnancy which was very reassuring. I found his bedside manner great during pregnancy, but was surprised that he did not visit me until the day after delivery, and when things went slightly wonky for us and we ended up being transferred to another hospital I really didn't feel he was remotely sympathetic. It felt a little like he was cross to have been called in from his game of golf at the weekend. (A friend of mine had her daughter with Karl Murphy and raved about him. But I have no first hand experience of him.)

HOWEVER.

Although this was before the Lindo Wing was refurbished, the post-natal care was, frankly, very lacking. Without going into too much detail, the midwives were overworked, some downright rude and one of them made a very serious mistake. The amount of agency staff on the ward (one of which who told me that she wan't very good with babies!!) was worrying. I don't know whether it has improved in terms of staff, although I'm sure the new ward looks better. I was in the unusual position of doing post-natal in two hospitals, and when I arrived at the Kensington Wing at the C&W I was blown away by the standard of midwifery and after-care. The midwives were simply fantastic and I credit them with really helping me get through a difficult time and establishing breastfeeding even with a baby in the SCBU. I realise with hindsight that while one's consultant is important, great midwife support is just as important to keep in mind when making a decision about where to have your baby. It was on another level altogether at C&W, and while I think Teoh is a great obstetrician for most, I won't be going back to the Lindo for my next child.

Good luck with your pregnancy and HTH!

Hi CityGirl2012

Apparently the Lindo Wing is due to reopen at end of March according to my consultant. I'm booked to give birth to my second baby in early June, so really hope it will be by then, as the reopening has been delayed since November.

I had a really good experience there with my first birth in 2009, and some of the midwives have been there for years and were brilliant. In fact, one of them was even there when my brother was born nearly 25 years ago!
Good luck with whatever you decide.

Thank you very much LadyRabbit and Imsolarpowered! Appreciate your advice

Any more recent experiences with the refurbished Lindo Wing? I am due in 2 weeks and would really appreciate any views on any of the midwives - anyone in particular to ask for or avoid?

I went for a tour recently and all looked pretty much in order. I can't really answer your questions though!

How have you found things so far?

So far so good....Mr Teoh has been great
I have not met many midwives, so not sure how they are. Only met one, who was doing my admin/papers. She was then meant to take my blood pressure and didn't know how to work the machine!! Slightly concerning!!!

am due next month @ lindo as well. had my tour recently and it looks really fab, much better than portland which we also toured. I went in to be observed a few weeks ago and the midwives where very nice, one in particular was really lovely but I didnt note her name :-(. Goodluck with your delivery x

Yes, I've only seen midwife once for my booking in, and she was a bit useless! Best of luck over the next few weeks!

Interesting to hear the comparison re Portland... am tempted to go for a nosey around...

Thanks, ladies
Mamazanz - really curious about the comparison with Portland - good to hear Lindo is better! How come? I was wondering whether I made a mistake or not, but have not been to the Portland to compare...

Best experience of my life. The staff are amazing, midwives are always seconds away, full non stop support before, during and after the delivery. Ended up with an emergency C section, but even the after care of the operation was superb. I couldn't be happier. if insurance covered it I would go again, but sadly its not and the cost is hefty. BUT WORTH EVERY POUND. If you can afford it, never think twice when it comes to a birth experience at the Lindo wing.

I had my daughter there 14 years ago under Mr Miskry. I was a high risk pregnancy and DD was 7 weeks early. Worth every penny and then some!!