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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Queens Birth Centre

9 replies

LexxyBM · 28/03/2022 11:43

Hello everyone!

I am new to this group and expecting my first baby at the end of August.

I've been booked into the Queens Birth Centre (Romford, Essex) and was hoping to get some opinions from people who have had recent experiences.

At a first glance when watching their 'promotional' material on YouTube it looks all good and like it will do the job but after a deeper dive I started to see that there had been quite a bit of controversy, complaints and an official investigation at some point last year with them even appearing on the news/radio. Of course all of this raises red flags for me and I want to know if I should be considering alternatives.

I am of course aware and understanding that anywhere you go people have different experiences good and bad, whether it be the local hospital or a 5 star private clinic.

I don't suppose anyone here has given birth there 'after' this investigation in 2021 was launched and they 'hopefully' made changes? Or perhaps knows someone that has or maybe someone has any other relevant information about the centre?

Thanks so much in advance :)
Lex

OP posts:

AwkwardPaws27 · 30/03/2022 13:20

I'm due at the beginning of June & have just been advised that the birth centre is closed for at least 4-6 weeks and may not be open by the time I give birth due to staff shortages

Hopefully it will be but I'd advise checking if you are happy with the labour ward as well as the birth centre as if they have to close one unfortunately it will be the birth centre.

fromcitytocountry · 30/03/2022 13:34

I had my little one there a couple of years ago and they were fantastic and as far from anything I'd read about. I guess it depends upon the midwives you get.

I laboured at home for most of mine but at one point had three midwives supporting me.

When I went to hospital for the final few hours they were supportive but kept to the background and let me get on and labour in my own way. The only thing they asked to do we're heart rate checks on baby.

The only thing I found that was less supportive was the immediate after birth. I was expected out the room about an hour after. There wasn't any interest in food or drink and as a result I collapsed in the shower. I was left on the floor whilst they sourced a banana and juice for me.
Might just have been due to the time (very early morning) but this was my only downside. The rest was good.

Although hospitals can always change for good and for bad.

I hope it's a good experience for you and congratulations on your pregnancy

Original poster

LexxyBM · 30/03/2022 16:53

Ah, I read it had closed temporarily a while ago but thought he had re-opened since then. Did they say what the staff shortages were due to? Covid perhaps? I hope it opens for you in time!

OP posts:

Original poster

LexxyBM · 30/03/2022 16:55

Thank you for your message!

I'm glad it was mostly a good experience! Albeit the aftercare of course :-(

I'm just hoping to gather as many recent experiences as possible (after the investigation happened) but if they have been closed a while then who knows how active they have even been!

OP posts:

AwkwardPaws27 · 30/03/2022 17:03

@LexxyBM

Ah, I read it had closed temporarily a while ago but thought he had re-opened since then. Did they say what the staff shortages were due to? Covid perhaps? I hope it opens for you in time!

Yes, they said it was due to covid.

There's still no antenatal classes either, but the videos on the BHRUT YouTube channel are helpful.

I'm not holding my breathe! Bit gutted as I really wanted to use the pool.
If I'd known in advance I'd have postponed our building work and tried for a home birth, but that won't be possible as it's unlikely to be finished before my due date & they start on Monday!

jane199 · 01/09/2022 08:51

Hi all,
Anyone had any updates on their experiences at queens birth center? i am due in 5 weeks and looking at the centre.

Thank you!

AwkwardPaws27 · 01/09/2022 09:08

@jane199 I had DS at Queens in early June. Unfortunately I wasn't able to use the birth centre as it was closed that night as they didn't have enough staff. I had DS on labour ward instead but both my midwives (shift change) usually worked on the birth centre & helped me have the environment I wanted - dimmed lights, relaxing music, brought me a birth ball. There is only one pool on labour ward but I got to use it & have the water birth we'd hoped for.

DS was born at 8.20am and we were home by 3pm (my choice - I wanted to go as soon as possible) so I didn't go onto the postnatal ward, we just went back to the room I'd laboured in & I had a shower & some food while we waited for DS to have his checks.

Overall I couldn't fault the experience once we were admitted. The triage wasn't so great - the chairs are hard & uncomfortable & depending on the day it can be pretty busy - I went in too early, waited ages to be examined, but had to go home as only 2cm. They did find me a birth ball (I couldn't sit comfortably on the chairs) & some batteries when my TENS ran out though, so the staff were lovely, just very busy.

Once we were admitted there was a midwife with us or available all the time though. They respected the "golden hour", and the midwife who did my sutures was very gentle.

Original poster

LexxyBM · 03/09/2022 15:08

I am 6 days overdue and supposed to be giving birth there. As of a few days ago a midwife told me it's currently open though it has been on and off. She said it's looking 'more' positive right now. But who knows? Hoping it will be open once the little one decides to make an appearance :)

OP posts:

violetcuriosity · 03/09/2022 15:27

I had my first baby there, I wouldn't do it again. I wasn't prepared for how painful the birth would be (very quick dilation from 2-10cm) and as I arrived at 2cm they left me for an hour in agony saying I wasn't in labour and I should go back home (couldn't actually walk, repeatedly falling onto my hands and knees which should have been enough for them to know baby was coming quickly). When my partner eventually shouted at them that they need to re-examine me and that I wanted to go onto the labour ward for an epidural I was 10cm and hadn't got into the pool yet. They quickly filled it up and I started pushing in there, baby was born within the hour. I was then on the bed in stirrups for 2 hours until they stitched me up with minimal anaesthetic and was home 2 hours after that without baby having fed. No breast feeding support at all and as a result my baby ended up bottle fed due to the stress and anxiety linked to the birth.

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