Chelsea and Westminster - good or bad?

[completelyconfused]

Am booked in there to have my first in November. Can anyone tell me if it's any good? Was given the option of St Thomas's and St George's too, but was oddly drawn to C&W.

I'm surprised you haven't had any responses so far. I had ds1 at C&W. Can't fault many of the staff, but they were so stretched that the service really wasn't very good. I was in the antenatal ward beforehand, because of suspected pre-eclampsia, and the midwives on duty when I went into labour seemed reluctant to admit that I was really in labour. I had to make them call dp (who had gone home for the night) and most of my labouring was on my own in my little cubicle, with no TENS machine or anything. When they finally bothered to examine me (ouch) I was about 5 cm dilated already. They rushed me into the delivery suite and ds1 was born 2 hours later. The midwife I had for the delivery was far better, although she did make me lie down on the bed. (I heard her say 'if you lie down you are less likely to tear', dp heard her say 'if you lie down it is easier for me' .)

But I also didn't appreciate the postnatal support. I really think, in retrospect, that if I had had more support with the breastfeeding, ds1 wouldn't have had to go into special care at 3 days old. He spent most of the first few days screaming and one of the midwives even implied that i was making him upset and offered to take him off me for a while. He was just bl*y hungry and they should have helped me to feed him. In the end it took him having seizures, and then they decided to do a blood test which showed that he was hypoglycaemic. Our discharge had been delayed, because my blood pressure wasn't coming down, otherwise they would have sent us home earlier, as he had passed all the 'new baby' checks by the paediatrician. That night in the postnatal ward, without my son, and all the other babies crying, was hellish.

Once he was in special care most of the staff were brilliant, but I think that whole situation could have been avoided.

This was 6 years ago, mind you, but I suspect that staffing levels haven't improved much.

I hope you get some positive stories too. To be honest, when I went for the initial visit I was far more impressed by C&W than our other option (Kingston) but maybe the person doing the tours is just better at C&W!

I didn't have my twins at C&W as although it was five minutes away from my house I was advised that Queen Charlotte's was better for a (higher risk) twin pregnancy. However, I know five people who have (three sets of twins and two singletons). All agreed that the labour ward experience was fine/excellent but that the post natal side left a lot to be desired. Like most London hospitals they have major issues with staffing levels and there just doesn't seem to be enough help to go around. They are very overstretched. Common complaints were being left with newborns after a caesarean with no help, dirty loos and baths (they all took in Dettol wipes and used them) and hit and miss help with breastfeeding. All were relieved to get home.

However, I don't think this is particular to C&W. It is a common complaint across the board with maternity units as they are oversubscribed and understaffed. You may get lucky and hit a quiet patch but the likelihood is that you won't. However, if you go in prepared for this then I think you might have a much easier time. Get lots of support (parents/husband) for whilst you are in and make sure you are vocal. You might be unpopular with the midwives but, unfortunately, I think it's the only way to get help. If you lie on a bed and don't ask/use your buzzer then you'll get overlooked. Keep asking for help if you need it. Don't be frightened to use your buzzer. And take antiseptic wipes with you and a pillow from home. I think the post natal wards are pretty crowded and anything that you can do to increase your comfort is a good thing.

The positive to all this is that whilst the antenatal side is a bit hit and miss, none of my girlfriends complained about care during delivery. They all felt very well looked after.

Good luck and hope this helps.
Kx

it has nice art
everything else is awful IME

I had my DD at the C&W. And I have close family and friends who have given birth (and I have visited them on the ward) at George's Thomas's and Charlottes. The postnatal care is pretty dire at C&W, but I can honestly say it was no worse than what I saw anywhere else. Staff are stretched, but they are everywhere in London. For me the key point was that the figures for stillbirths and perinatal deaths at C&W are considerably below the average, both for London and nationally. And that takes into account the fact that they admit many more high risk cases than average. Depends what's important to you.

I agree with kitstwins, I had DS at C&W 10 months ago. Antenatal care was fine (lots of extra checks and scans as DS was huge and I had a low lying placenta) delivery was excellent, far above my expectations and this was on a night when the unit was completely full. I had 2 lovely and encouraging midwifes who never left my side, my epidural appeared immediately as did a cast of many when DS's heartrate dipped and they had to ventouse him out.

For me the delivery was the important bit and they got that bit very right.

However, post natal care was dire but the many mums I know who delivered at Queen Charlottes (our local hospital) said that post natal care there was appalling too.

I would echo the view that you need to ask (loudly, several times) for anything you need as the post- natal nurses all seemed far too busy to pop over and see how you are.

had my DD at C&W 8 months ago (today!). Care during labour was excellent- she was a month early and it all happened fairly quickly. Lots of doctors around and a really lovely midwife.
Think I was quite lucky as after care was fine. It was quite quiet and the wards were half empty. I was in for 6 nights and apart from a few, all the midwives (esp one or two) were lovely and really helpful. They thought there might be a few problems with my baby (there weren't in the end) and all the specialists and doctors we met were great too.
By and large most people I know who went there had OK experiences and no worse than any other London hospital.
I was quite worried before the baby was born as I had read loads of negative things on mumsnet but I would happily go there again if I had another.
i think the bast thing to do is assume that the post natal care will be rubbish and then you may be pleasantly surprised!

Was at the birth of twins at C&W this week. The staff were amazing. Fantastic natural birth with gas and air. Postnatal care simply stinks in London hospitals. Still waiting for the one to prove me wrong.

Also at a birth a QCs last night. Staff lovely (esp the MN lurker... male mw). Lovely birthing pool with adjustable lights in the labour suite. Birth pools in the Birthing Centre. I will say that a mw told me that she wouldn't have twins at QCs but at C&W. (oh and I met many mws and it wasn't the male mw who told me).

Oh dear. Have just applied for a job as a m/w there.

Dont mean to hijack but when I had DS at QC there was a male midwife there who was absolutely fantastic. So reassuring and gentle. He didnt deliver DS in the end, he was going off duty but he was the best medical professional I have ever come across. I was so scared and he was brilliant. Cant even remember his name though . Your post just made me think of him Marslady.

Nowhere is going to be perfect. I've had two normal, vaginal births at two different hospitals. One was with a midwife, one with an obstretiton. Both were private.

The 2nd was at the C&W where night time mw's didn't get anyone to wash the floor of my room even after I'd given birth (and had waters broken all over it)and despite the Obs asking them to sort it. It was only 8pm and there were only 2 other women on the ward (capacity 6).

They also looked after my baby the one night I was in and hadn't bothered to wipe her little bottom so it was BLEEDING with nappy rash after only being 1 day old.

To be honest, the state of affairs for maternity care, NHS or private, is dire. I'm just glad I won't be doing it again.

sorry that was a rant. I didn't mean to railroad your thread - it was just seeing those two letters, C&W that set me off,

apologies.

Marslady - who is the male midwife lurker - i wonder if i had him (if so he was wonderful!!!) is he on birth centre or labour ward???

am a GP in the area and patient s can choose between Queen charlottes georges C+W and kingston. i always ask mums what they thought about the hospital.

Kingston - lovely midwives, gen good experiences although busy. Georges havem't heard much but seems to be ok. friends who went to tommys had good experiences AND you get a view of big ben while giving birth. C+W = hate to say it but haven't yet heard a positive report. yes it looks lovely and posh, and i think the labour ward is ok, but the postnatal care leaves a lot to be desired (I know its not great everywhere but it seems to be esp bad at C+W). i thihk theres even going to be an inquiry about it...

i had DS at charlottes and despite 3 day labour shocker had wonderful caring midwives both in brith centre and labour ward. also thought postnatal care was great but you had to ask for stuff. good b/f support. realised may have been lucky but just thought the staff were FAB.

i had a terrible experience 13 weeks ago. I was 2 weeks over and they advised a drip after i broke my waters and had a temperature. I elected to have an epidural beforehand as they had explained that they could not control how quickly the contractions would build up.
I could feel the contractions from the beginning, but put that down to the fact it was a walking epidural. After 3 hours it got more painful. The MW said it was my fault as i had not been using the top ups. I started using the tops ups but it got increasingly more painful. She still said it was because i did not use the drug early enough.
6 hours after the drip was inserted she examined me, still only 1cm, broke my fore waters. I said i needed a pee. She said something about not having put a catheter in, i (shocked) said well i bet it fills up quickly, she tried to cover her arse.
Contractions increasingly more painful. Screaming pain for 2 minutes 3 times in 10 minutes. She held me down and told me to stop fighting it.

11 hours after the drip was put in, the anaesthetist came to see me. He reinserted the epidural and i had instant pain relief. IE i had not had any pain relief at all from the epidural 11 hours previously and the MW basically disbelieved me.

By that stage the baby had turned back to back. On examination i was still only 1 cm dilated. End result emergency CS. However, the CS was BRILLIANT- the docs did an amazing job. Post natal ward awful- everybody said different things re BF, screaming hungry baby and no sleep at all for another 2 nights after 2 nights of labour.

In short, i think it depends on the MW. And, get out of there as soon as possible. If your baby isn't keeping you awake, someone else's will.

ALmummy was he scottish?
if so i agree totally

A friend had her second there in September and was very pleased, on the strength of that another has chosen to have her second in July. Both were scarred by their first time experiences at St Mary's! I had #1 on the Kensington ward ay C&W so not really relevant but thankfully NOTHING like poodlepusher's experience so I am going back for #2 in September.

I didn't like C&W at all for ages! Thought it looked pretty but the staff!!!!!!! There was (don't know if he's still there) a male mw who clearly had no love of women. He was always so rude and dismissive. This week's experience has changed my mind somewhat. The team in the twin delivery, which included a consultant, a couple of doctors and a couple of mws where brilliant and hands off. Each member of that team went to see my lady the next day to tell her well done for standing her ground and getting the vaginal birth she wanted (on gas and air. She refused an epidural). I have never been as impressed as I was then.

The QC male mw was a softly spoken man with grey hair. I can't remember where his accent placed him, I just remember he was softly spoken. He took my card and said "you're on mumsnet aren't you?" Can you imagine that? A night with a labouring woman ending with a mw talking about MN. lol He's on the labour ward and deals with the birth pool room. He's rightly proud of it. It's gorgeous.

I'll be back there for another client in a few weeks and I'll be keeping an eye out for him and the lovely Rebecca(Becky) in the Birthing Centre. I'm looking forward to my return trip.

was he called graham???

I honestly cant remember - had been in labour for about 36 hours at this point. He was fairly well known I think. I had seen him in a local paper or something like that so I was surprised to see him. I just remember him so well because I had been examined by a female midwife much earlier on in my labour (she was irritable and impatient) and it had been agonising and when he said he needed to examine me I started crying because I was so scared and he didnt hurt me at all. He was the best.