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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Consultant struggle at Queen Charlotte's

18 replies

robinraven · 02/04/2008 15:08

Hi there. Am 13+3 with my first and - having been turned down by Queen Charlotte's as an NHS patient (our GP sent the form to Chelsea and Westminster by acident and QC are now full - joy!) - have decided to go provately at QC. We have to choose a consultant out of a list of five and have no idea about any of them. Am very keen to have as natural a birth as possible so want someone who is not too set in their (old fashioned) ways. Any advice?

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terramum · 02/04/2008 15:13

No idea about QC but my first instinct would be to ask why you need consultant led care if you want a natural birth? Consultants usually only deal with extraordinary birth afaiaa. MW led care would be the best way to go imo as they are the best experts in normal birthing.

edam · 02/04/2008 15:15

have a look on the doctor foster website and on birthchoices - might give you some clues about the consultants.

slinkiemalinki · 02/04/2008 16:28

robinraven - congratulations - but can't help with QC doctors I'm afraid - but it is a hard choice. Have you checked if they even have space, some might be booked already? there are some old threads on here about private OBs, not sure why but they are mainly Lindo (St Mary's) and C&W focussed. I disagree with terramum's view where private care is concerned. You still have a MW throughout your delivery - the OB will come and lead the actual delivery and will be on call throughout your pregnancy for you personally if you have any complication. I find it very reassuring.

msappropriate · 02/04/2008 16:38

are any of them called McCarthy or McCartney?

dinny · 02/04/2008 16:41

Fisk?

UpsyDaisyOne · 02/04/2008 16:57

do you need to have the baby in the hospital or could you use the birth centre? I had my baby in the birth centre at Queen Charlotte's and they were great. It is downstairs from the hospital so you can easily be transfered if there are any problems. Sorry if that is not an option- don't know much about private care

Original poster

robinraven · 03/04/2008 00:40

terramum - unfortunately in order to go privately, you have to get a consultant but I hope slinkiemalinki is right in that you get midwife care with the back up reasuurance of ob, which would be ideal. They do have a birthing pool, for example, which suggests some attempt at natural birthing (fingers crossed!). They are all available at the moment so no help there unfortunately!

msappropriate - there is one called Andrew McCarthy. Do you know anything about him?

Thank you so much for all your replies. x

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Original poster

robinraven · 03/04/2008 11:11

Meant to say,UpsydaisyOne, unfortunately we can't use the birthing centre as a private patient (which had been our ideal choice with the NHS0. Gutting.

And thanks edam - checked foster doctor. Useful in that it tells you who's who and their background but didn't give much away regarding ethos!

Also, no one called Fisk. The names are Bennett, Edmonds, McCarthy, Sundera and Kumar. If any bells have been rung, please let me know!! Thanks

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kitstwins · 03/04/2008 14:36

I had Kumar. He delivered my twins by emergency c-section. I had a very problematic pregnancy (placenta praevia, recurrant bleeds and several early labour scares - all thankfully blocked - and the end, I gave birth at 35 weeks) so I can't really offer experience on the birth that you are hoping for as mine was very different. However, my thoughts about him.

Plus:
I can't fault him as a doctor as he really did find the right balance between my babies health and mine (not delivering my babies too early but also not running the risk of me haemorrhaging). He also did a fantastic job of stitching me up (very meticulous and thorough) and there was no botch or rush job. I ended up with a tiny c-section scar for which he is apparently renowned - all the midwives trooped in over the course of the few days afterwards to inspect!

Before it all went pear-shaped I really wanted to give birth vaginally (the placenta praevia and bleeds blew that one out of the water) and Kumar took that on board when I first met him. He seemed open to the option and said that if both babies were head down then there was no reason why I couldn't try. So he was open to the 'natural route' before my problems were diagnosed.

Minus:
He was pretty humourless and although I felt in incredibly safe and professional hands I wouldn't say I bonded with him on a major level. If you're looking for someone with a fantastic, friendly beside manner then he probably isn't the consultant for you.

I met them all in the course of my many stays at Queen Charlotte's and Bennett was very good, as was the female consultant (I can't remember her name off hand), who had a lovely manner and was very gentle during a horrifying night (early labour at 25 weeks). I also remember one who was called something unpronouceable like Mr. Worumasunda, who was very genial and jolly. Fisk is the head honcho and was also excellent - very reassuring. QCC's is very 'pro' 'natural birth', on paper at least, so I don't think you'd come up against huge barriers.

A final plus is that the private ward is great (Sir Stanley Clayton) - different food, nice rooms with bathrooms, etc. and plenty of midwife care and I found this really helped as I was pretty strung out by the end.

Hope this helps and sorry for the rush.
Kx

PortAndLemon · 03/04/2008 14:43

There have been threads about most of them in the past; you could do a search on their names.

terramum · 03/04/2008 15:17

Not sure if any would have an arrangement with QC, but mt might be worth looking at some of the independent mws in the area?

differentnametodayy · 03/04/2008 17:37

I have previously worked some shifts there as a midwife and I think you will find that Bennett and Wimalasundera will give you the closest to what you want, although Kumar is fairly easy going too. I would try them in that order.

Even if you cant use the birth centre, there is a lovely pool room in labour ward which you can use instead. HTH

msappropriate · 03/04/2008 18:34

I had him for both my problem pregnancies. I think he knows his stuff but he also seemed to be single handedly undermining the irish friendly stereotype. On one occasion he actually told an anecdote and laughed and I had thought he had changed but then he went back to his lack of social niceties self. (he was like this with a junior doctor to so it was just his patients) When I had to choose btw and induction and c/s he was not really pushing either one (actully he was making both sound problematic!) so I assume hes quite into natural things.

Original poster

robinraven · 03/04/2008 20:02

kitstwins - Thank you SO much - that is fantastic. And hugely reassuring that we're not wasting our money going private just to get QC. I just have too many friends you had bad experiences at C&W to go there (probably irrational but hey).

differentnametodayy - thank you!! That is a massive plus and I will indeed persue them in that order, that's great to know.

msappropriate - thank you for that. definitely think he's not one for us. Both my dh and I have a tendebcy to make crass jokes at inappropriate moments...

terramum - will investigate. Thanks!!

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differentnametodayy · 03/04/2008 20:06

robinraven - no there are no indies with any visiting rights at QC, sorry

Original poster

robinraven · 03/04/2008 21:10

Ah, will stop the investigations then! Thanks. From what I gather the midwives that are there are fantastic anyway so very happy to stick with them!

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bonzo · 21/04/2008 11:35

I used Andrew McCarthy privately for my first pregnancy and am just about to start seeing him again for my second. I cannot recommend him strongly enough. I also saw Bennett for one appointment (it was possible Mr McCarthy was going to be away if I ran overdue). I had all my ante-natal appointments with AM; all my scans done privately and stayed in the Private rooms following the birth, which turned out to be an emergency c-section. I was up and about very quickly and the midwife who saw me on return home, said the scar had already healed - only 4 days later and was one of the best she had seen. All in all it was a hassle and pain free pregnancy and labour from start to finish!

For my mind it was money very very well spent - not just to go to QCH, which is our local hospital anyway, but to have the continuity of care and know who was going to be there for me when I was delivering.

Incidentally Mr McCarthy was very upset it had to go to c section, he is firmly in favour of 'natural' birth, but for various reasons it was the best option.

Haven't ever posted on here before, but remember how I felt when trying to choose a consultant with no-one to offer recommendation......

Good luck!

niceone1 · 23/04/2008 12:15

i had mr kumar (for c section tho) and thought he was absolutely fantastic, couldnt fault him.

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