kingston hospital?

[silvermum]

anyone given birth at kingston and what was it like?
i may have a c-section so would be particularly interested in any experiences of this at Kingston...

I had 2 normal births at Kingston but was only there for 4 hours first time and 2 hours the second, so all I can tell you is the delivery suite was fine, very clean and the staff were great both times. Sorry can't comment on the wards or anything but hopefully someone will be along in a bit who can!

I've had two normal births there too (well, one ventouse and one induction), all fine, nice and clean, friendly efficient staff, got my own room both times (although was next to the recovering c-sections last time so woken up all night by bloody bells ringing). But would recommend it, very good in my experience.

I'm choosing to go there as anecdotally I hear better things about it than C&W or St. Georges (and I hear a lot of birth swtories through my volunteer work). I've been round and it looked nice and clean etc, and getting your own room is not unusual. Will probably opt for the Malden Unit however, which wouldn't apply ot a cs.

Plus I go there for DD2's eye problems and the staff in that department are great.

i had one at st georges, which turned into a SCBU job so we were glad to be in the right place, and one in the Malden unit of kingston which was a textbook unassisted delivery. I went home later that day but they let me stay in the malden unit bed for a good few hours until the doc arrived. i had to insist that we stayed until she was checked = they wanted me to bring her back the next day....

anyway, both fine. Kingston has happier memories but that's mainly because the birth went well.

Interesting lovelydear. I had DD2 in St Georges, and thought the outreach staff were fantastic but was pretty shocked by the cleanliness (ie, lack of) on the labour ward and unhelpfulness of the mw in the delivery suite (who denied me all drugs, including G&A). But that was over two years ago and it wasn't bad enough that I wouldn't go back. Kingston is closer to us, which is why we're going there for DC3.

I had DS in Kingston in April. I had a normal delivery on the consultant led unit (no beds on the malden suite). The staff were fantasic and I had a great experience. I stayed on the post natal ward for 2 nights. I didnt get my own room so it was a bit noisy but much cleaner and quieter than St Georges (had DD there in 2005). I called the staff quite a bit for various things and they were all really helpful. My friend had a CS there and said they were good. I have another friend who had an emergency CS and didnt like it as much but how much of that was down to her needing an emergency CS rather than planned I don't know.

I had DD there 2 years ago and am booked in to the Malden suite for DD2 soon. Started out in the Malden for DD1 and then transferred to regular ward for epidural. Birth experience was great, midwives were great, had a private room after.

I know 2 people that had CS there and said it was good and quite a few that had regular births with good experiences.

Hope that helps!

I had a planned c section there in Feb. FANTASTIC experience despite being in spontaneous labour so my planned turned into 'emergency' (although it never felt like an emergency calm, friendly, made to feel special etc) I chose to transfer to the private wing for my 2 night stay which was costly but divine.