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Childbirth

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

Anyone used the Carmen Suite (midwfe-led unit) at St George's?

39 replies

thehouseofmirth · 15/01/2009 13:53

Have recenty been told I don't need a section afterall and think I'm more likely to get good midwife care in MW-led unit that on labour ward. Hoping to go and have a look round but haven't got long to go so might not fit it in in time and just wondered if anyone had used it & what your experience was like?

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PuzzleRocks · 15/01/2009 16:38

Bumping for you.

notcitrus · 16/01/2009 12:34

I used it. MrNC phoned at 8am to say I was in labour and my waters had gone, and they said both birth pools were available if I wanted to come in, but if I was comfortable, I might as well stay put.

Went in a couple hours later - I found it lovely. Huge room, en suite bathroom, wonderful 2-tier huge beanbag that I knelt on for the next two hours, snorting gas+air. Then used the pool for 6 hours, with more g+a. Went through two midwives' shifts, both of them were great, checked in on us every 15 min or so, often staying and chatting. All amazingly laid back, and they agreed to give me two hours more than guidelines when nothing had happened, before I'd have to transfer downstairs.

My pelvis fell apart so I had to have an epidural to deal with that, and spend the next 18 hours on the delivery suite. Room was small for two people to stay with me overnight, but all the care I received up to birth and recovery was fantastic, getting explicit consent for everything, explaining why they might want to do X and what might happen if not, etc.

Sometimes the Carmen Suite shuts at night but the evening I was there they managed to get staff to stay open (Carmen herself, in fact!).

Postnatal care can be a bit ropey at night - just be prepared to ring your bell lots as it always gets answered quicky, but the person may not be at all useful. During the day (I was there 3 days) it was pretty good, with good bf support.

thehouseofmirth · 16/01/2009 13:12

Thanks NC that's great. Laboured with DS1 in the Rainbow Room on delivery suite which was fine but before I was transferred to theatre for eventual ventouse I was put in one of those smaller rooms and it was really clinical and grim. Not sure i'd want to spend any length of time in one, Carmen Suite sounds fab though.

My experience of post natal care also not great 3.5 years ago but as far as I can tell it's the way of most London hospitals...

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notcitrus · 16/01/2009 13:55

I think having 3 people with me and enough food for an army helped - you couldn't really see the room! Bit cramped for 2 of them staying overnight, but OK.

I had ventouse in theatre too - they weren't expecting it to work but suddenly A popped out in one push! It was a sort of party atmosphere as we all knew we were about to meet the baby one way or another. Not to mention having the bed slanting for some technical reason so I had to be held on it by 3 fit blokes!

FruitynNutty · 17/01/2009 15:57

Hi housofmirth (I think I gave you my doula's email?)
I went on the tour of the labour wards this morning.
Carmen suite looked fabulous. Everything notcitrus said
No pain relief though (apart from the pool and gas n air. You can transfer downstairs though if pain gets too much.
I've now got to try and convince my consultant that I want to be in there, regardless of my previous C-section (I've heard I won't be allowed in there )
Just got to threaten them with a homebirth if they say no

FruitynNutty · 17/01/2009 15:59

Also, there is usually at least one room free as people assume it will be full and don't think to ask so well worth asking when you get there

thehouseofmirth · 17/01/2009 19:21

Ooh how weird FruitynNutty I was there too!

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FruitynNutty · 17/01/2009 20:36

ooh, I wonder which one you were
I was the moody looking one with the little blond haired boy and the grumpy DP

thehouseofmirth · 17/01/2009 20:38

Little blond haired boy in blue stripy top?

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FruitynNutty · 17/01/2009 20:39

yes, that's the one

FruitynNutty · 17/01/2009 20:41

OMG! I've just looked at your profile and recognise you! I was the one who asked about birth pools in those teeny rooms!

FruitynNutty · 17/01/2009 20:43

We even spoke! how funny

thehouseofmirth · 17/01/2009 20:50

Small world!

I think I'd rather labour in the corridor of the Carmen Suite than in any of those pokey rooms on the delivery suite. They were horrible! I'm just hoping that the lack of access to drugs will put lots of women off. I'll be gutted if I can't go up there.

Who is your consultant? I saw Mr Mayonda who is lovely and was fully supportive of me using the Carmen Suite, though I haven't had a previous section.

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FruitynNutty · 17/01/2009 21:01

I also saw Mr Mayonda (Manyonda?). He made me cry as I was dead set on having a home birth (VBAC) this time around, made me feel like a selfish cow and wrote in big red writing "HOMEBIRTH NOT ADVISED" so first impressions of him weren't good
He also said he didn't think I'd be allowed on Carmen because of previous C-section. Bollox to that I say, if it's free, I'm there! Or, like I said before, I'll threaten a HB!
I have another consultant appointment on the 5th Feb, no idea if I'll get the same consultant. This lovely trainee doula said she might be able to speak to someone if they're funny with me.
I agree, those tiny rooms were awful, and soooo hot.
Out of interest, why did they originally want to give you a c-section?

FruitynNutty · 17/01/2009 21:05

The reason I asked the midwife leading the tour about bringing in a birth pool was because of what the consultant said about me not being allowed on Carmen. Thought if it's that much of a problem then I'll just bring my own pool, Doula has one I can borrow. Obviously it won't fit though

thehouseofmirth · 17/01/2009 21:09

I had a quite a bad 3rd degee tear with DS and the Perineal consultant was concerned I'd have future problems if I have a VB so that's what he advised. When I saw Mrs Mayonda he was much more open minded about it and todl me it was toatlly my decision.

I don't see the problem in using the Carmen Suite as you're not really any further from the theatre if that's what you ultimately need.

Why does he not advise a HB?

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WobblyPig · 17/01/2009 21:12

hello fuitynNutty recognise you from the school thread, just saying Hi cos as well as lookign for schools I am also 6 months pregnant. I'm not allowed on Carmen because of previous C-S. Mr Bhide was my last consultant but I've got someone differnet this time.
re: bringing your own pool; last time they din't approve because I brought my own birthing ball - admittedly rather large.

WobblyPig · 17/01/2009 21:13

By the way , when are you wimbledonites due?

dinny · 17/01/2009 21:14

yes, I had my ds there (when it was called the Rainbow Suite)

fantastic midwives - you get to know all your team and one is usually there to deliver you)

I had the pool (hated it though and got out) and the mw dealt brilliantly with ds's shoulder dystocia

had dd two years beforehand in normal delivery suite and it was so small and nowhere to be active really

FruitynNutty · 17/01/2009 21:21

Hi Wobbly, So you're not allowed either Looks like I might have problems with St.G's then.
When are you due?
hom You'd think as I'm on hospital grounds that they'd be all for the Carmen suite but apparently not - no idea why.
Ooh 3rd degree tear, sounds nasty! It's the one thing I'm quite nervous about.

WobblyPig · 17/01/2009 21:23

Not due til May ; although you would think I was due earlier if you could see me.

FruitynNutty · 17/01/2009 21:23

I'm due 22nd March - ages away!

FruitynNutty · 17/01/2009 21:25

aww, I tell you what, this pregnancy has actually flown by. May's not too far away. Nice for your DC to have a b'day in May Just before summer really kicks in. I had DS in late June 05, I was dying from the heat!

WobblyPig · 17/01/2009 21:31

Yes hoping for good weather this summer so we can get out and about.Nothing worse than being stuck indoors with a little one and a pre-schooler I would imagine.

thehouseofmirth · 17/01/2009 21:31

Well, I've only got 3 weeks to go so can tell you all about it first!

3rd degree tear sounds much worse than it was, which is why I was so anti c-section this time.

FnN I'm surprised St G's so anti HB. One of my friends had her first baby by section (due to abbruption of placenta) in Kingston and was OK'd to have a HB ths time. She lives in Motspur Park and in that area HB are supported by St Hellier MWs who are supposedly a very good team. Can you transfer - where do you live?

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