I just thought I?d add something about my recent experience at the RF, as I found this thread helpful myself when deciding to go back to the RF to have baby no 2.
I had my daughter at the RF in late 2006 ? although the medical care when we needed ventouse delivery was good, everything else was a bit grim; all the usual complaints ? post natal ward dirty and hectic, some staff curt and unkind, and no help with breastfeeding (in fact I was advised to bottle feed by several midwives). All in all, I was rather dreading going back to the RF (I live around the corner so it seemed silly to trek to UCH etc, although I did seriously consider it). However, I just had my son at the RF a couple of weeks ago, and I have to say that things were much, much better. Some positive changes:
Ante?natal care: The community midwives are very busy, but all those I saw were kind and helpful (thanks, Green Team!) Reception staff and others in the Antenatal Clinic and Day Assessment Unit were much more helpful and friendly.
Labour Ward ? care was excellent, all the midwives I saw were thoughtful and kind, kept us informed about progress, and just generally seemed to care much more than they did last time I was there. I ended up with an emergency c-section and doctors and other staff were just brilliant. ?Skin to skin? contact with your newborn now seems to be really encouraged ? we had a good long time, despite the c-section; last time, my baby was whisked away despite me asking for skin to skin time.
Post natal: The ward is still a busy and very noisy place ? don?t expect to get much sleep while you are there. But the midwives were much friendlier and much more professional ? they introduced themselves, told you what they were doing, and each of the 4-bedded rooms had a ?named midwife? for the day which made it seem more personal and also made it much easier to know who to ask if there were problems. Wards and bathrooms now seemed extremely clean. There is a nice little breastfeeding room open day and night, with comfy chairs. There is even a team of 'alternative therapy' volunteers who come in and give foot massages from time to time (yes, really!)
Breastfeeding support on the postnatal ward ? this had changed beyond all recognition; this time, no one told me to bottle feed despite me having similar problems breastfeeding baby number two; several midwives tried to help me, and I was put in touch with the ?Camden Peer Support? volunteers who come in every weekday (trained mums who pop in to help and advise)
Despite the huge improvements, there were still some negatives -
- I agree it can be very hard to get hold of the community midwives ? I called and called over several days (leaving messages in various places) to follow up a blood test. It took 4 days to get hold of anyone ? and I ended up having to go in immediately for an induction once a doctor saw the results; it was a little unsettling as the midwives had been happy to have left things another week til my next midwife appointment (I had obstetric cholestasis.)
- My baby had terrible trouble breastfeeding ? turns out he had a complete ?tongue tie? ? this was not mentioned by any of the paediatricians or midwives ? and was only spotted some days later back at home when I asked a mw to check in the baby?s mouth for problems. The RF has a weekly clinic for tongue tie but a week is a long time to be unable to feed your baby! I ended sorting this out privately. (Could checking for tongue tie be added to the list of newborn baby checks? It would have made a huge difference to our first few days if this had been picked up earlier?)
- Regarding induction ? I was induced on the labour ward because of complications; however, most people who need induction are induced on the postnatal ward, I think, and this looked like a grim option, as partners etc have to leave at 8pm, so you are on your own from then til 10am the next morning. One night on the post-natal ward a woman was induced in the room I was in ? she went into labour and was there much of the night labouring alone; she was told to stay in bed, and none of the midwives had time to give her any support. I felt so sorry for her and would have helped her if I could! As soon as you get to some milestone (eg x cm dilated) you can go to thelabour ward and be with your partner, but for many women I know it can be many tough hours to even get to being ?officially? in active labour (been there!). Very hard to go through that all alone, on a bed, being monitored. Yuck. So much else at the RF has improved ? I wonder if there is anything that can be done to help women in this position eg setting aside a place for them to labour that?s not surrounded by crying babies and sleeping women, or even perhaps getting trainee doulas to sit with them, for example?
- A couple of things that I wasn't prepared for the first time round, but it helps if you know about them: your partner can't stay on the postnatal ward with you after 8pm, so if your baby is born at night, they will have to leave you quite soon - which can be hard. Also - be prepared, when you are ready to go home, 'checking out' can take a day or more ? you may need to wait (and wait) for the paediatrician and various others to sign you out, and for all the paperwork to be completed. I found this less stressful the second time around as I was prepared for the wait (it can be hard to end up staying an extra night when you are desperate to get home!)
Finally- with breastfeeding support, although things seem to have vastly improved at the RF, I would go prepared in case you have problems. Get the list of Camden baby clinics to take in with you (go to one when pregnant if you can), and if you?re having ANY problems while in the RF, ask to see one of the fantastic Peer Supporters ? ask the mw to put you on the daily list to see them when they come in (I think this is weekdays only?).
Sorry for the long post, but I hope this helps. Many, many thanks to Sympathetic Consultant and others like you, for taking the time to post on this board ? and for all the positive changes that you?ve clearly been making at the RF.