Anyone gave birth at Lewisham or St. Mary`s - Sidcup hospitals?

[aska13]

Hi Everyone

Please let me know your experiencies at giving birth at Lewisham or St. Mary`s - Sidcup hospital? Which one to choose???? Thanks

sorry meant to say, the pregnancy exhibitions run on the first Tuesday of each month, from 6.30/7pm till about 8pm

Thanks for your opinions

I had DD in Lewisham in march 08.As with others I thought the delivery suite was good and the midwives were efficient although not friendly.

The post natal ward was crap,no help with breastfeeding and very rude staff.I was shouted at becuase my daughter was crying 'that baby needs formula,she's starving'.Awful.

I discharged myself early (had an emcs)and if you have C section often they don't like you to have a private room.

I thought the food was lush though!

I had again meeting with midwife again every time a different one, saying that she is only replacement and not very helpful at all. Getting worried if this is the way they work? No one to ask and explain, always in a rush. Now 8th month still not care unfortunately I wish I had a nice experience with midwifes like Plantsittter.

Any ideas what to do?

Have a friend who gave birth in Lewisham and said it was dreadful.

aska is a HB out of the question?

I had dd in Lewisham in 2006, and I agree with what many people on this thread have said: birth experience (though it ended in an emergency CS) was fine, but aftercare awful. I failed to breastfeed dd, for which I still feel guilty 3 years later, and looking back I can lay a lot of the blame on the attitude of the staff in the post-natal ward - I received no help whatsoever, though one of them did helpfully tell me that my nipples were 'the wrong shape for breastfeeding'. I still live in the area, and I think I would probably try another hospital for a second dc, for that reason only (I've heard Kings is good for breastfeeding help).

what about Darent Valley? Not that far away from Bromley

Or even the Pruh

Hi I do not have really good experiences with them at all (Lewisham midwifes)! Everytime is a different one, always in rush and saying that she is only replacing sb, so I can ask next time. Quite stressed about care or rather no care at all!!!

I had my dd 4 weeks early and out of blue. It was difficult 31 hrs with some problems on the way. We had to stay in hospital for 6 days so I do not want it happening again, and if worse will come then at least I have some specialists at the hospital. Just hope this time everyting will be fine. Thanks liaghen

I am going next week to see Pruh - hope it will be nice one Where is Darent Valley?

Darent Valley is just before the tunnel, off at jcn 2

I hope you find something you're happy with ask it's stressful for you not being confident with your caregivers.

Darent Valley is literally just up the back of the Bluewater Shopping centre.

Thanks All!!! Will check it!

You can just turn up at delivery (wait outside the door in the corridor area for someone to come) for Darent Valley any Sunday at 1pm for a tour - no need to pre-book. You might like to do that just to get a feel about it. I'll warn you though they kept us waiting ages for the tour a couple of weeks ago.

Thanks

Had two at Lewisham (2004 and 2006) - both okay but it was very busy. Friend from ex-school run up in SE London is a nurse, now a trainee midwife and says to avoid the PRUH like the plague. They failed to notice her newborn daughter had breathing difficulties and only investigated when she refused to leave the ward... However, one person's bad experience doesn't make it awful, though have heard aftercare there is pretty bad (same as Lewisham - depends who is on shift).

Unfortunately I suspect all very busy London hospitals are much of a muchness.