Has anyone used the Crocus midwife team at Mayday ?

[Vangough]

I know there is an old thread about Mayday hospital labour ward but does anyone have any recent good stories about Mayday Birth Centre? and in particular the Crocus Midwife team that runs out of there?
I was hugely let down by Kings for the birth of my daughter 2 yrs ago (I was left in a corridor/toilet for 6 hrs then told to go for a coffee at 6cm ! The problems were mainly because they were just so busy, and also because I was not there via a midwife led team so I was at the mercy of some very rude labour midwives.
This time I am booked into Kings again but am loath to experience the same hell of being ignored and shoved out of the way. Even though Kings apologised about what happened last time they still can't guarantee I won't be left waiting for hours again as they are still over capacity.
I have the option of transferring to the 'Crocus' midwife led team and going to Mayday Birth Centre. I have already met a lovely midwife who would look after me (and most importantly give me that all important continuous care) and feel I trust her. My only concern is Mayday itself. I hated the feel of the place, and the labour ward/post-natal wards. There were also alot of dodgy looking people wandering around there ! I intend to pay for a room after the birth anyway so hope that perhaps Mayday's Birth centre could be my best option (have to say the Birth Centre itself felt much nicer) and that keeps me off the post natal ward ;) I'd love to hear from anyone who's got a good story to tell - having done this before I now put huge emphasis on WHO I am with (and trust) rather than WHERE I am !!!!

Hello, I had my son at Mayday Birth Centre in March 2008 and have nothing but praise for the unit.
I felt completely looked after the whole time and had one-to-one midwifery care the entire time.
I had my own en-suite room with birthing pool and my Husband was able to stay with me the throughout, they even put another bed in our room so as he could stay the night with me and our newborn.
I am now pregnant again with my 2nd baby due in May this year and I have already asked for the birth centre as there is no other place I'd want to be during and after my labour.
I hope this is of help to you.

I had DS2 at Mayday 18 months ago. It was nowhere near the birth I wanted but that was not down to the hospital. I have nothing but praise for the staff both on Labour Ward and afterwards on the Post Natal Ward.

Having had a straightforward natural birth with DS1 I planned to go to the birth centre with DS2. Was v sad as I went 14 days over and was told it would have to be on labour ward. I was dreading it after all the awful stories you hear about MayDay.

Waters broke, got to ward and put straight on monitor. Heart beat v irregular (I could hear it myself), within seconds I was in theatre having a general Anaesthetic and baby was born less than 1 hour from arriving. Turned out he was fine, but gripping the cord (hence irregular heartbeat). But they couldn't have taken the risk. They acted most professionally and reassuringly in a very scary experience, looking after both me and DH.

I then spent 3 days on ward afterwards, wanted private room but none available. Everyone was excellent, nice, friendly, polite. Couldn't fault them. Even the food was ok!

Sorry for the essay, but wanted to say that despite getting everything I didn't want (ie c-section, no birth centre etc) it was fine. If I have another baby I will have no qualms about Mayday.

I've been a user rep at Mayday and am happy to be able to tell you that the feedback I get from mums about the birth centre is overwhelmingly positive. Can't say the same for the care on the postnatal ward, and the labour ward is hit and miss. The birth centre has got a good reputation locally - deservedly so I think!

Only spoke to a couple of mums who have used the CROCUS team, but so far had very positive feedback.

standandeliver - Thanks for the positive feedback.....that is great news and I think pretty much reflects what I felt when looking around the place. I would love to know more though !! What is a user rep BTW?
my Q's are: If a woman asks to book the private post-natal room in the BC that you pay for - do they normally get it? or is it always booked up? Can husbands stay over in that room? I've been told I'm very likely to get a birth pool due to how the staffing levels work, is that what you have heard? a pool is no 1 on my list as it was a godsend last time. What are 'waiting times/capacity levels' like? i.e do women get made to wait for hours before they get into a room? I don't mean I would expect a room the moment contractions start but last time I was at 6cm and crawling around the corridor at Kings and still being refused a room !!!! can't do that again.
thx

My understanding is that the 'amenity room' is on the postnatal ward, not in the birth centre. At least, this was the situation last April when I was working there! Dads are not allowed to stay in the amenity room or anywhere on the postnatal ward unless it's visiting hours. You can only have the amenity room if it's free when you arrive on the postnatal ward - which it isn't always. Most people who give birth in the birth centre will be discharged from there, and won't go up to Mary ward (postnatal ward). You and your partner are allowed to stay together in the birth centre until you are discharged - as long as you don't get sent up to Mary ward!

You should get a place in the birth centre if you are in active labour and if there's a space free. If you go in and there is no space in the birth centre when you arrive don't lose heart! They can and often do transfer mums from the labour ward into the birth centre if a space comes up. Just keep asking.

Chances of you getting into the birth centre are pretty good I'd say - most people who want to go there do get in. Hope it works that way for you!

BTW - I'm wondering if you are the mum my friend, an antenatal teacher in SE London has told me about.... I've been meaning to get back to her to give her some feedback on mayday to pass on to you!

I think I might be !! did T ask you? how funny...I have found it really hard to find out anything about Crocus/Mayday.....my instinct is good but I wanted some more back-up info. The midwife I've talked to said she was 99% sure I would get a birth pool at the Birth centre (she couldn't recall a woman asking and not getting one as they only ever had 2 ward midwives on at a time and there are 3 pools - therefore if you come in with a Crocus midwife then you'll get the third room) Does that fit with what you have heard? On the 'walk-around' at the BC they pointed out rooms you could pay for to stay over in...one en-suite and 2 with shared bathrooms - but they were not in the labour ward, they were still within the BC bit. I really didn't like the labour ward at all (would fight v hard not to go into such a clinical doctor led environment) I want a water birth (nearly had one last time) and don't want to just get shoved onto a bed and 'hooked up' ! I understood if you nominate to go to the BC, that's where you go (unless you have to transfer due to complications etc later on)
I have to transfer my care from Kings if I go ahead with Crocus (Kings can't offer me any continuous care) so this is a really big decision to take at 27 weeks !

Yes - T is a good mate. She'd phoned me to ask and I hadn't got back to her. mn is a funny old place!

My understanding is that you can only go to the birth centre if there is space on the night. There are no 'guarantees' and certainly I've met some mums who've ended up on labour ward who'd wanted to go to the bc. I'm going to email the head of the community team later today and ask her to update me on policy changes in maternity, so I'll pass on anything I find out (through T!)

The labour ward is a bit depressing, but in fairness I'd point out that it has the highest normal birth rate for the region, so they must be doing something right there! (though I also wonder if it's something to do with Croydon' unique demographic - we have lots of mums from ethnic groups where you find a lack of enthusiasm for epidurals).

Feel for you having to the decision now - it's tough. But you should get good antenatal care with the Crocus team, who I've heard are fab!

I was there a while ago (DS is almost 4 now) But I had a good experience. The midwife was very nice. I did have a doula with me but the midwife was essential as I was trying for a VBAC. Got a lot of support and help.
The post natal ward was fine too. I was there for half a night and the following day. Nothing grand but nothing bad either. People were nice etc etc.
To be honest I was on cloud nine after my VBAC so don't think I would have noticed much.

I even enjoyed the food!

standandeliver - thanks for that, would appreciate knowing what the likelihood is of me being bumped onto the labour ward (that will affect my decision) I am due end of April. I feel a bit like I am kicking up a fuss asking all these questions but I had such an awful experience last time I'm looking for as many reassuring guarantees as possible this time ! thx

And thanks everyone else for great feedback -too often we only hear the bad stories so it's encouraging some women have had good experiences.

SweetGrapes - I'll never forget the chilli con carne I had on the postnatal ward after having ds2. Gawd - it was lovely! But then you're not really in your right mind when it comes to food after giving birth are you......

Hi there

I am about 8 weeks pregnant and am just about to be referred to the Crocus team at the Mayday. I'm feeling quite positive about it and am really liking the idea of having one named midwife who is my midwife throughout the pregnancy, birth and beyond. The continuity of care is crucial to me.

So no experience of them yet. But i've had contact with the head VBAC midwife and she is lovely and seems to know just what the mayday needs.

I had a terrible experience at the Mayday with my first baby in Jan 2009 and ended up with an emergency c-section after a catalogue of what i felt was mismanagement of my labour. Then i was unlucky enough to have to experience their post-natal "care". I was in the Birth Centre for part of my lengthy labour there, and it was really nice and the midwives in there are lovely.

I later went back and went through my notes with this VBAC midwife and it was very helpful for me. She reassured me that things were changing, and here i am with baby number 2 on the way.

I'd be interested to hear of what you get from the Crocus team if you go to them.