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Childbirth

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

Any recent experiences of QE Woolwich or Lewisham?

9 replies

trytobebrave · 09/04/2010 17:05

I'm just pregnant with dc2. Had ds 17 months ago at St Thomas which was wonderful but they have refused to take me this time as I've moved house and am not in the catchment anymore

I've heard pretty much universally awful stories from all the mums I know about QE and Lewisham which I now have to choose between. I'm really scared to go to either of them tbh.

I've searched the archives which has been really helpful, I was just wondering if anyone has given birth at either hospital recently. Good and bad stories welcome.

TIA for any help.

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Mumcah · 09/04/2010 17:55

Hi,I had DD at lewisham.the delivery bit was ok but the post natal care was crap,although I believe this of alot of hospitals as they're so short staffed.
Lewisham have a new midwife led birthing centre opening soon so if you're low risk it would be a good option.
Maybe you should go and look at both hospitals and see what you think?

trytobebrave · 09/04/2010 20:17

Thanks so much for your reply. I'm leaning towards Lewisham because it is much easier to get to by public transport from where I live, even though they are both about the same distance away.

Do you know if there is any breast-feeding support on the post-natal ward? I really really struggled with ds and think I'll need a lot of help this time as well. At St Thomas there was a breast-feeding workshop every morning. Do you know if Lewisham has anything similar?

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Mumcah · 09/04/2010 22:02

I do remember there was a lady who helps out in the mornings(not sure how many)on the post natal ward communal area.It might be worth ringing the hospital(labour ward,or midwives?)to find out how often it is.
TBH most midwives were crap with helping with breastfeeding on the ward.If you have a straightforward delivery (I'm assuming it will be as it's your 2nd)then you'll be out very quickly.I would look at your local surgery too as they often have support in way of a drop in breasfeeding group,or maybe there is a local 'breastfeeding cafe' nearby?

weasle · 09/04/2010 22:41

i live about equal distance between the two hospitals and have worked at both (not in maternity though). Both are fine. I would say go with the one most convenient to you for antenatal care. I have many friends who have had deliveries at both places, and St thomas's too, and the stories are mixed from awful to fabulous, like with most hospitals i have heard of. I agree with previous poster that post-natal care in most hospitals is not ideal, esp as dc2 you may be able to go home quickly.

I have had 2 births at woolwich, the first a difficult birth with wonderful staff, the second a straightforward birth with a midwife who we just didn't get on with, but all went fine and we went home 2 hours post-delivery. this time i am very much converted and hoping for a home birth. would you consider that if you are scared of hospitals?

i have heard about the lewisham birthing centre which sounds good, i think open in a month or so? you can go and look round both hospitals, ask your midwife/gp or phone up the maternity appointments and they will tell you when the open evenings are.

for breastfeeding, i can highly recommend this group in deptford or look at this list for greenwich area or this for lewisham. perhaps consider going before you have the baby to discuss any issues you had from last time and so be prepared, and also then if you go with baby the group/counsellor isn't a total stranger.

in my experience the post-natal bf support is not great at either hospital, esp lewisham, but i hope this has changed esp if they are opening a MW led birth centre, you would expect them to be better.

there is also a MW birth centre in queen mary's sidcup but i don't know much about that.

good luck with it all and congratulations on your pregnancy.

kalo12 · 09/04/2010 22:47

not lewisham no way. qe was ok actually. after care was great. midwives were ok, didn't really want anything modern, they wanted me to lie still and push rather than support moving about but as i was in labour 48 hours i wasn;t bothered.

gets busy go early

trytobebrave · 10/04/2010 07:09

Thanks for all the advice. I hadn't thought that I might be able to go home so quickly as with ds I was in for over a week for various reasons. I think I will give Lewisham a try and then try to transfer later in my pregnancy if it turns out to be really bad. Thanks again.

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theboobmeister · 11/04/2010 21:30

Definitely worth looking at the new midwife-led unit at Lewisham - agree with other posters, the normal maternity unit there has a dreadful reputation.

And also agree with Weasle about breastfeeding support. The Deptford group is WONDERFUL. If you can, I would go along once or twice before your baby is due, they are very friendly and will tell you everything you need to know to get through the first few days of dreadful midwife advice on BF ...

foxytocin · 12/04/2010 00:08

you may want to browse and bump this thread about lewisham MLU.

trytobebrave · 12/04/2010 11:55

Thanks foxytocin, I'll have a look now.

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