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Original poster

Birth & Postnatal care at The Rosie, Cambridge

26 replies

RobintheRobin · 01/08/2011 13:19

I'm at 30 weeks and have read a lot about expecting very little from postnatal care on the NHS, because of understaffing generally I think.

Can anyone please share their experiences of giving birth and their postnatal care at The Rosie in Cambridge? Negative, postive?

(I found another thread asking the same thing but this was back in 2009).

Thanks very much!

OP posts:
homeedmam11 · 01/08/2011 13:25

I had my son at the end of 2009, labour and birth support was ok, aftercare the 2 days I stayed was quite rubbish.

breatheslowly · 01/08/2011 21:54

I had my daughter last September. It was clearly a busy time and the staff were stretched. I had one to one care during birth as I was induced, so they had to provide this. The post natal care was clearly under resourced - just things like asking for pain relief and not getting it for quite a while. I found it particularly difficult at night as DH had to leave and I wasn't very mobile due to nerve damage and pain but was expected to look after DD. If I was there again I would either be much more demanding and get more help with things like middle of the night nappies. Or if I was well enough to go home I would ignore the "stay until breastfeeding is established" thing and get discharged ASAP. I think the breastfeeding thing is a bit of a red herring as I apparently was sufficiently established to be allowed home, but actually I ended up switching to formula after 5 days. And it isn't a good environment to establish anything. The staff were lovely.

Original poster
RobintheRobin · 02/08/2011 11:46

Thanks a lot for your replies guys.

OP posts:
umf · 02/08/2011 12:45

I haven't actually had a baby at the Rosie (one in crap London hospital and one homebirth in Cambridge), but I talked to a lot of mothers about the Rosie before having second baby in Cam, and the impression was overwhelmingly positive, which was reassuring for me.

Postnatal care may not be good, but it's not the kind of nightmare scenario people have been discussing on the postnatal thread in the last few days.

DC2 was transferred to Addenbrookes straight after the homebirth and stayed the night there. We were blown away by the quality of the care and the kindness of the staff, compared to the London hospitals we'd been in with DC1.

runningmonkey · 02/08/2011 12:55

Again noting but positives from me (2dc born at the Rosie).first birth (June 09) was traumatic and I was well looked after in the postnatal ward although it was hirrificly busy. Second birth (may 11), I spent the night on the mw led unit which has a small postnatal bay. I would heartily recommend if you can get in there, tis fab.

The best thing I did was to agree to have students involved - after the first birth, we had a one-to-one care from a lovely student on the postnatal ward who fetched drinks, changed baby and generally looked after me while I was bed bound after an epidural. Was fantastic and felt good knowing that we were helping her tick some boxes for her course too!

Hope all goes well for you

Fourleaf · 02/08/2011 13:08

I had a mixed experience of the staff there during the birth (late 2009, main unit) but I have to say the postnatal care was great. There was a kind of angel (!) who came in the night and took DS and changed his nappy and helped me with BFing. Overall I did have to ask for things but they were always prompt and kind. The discharge was also done really well, with someone talking us through everything.
Most of my NCT friends had the opposite experience though - great care in birth, patchy postnatal care.
Mostly I think it's a good maternity hospital - and amazing for special care for babies.

LaCerbiatta · 02/08/2011 13:21

2 dc born at the rosie. The first one was so straight forward that I hardly needed any care - but staff was great and it was overall a great experience.

Second one was complicated with undiagnosed placenta praevia. I went in with unexplained bleeding so they induced me. For a few hours I was left mostly on my own and was told that because they were very busy they would stop the induction process (or not continue), which I was not ha[ppy with, to say the least. But then the bleeding got worse and it all went into emergency mode and I can't fault them. They were quick, efficient and reassuring.

The post-natal stay wasn't the most pleasant, but I suppose that's unavoidable. I didn't ask for anything that I didn't get. Thinking back I should have asked for a lot more help with the baby, they didn't really offer much, but I suppose that was my fault.

LaCerbiatta · 02/08/2011 13:22

Dc are 5 yo and 18 months.

Fourleaf · 02/08/2011 13:28

I should probably say that I couldn't really walk or move much for various reasons, hence I asked for lots of help! But everyone should have help IMO.

Original poster
RobintheRobin · 02/08/2011 14:05

Glad it's not all negative experiences.
That sounds like a great tip about the students RunningMonkey, cheers for that.

OP posts:
EauRouge · 02/08/2011 17:11

I had DD1 there and was very pleased with the care I received. I wanted to go home ASAP after her birth though so I don't have any experience with the post-natal ward. I was there for a week during my pregnancy and was looked after very well, the food was crap though.

Kateykate76 · 03/08/2011 22:17

It really does depend on how busy they are...I had a good experience with my DS (April 2009) when the delivery rooms were quiet and the postnatal wards were pretty empty. With DD (December 2010) it was a different experience - chucked out after less than 24 hours after a c-section and no help with getting up for food/shower/night feeds. I was told off for having my baby in bed with me, but I had to because no one answered the bell when i needed help lifting her out to feed. You have to stamp your feet a bit to get things done.

SarkySpanner · 03/08/2011 22:27

Both my boys were born there.
Care during birth was great both times.
Postnatal care with ds1 in main postnatal ward was dreadful. But with ds2 on the special care ward the care was great.

They seem very good at prioritising the resources they have where they are most needed. So if all goes well the expect to fend for yourself after the birth. But if you really need help then it is there IME.

Buttertart · 04/08/2011 12:39

I had my son there in Feb 2009. It was crazy busy, so I had a community midwife with me for the birth. She was very hands off, and I felt unsupported.

Care immediately afterwards was ok, but on the postnatal ward it was again packed. They wanted me to go home, but I said no (it was my first baby!). They felt that I was breastfeeding fine (although it was really painful), and generally left me alone, which was ok, but again, I didn't feel 'cared for'. I was in a private room overnight, thank goodness, and was checked on a couple of times.

I think because it was all straightforward, and they were so busy, they didn't interfere too much, but it left me feeling rather alone. It didn't leave me with a bad impression, but rather a non-impression.

hildathebuilder · 04/08/2011 14:19

I had my son there in March 2010. He was very very early, and NICU and SCBU were wonderful, very attentive, very helpful, very supportive.
The delivery was great (in very difficult circumstances) although I did end up with over 10 people in the room taking into account midwives, obstetricians, resuss officers, neonatologists etc.
Postnatal was awful. Again midwives were good but they really had too much to do, too many patients and no interest in mothers whose babies were in NICU. I couldn't get drugs as I was in NICU at the relevant time, always missed meals, and despite promises to the contrary was put with women who had babies with them. No proviate rooms, no space in the ordinary bays, so they put the women in with the traumatised prem mums. No-ones fault but really really difficult to have a baby next to you when yours may not live.

I also couldn't get discharged (I live very close to addenbrokes and would have been much better off at home). The problem is there are just too many women in that hospital and the systems cannot cater for them

jolie33 · 08/08/2011 17:15

I had my son in Aug 2009 , on the MW led unit, overall was a very good experience, staff were lovely & i had a midwife & other lady present at my labour, when i got to hospital i was 8cm dilated & bleeding, so i was a bit worried, they calmed me down & 2 hrs later , he was born, the after care was very good, they made me toast & tea , and let me stay in the room i gave bitrh in, was home a few hrs later , in my own bed with my new baby, wonderful !!!!!

cazzybabs · 09/08/2011 21:35

I have 4 children at the Rosie and have found all the care I have received there to be excellent - much better than any of my friends at other hospitals.

SoftSheen · 10/08/2011 09:05

I had my DD at the Rosie in Feb, by emergency c-section. Both the midwives and doctors were very professional, kind, and generally doing a fantastic job. However, the postnatal ward was very busy. I would second other people's comments that when you really need help, you will get it. Pain relief is quickly available if you need it. However, for non-emergency situations (ie help with changing nappies, breastfeeding etc) you need to be prepared to ask, and probably wait a while. The aftercare is a bit basic but that is due to the fact that the postnatal ward is massively overstretched. The hospital is very clean and the food OK, there are also snacks and drinks available 24/7 which was great. Judging by people's reports of other NHS maternity units I would say that the Rosie is as good as they get!

Original poster
RobintheRobin · 14/08/2011 17:00

Thanks ladies for sharing, I think I have a better idea of what to expect now!

OP posts:
LabMonkey · 17/08/2011 19:54

I had DD in May this year and I was in Lady Mary for 3 days afterwards. The care I received on Lady Mary was fantastic. The Midwives, Student Midwives and Healthcare Assistants were all lovely - even the cleaners were nice! The food was awful so I would recommend bringing food with you if you're in for a while. I asked to see the feeding specialist on day 2 and she spent a whole day with me along with a volunteer for the La Leche League. The midwives were also fantastic with DH as we were having major feeding issues and I think he found it hard that there was nothing he could do. The ward was really busy when I was there but there was always someone to help and I felt that they really did care about my welfare and that of my DD.

elsieG · 17/08/2011 22:53

I've had both my daughters at the Rosie. DD1 was Dec 2007, the care during the labour/birth was fantastic (on the main delivery unit) and the aftercare on the main postnatal ward was ok too a bit dependent on who is working I guess. I had a lovely nurse who changed my daughter's nappy and sheets in the middle of the night and another who was a bit obsessive about me breastfeeding (I was doing my best!). They had little classes on how to bathe your baby too. I can't remember what the hot meals were like but they did have a kitchen with a fridge full of sandwiches and yogurts that you could just help yourself too at any time (great for me as I was starving after labour!) You could also just make yourself (or send your partner to make you) a nice cuppa which was great.

DD2 was born in Autumn last year and (because the main ward was full!) I was sent down to the Midwifery led unit. It was fantastic - they were so lovely and the after care was great. They have a small recovery area with a few beds where we stayed all day - it was so peaceful! They also have a kitchen area where you can just help yourself.

Both times, when I was recovering in the delivery room I was offered tea and toast. Each time the tea came in a lovely china tea pot with china cups or mugs and lovely hot buttered toast. Each time it was just so lovely to have something so comforting when you're tired and emotional and a teensy bit overwhelmed...and bloody starving after childbirth!

I think it does take a long time to get discharged though!

cambridgeferret · 03/09/2011 18:37

Had DD2 at the Rosie in 2008. Birth and stay in Sara Ward were brilliant. They even did the night feeds and nappies for us. Only letdown was the food.

deviladvocate · 08/09/2011 23:59

I've had three babies there - birthing experiences each time great, post natally not so amazing - it is incredibly busy. The staff are brilliant though and will help with anything you need but you do need to ask. Also the beds have improved dramatically since I went there first - they now have lovely electric ones with buttons to sit you up - critical if you've had a c-section!

JBrd · 02/11/2011 16:58

I had DS at the Rosie in May this year and felt very well looked after and cared for on the postnatal ward. Yes, they were busy, but they would always give me care and attention when I asked for it. Don't be afraid to ask - I think a lot of people (me included) feel embarrassed to press the button for help!

I did think though that their breastfeeding support was pretty rubbish, they barely checked how DS was latching on or if he was feeding properly, just some very superficial checks by whoever happened to walk past. Again, I should probably have demanded more help there.

One piece of advice - demand that your baby gets checked for tongue-tie, no matter what! They never bothered with me, and I just didn't know about it, which caused lot of trouble later.

WomansHourBBCR4 · 08/06/2012 15:15

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