Whittington Hospital Labour Ward Closure: 11 Sept - 6 Oct

[hes222]

Hello

I received a letter from the Whitt this morning telling me (with only 2 days notice!) that they are closing the labour ward for refurbishment. I'm 37 weeks and so I'm due to give birth during that time.

It sounds like there will now be no dedicated, fully equipped delivery rooms available - the labour ward sounds like it will be a make-shift affair on what are usually the pre-natal wards (just a series of tiny little curtained cubicles, so I'm not sure how that will work!). Not sure what they will do about theatre for c-sections either as that is on the labour ward too. I know that they have to refurbish in hospitals from time to time, of course, but surely they could give more notice so that mums-to-be could have the option of switching hospitals etc?

Sorry to moan but I'm feeling anxious about it all now. I may be admitted to the pre-labour ward this week (transverse baby) and am now dreading it even more as I assume that it will be packed to the rafters and even more chaotic than usual. We went on a labour ward tour so that we would know what the set up is and it would all feel a bit more familiar, but that has gone out of the window now.

Has ayone managed to get through to the Whitt to get more info? The number I have is just ringing out all the time? Thanks!

Eeek. Poor you. I would be having kittens. Hopefully it will be sorted out before I go in to have dc2.

They're probably busy with women with the same concerns as you calling up, but you could look on the website for other phone numbers. I have a scan appt next Monday so could go up to antenatal and ask maybe if you haven't managed to get hold of someone before then.

I would try to get hold of your midwifes' team as well.

Do you have any scheduled appointments with a midwife, consultant or a local GP before then? Don't know where you are but I think I'd be asking about the possibilities of an alternative hospital at this point.

What alternatives to the Whittington are nearest to you?

Any more info on this?

I recently had to spend 24h in the Eddington ward (where Cearns link is temporarily relocated to) and it would seem that there is a fully operational Labour ward where Cearns ward/Cearns Link used to be.
Just found out I'm to be induced this Friday so will try to report back.

Thank you nhamilton. That would be really useful.

nhamilton, hope things are going well for you and that you'll be able to tell us about it soon.

Hi to all - some feedback on Whittington Labour Ward.

I went into labour at the Whittington on Friday in what used to be Cearns Link has now been converted into the temporary Labour ward. There are beds for ladies in early stages of labour (as before) and what used to be the postnatal side rooms have been converted into delivery suites.

The side rooms/suites are not very big (at least compared to the delivery suites in full labour ward) but as a plus most do have an ensuite toilet/shower (which they didn't 2 years ago when I had my first child).
Space is at a premium in these rooms once the bed, equipment, chair and staff are all cramed in but to be honest I didn't really pay much attention during the final stages of labour.

Just enough space if you're keen on active birth to stay upright, adopt different positions for giving birth. You can (and are encouraged) to get up and walk around in early labour - you can leave the ward, go to the coffee shop or simply stretch your legs.

Post natal recovery is now Murray ward if all goes well or Eddington ward (temporary Cearns) if there are complications. I spent a very sleepless night in Murray ward as it's very noisy so ear plugs a good idea. Having spent 2 nights in Eddington ward a few weeks ago, it seemed much quieter and calmer.

So overall - some disruption but I still had an excellent midwife and was fortunate enough to come home with my new little son on Saturday.

Thanks nhamilton - and many congratulations on the birth of your son!

It is reassuring to hear from someone who has been through it under the new set-up. I haven't been able to add to this thread as I was also admitted into hospital for a couple of weeks, so no internet access. During that time, I gathered pretty much the same about the temporary labour ward situation. Though I still haven't had my baby, so the info on Cearns and Murray is useful to know as I haven't got there yet. I'll remember the ear plugs for Murray ward! Its a shame that the space is restricted in the side rooms on Cearns and also a shame that we can't use the water pools etc, but if the care from the midwives is good then in the long run that is what is important...

Thanks again!

Thank you! Good to know. I have a client due there imminently. Will remember what you said about space (though I've had client's in Cearns postnatally and spent some time in those rooms myself when I had the DTs).

Congratulations nhamilton, and thanks for coming back to post about the situation.

I saw my community midwife from the Whittington this morning (appt at local health centre) and she says it should all be finished by the end of October.

It's a shame about the birth pools but I believe there are only a couple of rooms with them anyway which may well be in use already if the delivery ward's busy - I was induced and subject to monitoring so it was never going to be an option. I know someone on my antenatal course was offered a waterbirth class in September when due in July - I met her some months on and her baby had been very premature anyway).

hes222, hope you and baby are keeping well now you're out of hospital, and that the birth all goes smoothly.

Hi

Just in case anyone searches, finds this thread and worries, I thought that I would update it to say that the labour ward has now reopened.

Much to everyone's surprise, the builders appear to have stuck to the date of 6 October for re-opening (the midwives all seemed to think it would be the end of Octber at one point).

So the delivery suite is available again. As far as I know, the whole suite has re-opened, or it certainly looks that way at least. Things are still settling down after te recent ward moves / closures, but normal service is essentially resumed.

A relief for those of us who are due any time now!

By the way: elkiedee, you mentioned that you were induced at the Whittington last time around (and MarsLady no doubt knows a thing or too about it too!)

I'm booked in to be induced next week at 42 weeks. All I know is that I go in at 7pm e night before and should not expect to leave again until the baby is born. Any experiences / hints / tips etc on the induction process at the Whitt would be very gratefully received!!

Both my labours at Whittingon had to be induced (at 36 for dd and then 37 weeks for ds). You'll be admitted into Cearns or Cearns link so try to get as much rest as possible in that evening on the ward.

If having a gel/pessary, then you'll receive the medication bt doctor & then midwife will come back 6hrs later to check on progress. I was surprised the first time it was such a long gap but things can progress v. slowly early on. (That said once my labours did start after the 6hrs both progressed v quickly).

Once you're actually in labour (starting to dilate) the midwife will arrange to transfer you to labour ward. If you want any pain relief then simply ask for it. The midwifes will take your lead on how you're managing rather than offering up front.

Good luck

I don't remember any progress check after 6 hours but I started feeling contractions at about 2 am and told the midwife about 2.30. I didn't get transferred until the morning though, I think around the time that there was a shift handover. But it must have been quite busy, as they were saying shush - I think someone else had been promised it was her turn next by mistake or something.

Once I was in the labour suite they broke my waters artificially.

My labour was quite slow, and I think if I end up having to have a second induction I will try and have a discussion about not being put on to a syntocin drip, as I think it did little to speed me up but meant I was wired up to a monitor and therefore spent much more of my labour lying down and on my back than I would have wanted.

If you can get some sleep on Cearns ward, well and good, if you're concerned about being able to settle to sleep, I had a reading lamp and was able to carry on reading, just as I thought I was going to be able to sleep I had to spend ages in the bathroom and then realised my contractions had started.

DP had to go home once I was settled although the midwife didn't kick him out at official closed to visitors time - they had a handover meeting soon after I arrived, and I was sick and needed clean bedding, and the lovely night midwife realised I was too distressed to be left alone. As soon as she knew my contractions had started, she would have been happy to call him to get him back, I think I waited half an hour or so and then called him (at about 4 am, eek!)

Thanks ladies, that is really helpful. It is a bit nerve wracking as you hear bad stories about long labours / distressed babies etc from inductions. So it is good to get info on the process at the Whitt (it seems to vary a lot from hospital to hospital) and your experiences.

nhamilton - its good to hear that you progressed quite quickly after induction, even in your first labour. And also very handy to be prepared for the 6 hour gap - I think I would have been surprised by that otherwise (I'd have been wondering if they had forgotten me...)

elkiedee - your comments on having a discussion about not being put on a syntocinon... just before I read your post, a lovely community midwife had been to my house who was strongly encouraging the same discussion, on the basis that once the drip is in, water birth / bath for pain relief is out of the question, movement is restricted and monitoring is increased. On the flip side, she said that the alternatives are usually either "wait and see" (which may not produce results of course), just breaking the waters (which apparently can work by itself but can take up to 48 hours and is more effective with the syntocinon), or more of the gel / pessary (which can lead to overstimulation, lots of strong but ineffective contractions and/or possible distress for the baby). Definitely worth asking about / discussing, though.

hes222, you may well be in the hospital now having your induction/baby but I thought I'd ask here and hope you might see at a later date,

any news of the baby?

Which midwife team are you with? (I'm with Burgoyne Road as I'm quite a long way east of the hospital - we're nearer the North Mid but it's a much more difficult journey to get there).

Hi elkiedee,

I was in hospital when you wrote.... and now have a baby boy called Oliver.

I had a long induced labour. As we discussed in our earlier posts, I delayed the syntocinon drip until I felt ready and had the drip turned up very gradually. I found that really helped in terms of coping with contractions. The midwives on duty were supportive of it.

I was with the Whittington midwives rather than a community team, but to be honest hardly met any of that team ante-natally. I think its a bit different to being with a community team.

The delivery suite was fully open when we were there and the care during labour was great. Post-natal not so great, but we expected that.

And I'm so glad that the baby is finally with us! Thanks elkiedee and nhamilton for your advice and good luck to elkiedee for your forthcoming birth!

hes222

Congratulations. When was he born?