Lets get Exeter group talking again....Thoughts on the RD&E

[Ladylou83]

So I have only just found the Exete page on here (taken me long enough)....noticed that conversations arent really happening?

Wondered if anybody could tell me what th RD&E experience is like? Im at the TTC stage and know thats where Im probably heading if we do ever get a BFP, and wondered if RD&E was any good? Have heard its a bit of a cattle market, they like to wisk you in and straight out again. Is this really the case?

Any comments would be greatly received?

Also does anybody know of any doula's in Exeter?

I only just saw your msg - congrats!! You'll have to let us know your views on the RD&E soon enough!

Congratulations Ladyemmalou - that's fantastic. Hope you have a good experience with the RD&E. I'm pg with DC2, due 15th May so I'll be in there again too

Congrats 20thcentury, thats brilliant news. I actually got my 1st RD experience yesterday when a friend at work hit his head on an aircraft and split it open. I had to take him to A&E, and they were really good. As it was a clean cut to the head, he was in and out glued up together again in 55 minutes, which I thought was pretty good. Pity labour wont be 55 minutes

Hello

By way of introducing myself, I thought I'd add my exerience of the RD&E. I had fertility treatment at the Heavitree site (everyone there was lovely but the building left something to be desired), then gave birth at the Centre for Women's Health at the Wonford site 6 weeks ago. I found the CWH to be clean, well equipped and friendly. All in all I felt safe there which was all I really wanted from the place as a first-timer. Yes, they were a bit busy on the ante and postnatal ward, so I did labour alone for a fair few hours, but as soon as I moved to the labour ward everything was brilliant (gotta love that gas and air!).

If I ever change my current thinking and decide to do it again, I'd choose to go back. The midwives are lovely. I was looked after by the Ladysmith team.

HTH, and best of luck for June!

Considering I didnt think I would be staying at the WHC till next June, so far in the 3 months of this pregnancy i have had 2 stays on wynard ward. The staff are so lovely but they are rushed off their feet.

Anybody had West Exe team? Thats whom I with...

Just seeing so many people talking about the postnatal care at Exeter, and wondered whether any of your out there might consider joining in the face book campaign (and petition) to save the post natal care provided by Honiton maternity. So many people I know talked about how busy Exeter was, but were fortunate to transfer over to honiton to recieve the amazing post natal care and support with breastfeeding in those crucial first few days. Please have a look at the facebook page: www.facebook.com/group.php?v=info&gid=354819100274#!/group.php?gid=354819100274&ref=ss

Als o, if you are interested, please email Gavin, the group creator, who is creating a petition - we need as many people as possible to circulate the petition and get all our fellow mums to sign it. I am so saddenned that this amazing service is going to be lost for future mums
thanks all for your help- sorry to have slightly diverted the topic away - good luck with your birth at Exeter I hope all goes well for you

Got my 1st taste of delivery suite last night, far too early to be there (26+2) but had to go in as have had no movements since thursday. The midwife was really reassuring and did everything she could to let me know baby was alright. hopefully wont see it again for another 12-16 weeks

Had my birthing and labour parentcraft class today, thought Id read back through the thread to re-read peoples experience....Just wondering, which did people prefer: Labour ward or the Midwife led unit just off the Postnatal ward?

Im leaning more to the labour ward at the moment....hmmmmmm decision time

I just saw this thread again, hope everything is going ok with you now. I too spent time on the Wynard ward! They were lovely but I was so bored!

I never saw the midwife led unit (I didn't know it existed), we have one in Tiverton where I live where I was due to give birth first time round. I guess if the unit is close enough to the labour ward help is always at hand really quickly if needed and the midwife led unit may be a bit more relaxed? Hopefully someone who has experienced it will come along and post!

I had my three in Exeter with aftercare in Honiton. The first two in Heavitree the last at the new hospital. It was fine in Exeter but the aftercare in Honiton was fantasic.

Hello! I'm looking to connect with people who can compare Royal Exeter and Devon Maternity Unit to UCLH in London. I am thinking of transferring when we move house, but could also stay at my mum's around the due date and keep things a bit simpler. Does anyone have the time to chat a bit more about their experiences? I'm really interested to know whether I could pay for a private room post natally, as the noisy, shared ward with no sleep sounds a nightmare. I'm also curious about any breast feeding support stories (positive or negative). I am really keen to avoid formula, but have heard there can be pressure from night staff, especially if one is alone/incapacitated/unable to feed within the first day or so. Thanks in advance!