WEST LONDONTHREAD - JULY/AUG 2007 (when we finally get a summer?)

[ComeOVeneer]

Just thought I would get this up and running before the old one is full.

Bubble - feel very for you and your DT

Yes we did take legal action.

And I campaigned with the help of Baroness Neuberger (House of Lords) and Susan Kramer to get a 'not counted in staffing rotas' senior MW to be on duty 24/7 at K'ston hospital.

On the night my son died the senior MW was having to deliver other babies as the unit was short-staffed and funding didn't allow them to use agency MW's.

If she had been an 'extra bod' she would have been visiting the wards, seen what was going on with us and averted the tragedy.

We now have DS4 who, though not his twin, is turning out to be a pal to DS3.

Anyway. You seem to be fairly prolific here. Do you join in the mnet rucks?

KC, I am afraid I will have to give visiting you a miss tomorrow. It is just to hectic here and I am supposed to be going away for the weekend with the children to see my sister and I haven't packed, house s a tip, covered in builders dust etc etc and I am absolutely knackered. But thanks for the invite anyway and hope to catch up soon.

Bubble - I have my moments

Often get into rucks about faith schools, swearing and being Ginga

I wonder if Kingston has improved as a result of what happened to you?

I have to say that since I had DS1 I have really seen maternity services deteriorate. I had DS1 at Kingston and wouldn't go back there, but QC was even worse and had a very traumatic birth with DS2.

What a terrible thing to happen to a mother Bubble You must have your own way of coping but I have heaps of respect for you. No one should ever have to go through that.

anyway...so will you be visiting Kew beach over the summer with your lovely DCs ?

Oops, ros. I completely forgot about the story time. It's in my diary now so we'll be there next week. As you can probably tell I went to Kew instead as dd was driving me crazy so no worries.

Don't be sad, foxie. We'll see you at Kew at some point.

Thanks, sfx. I'll definitely be shoping at D&T's.

Bubble,

I'm sorry to hear about your DT2 and DS.

Ah..thanks.

I am fairly OK now, though I do avoid the 'multiples' thread here. And I get a bit of a knot in my stomach if I see twins together.

I don't think that will ever change, though. And I do feel cheated out of the whole 'raising twins' thing. Because I was really looking forward to that.

sorry to hear the awful story of your DS bubble.

'tis nice that Foxie has a cyber stalker though. Very trendy.

is anyone else coming over tomorrow - new steps are done and weeds removed and covered with bark [inviting emoticon].

If not I shall sugar off to Kew beach with DS...

and apparently DS was the demon biing child today and ran CM ragged he's been so good all week too. Bugger.

demon biting child

I thought you meant "Demon Bling" child there for a minute!

Anyway I've always wanted a stalker...

oh bubble so sorry about your child

i think for any future labour i will get an independent midwife or at least a doula, last time was not a pleasant experience.

KC your place or kew i need to get out tomorrow

Off to bed now. If I BF DS4 now I might be lucky and get a 5am 'lie-in.'

I'm hoping to meet-up with you all soon. School holidays are a bit tricky, though, as I have my lovely,lumbering DS1 and DS2 around.

come over here at 11am then sfx we can alwyas change our mind and go to Kew when you get here...

Bubble - you and your lumbering DS's are more than welcome, DS is used to older children as DM has 8 and 5 yr old DS's

in fact sfx on the minutest change that the social worker turns up on time she might be gone by 10.30 and I'll call you.

nighty night

Bubble I am so very sorry about your DS Can't even begin to imagine your feelings

I had heard Kingston maternity ward was badly under staffed and my aunt was killed as a result of negligence by them so I shudder when that hospital's mentioned. An enquiry found that they had made over 20 errors which caused her death and she had only gone in to have her stomach checked (not operated on) with an internal camera.

Anyways, QC I would love to meet up tomorrow, wherever suits. I've left my mobile at my parents house so I'll give you a ring in the morning to see where you are.

I'm booked into Kingston for this one, if we get that far. I did worry about it after what happened to Bubble (which was only about six weeks after I had DS there) but reckoned that actually most of the hospitals are understaffed and have the same problems, it's just that I know about it at Kingston, and at least they've had the benefit of Bubble's campaign to make sure it doesn't happen again. And I was reassured that you had your new DS there, Bubble.

I'm still toying with the idea of forking out for the Birth Centre if I decide to go for a VBAC, though [feels waves of disapproval emanating from eleusis] or hiring a doula. And some days a repeat c-section sounds like a good plan (generally when I've been reading a thread about third-degree tears or episiotomies).

Bubble, you stalker!

I think Bubble and Foxie should stear clear of the faith schools topic.

Just another boring day of work for me. Wish I could come to KC's get together.

I'm off to my first ever rugby game tomorrow. An old boss of mine from Houston is coming to town and we are going to the game.

Eh? Disapproval? Tis up to you however you want to have your baby. If you ask my opinion, I'll tell you I would prefer a section any day.

But, hey if you think a VBAC is preferable and worth the risk, then I wouldn't disapprove. Just do your research, weigh up the risks and benefits, and choose what you think is best for you.

Just being facetious -- I know you're scrupulous about respecting other people's choices.

From my research (looked into it a lot shortly after DS) I'm not convinced that there's any significant difference in the risk of something really bad happening (assuming I don't let them give me syntocinon or prostaglandins). It's the minor stuff that niggles more -- if I have a VBAC and it goes well then I'll be up and about far sooner, and will be able to get out of hospital quickly (I really don't want to be stuck in for days again), but if I have bad tearing etc. then I know I'll wish I'd had a c/s.

Almost I hope baby turns out to be breech or something so that I don't have to make the decision...

Hi,
Lemonaid, I had DS1 at Chelsea and Westminster, and I am very satisfied with the care I got there till I got to the postnatal ward that is. I had a very troubled and difficult 36 hour labour and the registrar and the various specialists kept checking on me, I really felt I was in the best hands. But the postnatal ward sucks, but at least there is the option of transferring to the private wing.

I had DS2 at Kingston, he was out like a shot. Midwife was great.

Again, I fault the postnatal ward. I could not move in bed, my legs were not working. I asked to see somebody, they said it was normal, and would not let me se a doc. I barely managed to walk out of hospital. I thereafter spent 3 weeks not being able to come downstairs, with really bad symphesis pubis dysfunction. Imagine being stuck in bed unable to move, with a newborn, and a 3 year old roaming the house? I couldnt even lift ds2 to the changing station, I barely had strength to hold his legs up for changing nappy.
It took half a year, and a fortune spent on chiropractor treatmens before I was able to walk normally again. The worst part? The obstetrician under Kingston hospital trust had diagnosed SPD, chose NOT to tell me, and NOT to prescribe physiotherapy early. I only got physiotherapy on the nhs after one month, when the acute inflammation was "cured" with strong meds and ice packs, and after 3 treatments physio said "sorry cant help you further. Might have to look into wheelhcair for you if it doesnt improve on its own". Even the physio said this could largely been avoided had the obstetrician who diagnosed it at 5 monhts pregnant sent me to her....

Sorry, you did not ask for a birth story, but if you have concerns about Kingston, and can afford to go elsewhere...... Well, I would!

BUBBLE feel for you. A good friend of mine lost one of her twins (premature birth and medical problem). He lived for 40 minutes.

morning all

lemon - i tore but nothing major, never felt it really, then or afterwards and healed quickly.
i think there is a lot you can do during pregnancy to prepare for birth (not convinced on oiling the perineum)
i would say steer clear of pethidine, hrs of hell for me with very bad consequences afterwards.
best of luck whatever you decide

sue- mellow found out yesterday that my old home phone number is sill on contact list, but mobile ok

i just gor up after tiring night with dd.