Anyone had experience of Royal Surrey hospital/doulas?

[Pinchypants]

Afternoon ladies!
Am only 18 weeks pg but already thinking about birth! Will be having baba at the Royal Surrey in Guildford - anyone had any good experiences there, or any constructive advice? Am aiming for the Home from Home unit if poss and assuming all continues to be fine.
Also, am considering hiring a doula. Can't find anyone local who is free for August, already!? - anyone got experiences of giving birth in hospital with a doula, or any recommendations of a doula in Surrey?
Thank you!
Pinchy xx

I gave birth in the Royal Surrey last April. The care I got was basically very good.

My labour was long (23 hours) so I had 3 different midwives on shifts, and 2 of the 3 were very good, and the third (unfortunately the one who was there for the birth) was OK but not someone I'd want to go out for a drink with, IYSWIM! I ended up with a C-section and I can't fault the medical team: the surgeons were absolutely fantastic and I had complete confidence in everything that was done.

Bad points: (1) The food is crap. Maybe you should just expect this from hospital food, but be prepared. Also, things I had ordered on my menu never arrived and sometimes I got other patients' food instead. (2) The admin is poor. Nobody tells you how anything works (the phones, etc). There was a breastfeeding room but nobody told me about it.

Good luck! It is basically a very good hospital and I'm being ultra-picky in my criticisms here.

I gave birth in the RSCH in 2001, and the care was wonderful.

Agree with TF the food is atrocious, I ordered sausages with Mustard Sauce and my DDad actually took a photo of it as it truly looked like a dog turd.

Also, I would highly reccomend put your name down for an amenity room, the noise you encounter on any maternity ward is a form of torture.

Re: Doulas why don't you CAT Mars (MarsonLife atm I think) as she is training to be a doula and maybe able to give you someones name.

Thanks girls - that's really reassuring. My best friend had her twins by elective C-section there exactly a year ago on Saturday and she said the care was fantastic and the food was crap too. Her DH brought in bowls of pasta with homemade pesto for the three days she was there, bless him, and the amenity room did seem like a good option. She obviously didn't have much contact with midwives/home from home unit, so just wondered what others' birth experiences were there.
Thanks again for all your info
Pinchy xx

I'm another one who had a good experience at the Royal Surrey - I gave birth in the home from home unit and would honestly say it was a really good experience last time and I hope it will be again next time (if there is a next time). I had the same midwife while I was in labour (only in the hosiptal 3 hours before ds was born) and she was excellent.

Would second the comments about the food though - it might sound nice, but when it arrives ...!

Hi Pinchy, My second child was born at the Royal Surrey however with my third baby i opted for a home birth although they tried to persuade me to use the home from home unit when i went into labour.The Royal Surrey is by far the nicest compared to the other local maternity hospitals at St Peters and Frimley Park. I am also a trainee doula so let me know if i can be of help.

Just to add my experiences of the Royal Surrey ... I had dd there and they were fab. I had 2 different midwives (shift change) and both were v.down to earth and lovely. Read my birth plan and followed it. They were really encouraging, let me try the birth pool (I loved it) and gave me the choice of staying in to give birth. Basically a very calm, low key experience. Also very helpful getting breastfeeding going.

I also had a totally different experience there last year at 19 weeks when I had to go in to deliver my baby that had sadly died. I honestly couldn't fault them then either. Compassionate, caring, just plain lovely. Everyone from the "system" itself, to the midwives, chaplain, consultant.

But agree ... the food is terrible. The beef and horseradish risotto still sends shivers down my spine ...

Thanks to mothercat and wishing chair for your comments - I've had the hospital tour and the parentcraft and physio classes now (am 34 weeks this Friday), and all the midwives so far have been fantastic. I'm now just hoping that low-lying placenta and breech baby resolve themselves over the next couple of weeks so I can make the most of the home-from-home unit and the water pool!
Mothercat, thank you for your kind offer - if all goes well and we can go for normal delivery I will give you a shout and see if you are free for my 4 August EDD.
Pinchy xx

I'm due 8th August ... might see you in there