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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Maternity Services in Norfolk

19 replies

bonzo77 · 22/07/2015 13:43

I'm hoping to have my baby near home in London. But we'll be holidaying in Norfolk when I am around 35/6 weeks, which is the time my last DC arrived. Where would you recommend I went in an emergency? Complications are that this will be DC3 and CS number 3, and that I'm already having growth scans every 2-3 weeks and will need to be seen urgently if there is reduced movement. It will need to be a unit therefore with consultant cover and a NICU (which is where DS2 started off).

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Original poster

bonzo77 · 22/07/2015 13:47

Silly I forgot to say post code of area we are staying is PE31.

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rockybalboa · 22/07/2015 13:58

Looks like you are heading Burnham way with the rest of London (Chelsea-on-Sea....). Well there are hospitals in Kings Lynn (which will be closest) and Norwich. I don't know much about Kings Lynn but the Norwich & Norfolk is a huge teaching hospital with NICU etc so would meet your 'needs' perfectly. However, I can't for the life of me imagine why on earth you would be going ahead with this holiday in your circumstances. What arrangements will you have in place for DC1&2 as if you have to be rushed off to the N&N (an hour away) and require a stay in NICU/SCBU? Just sounds utterly bonkers to me. Obviously sod's law will dictate that if you choose to stay at home and miss the holiday then the baby will stay put until after the end of the holiday. I know you're not asking for should I/shouldn't I responses though. Might be worth looking to see if there is a local MN board for Norfolk to get some insider knowledge. My knowledge comes from someone I know who is a midwife at the N&N but that's all really.

Original poster

bonzo77 · 22/07/2015 14:10

Right. Thanks. I have arrangements covered for the older 2: my parents are with us with their own car and car seats. My DB and SIL will be with us too, with their DCs and space in their car. I have loads of back up and they all know what the situation is. I have a scan the day before we go away, and will only go away if the consultant is happy. If she wants me back during the week for an extra routine scan we'll go. It was not a case of early labour last time, just findings at a routine scan that promoted the consultant to advise delivery within a few days. I've been medicated and monitored this time and consultant is very happy with the situation thus far, which is more stable / optimistic than at this stage last time.

If I have reduced movements and they recommend delivery the plan would be to leave the older 2 with my parents and DH and I to drive back to my usual hospital if it was considered sensible.

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aimees75 · 22/07/2015 14:59

I've just been in that very area last week and noticed I was spotting, so I headed to King's Lynn hospital and couldn't fault the service. I was seen in 10 minutes by triage, and went back two days later for a scan at the early pregnancy assessment unit, where they were lovely. It is definitely more local than Norwich and in my opinion they were great

Sparrowlegs248 · 22/07/2015 15:41

I'll be having Elcs at QEH in Kings Lynn on Friday. I have attended the day assessment unit there about 6 times and have had great care each time. Was kept in overnight Monday and although i wasn't happy about it cried a lot they were fabulous and very kind. Tel 01553 613904 if you need it. Hope you don't!!

Sparrowlegs248 · 22/07/2015 15:42

Not sure on level of coverr- there has been a consultant there each time I've been but that hasn't been a weekend. There is nicu.

ARV1981 · 22/07/2015 15:53

I'm having my baby at the N&N, but it's my first so I can't really give you any advice except to say that the few times I've been in for monitoring I've found them excellent.

They were beyond brilliant when my sister had a stillbirth there two years ago, but I don't think that's the sort of experience you want or need to hear about.

I hope you have a lovely holiday - I grew up in north Norfolk and spent a fair amount of time sailing at Burnham overy - it's one of my favourite places in all the world!

SaulGood · 22/07/2015 16:01

I live nearish to King's Lynn. I had both of my children at the Norfolk and Norwich.

My friend had all of hers at the QE in Lynn.

I know them both and I would say that time is of the essence so you just go to whichever is nearest depending on what you're doing that day. Don't be alarmed by the fact that KL hospital looks like it's a zombie apocalypse film set. It's an old hospital and not too pretty but maternity services are perfectly adequate. They also have private rooms which the much newer, shinier, prettier NNUH teaching hospital doesn't. That might be important to you? They also have all day (8-8 I think) visiting at the QE whereas the NNUH is only a couple of hours in the morning, partners only briefly in the afternoon and a short slot in the evening.

Original poster

bonzo77 · 22/07/2015 16:22

Thanks for all the advice. . Not bothered by private rooms, but most reassured that there are plenty of options. I've not had any real emergencies in any of my pregnancies so far, touch wood. But it's good to know where to turn if I think I need looking at.

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Original poster

bonzo77 · 22/07/2015 16:24

Current hospital looks like something out of Dickens, but is actually extraordinarily brilliant, so appearances are not everything!

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SaulGood · 22/07/2015 16:29

Oh no appearances mean nothing. It's just a bleak and strange place to turn up to (I was there last night at 11pm in fact). It's strangely lit and a bit dilapidated.

ARV1981 · 22/07/2015 18:52

I'm no expert, but the N&N gave my sister a private room, so I do know they have them! And the two times I've been up for monitoring, I've been given a private room both times.

austengirl · 22/07/2015 22:11

A coworker has had specialist antenatal care from N&N and is planning to deliver at QE and seems happy with the care she's received at both. Hope you're ok to go ahead with the holiday.

SaulGood · 23/07/2015 19:17

ARV, things may have changed. It's been 3 years since I had a baby there and back then they had no private postnatal rooms if you were consultant led. There are private rooms in the MLU. Like the op, I was under consultant care so could not access the private rooms.

Original poster

bonzo77 · 23/07/2015 22:17

saul ARV's DSis had a still born baby: I'm sure they find a private room in these circumstances, even if they don't ordinarily. In my usual hospital they use side rooms on other wards for this purpose: either the ante natal ward or general gynaecology.

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SaulGood · 23/07/2015 23:09

Oh gosh, I didn't know that. I'm sorry ARV.

I don't suppose my original point was clear. King's Lynn advertise the fact that they have private rooms and for some people this is a priority. NNUH consultant led care don't have private rooms though obviously in particular circumstances they find something and I have a couple of friends with sad and difficult circumstances where a room was found on antenatal.

I only mentioned it because some people like to pay for a private room regardless and you were wondering about different services available.

ARV1981 · 25/07/2015 15:39

Thanks Saul... I'm consultant led too (back problems and because of what happened with my sister -we're identical twins so I have the same risk as her of having another stillbirth). I haven't really looked into whether there'll be a private room or not for me after the birth. I just want to get the baby here safe and sound and if I have to spend a night or two on a ward then so be it - I've seen the absolute worst situation possible and can only pray (which is odd because I'm not religious) that my baby enters the world safely.

I was just saying that I know they do have private rooms because I was in one of them with my sis when she had her daughter - it wasn't a side room on another ward, but part of the deliver suite. The midwives were absolutely brilliant and I could not find any fault whatsoever in the care my amazingly brave sister had at that time.

I actually don't think anyone should be able to pay for a private room... after seeing the real need for them and if they are a scarcity then they should be used by women who need them not just those that can afford them. This is just my opinion! I know other (luckier?) people feel differently.

Sparrowlegs248 · 25/07/2015 20:29

I've had my elcs at KINGS LYNN. It all went very well and baby is beautiful. There are private rooms which you can pay for but you wot get the room if it is needed. These are on the ward. I had a private room before and for a few hours after the c section. This was off the theatre. The care has been great.

5madthings · 25/07/2015 20:36

I had all the madthings at the Norfolk and Norwich, they were great each time.

Know people who have had babies at King's Lynn as well. Norfolk and Norwich is easy to get to. Whereabouts in Norfolk are you staying?

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