Tunbridge Wells / Pembury maternity ward

Fingerscrossed300 · 2020-01-29T18:40:33+00:00

Hello, Has anyone got any feedback about giving birth at Pembury? Especially for a planned C-section? How did you find the ward and the after-care? Thank you :-)

Whattheother2catsprefer · 29/01/2020 18:45

I had mine there but it was nearly nine years ago and they had literally just opened. I loved being in a single room rather than a ward - I wasn't disturbed by other people but I know some people who found it isolating.

bingandflop · 29/01/2020 19:08

Had a vaginal delivery there and as the lady above says you get your own room, which I quite liked but I can see some may find isolating. Much preferred it to the London hospital where I had my first and was on a big noisy ward after the birth

WorriedButterfly · 29/01/2020 19:41

Hey OP (for some reason I can't tag you). No advice I'm afraid but just wanted to say hi as I am planning on going to the Pembury, I am only 10 weeks though, what stage are you? x

Original poster

Fingerscrossed300 · 29/01/2020 20:01

Thank you all so much for the info :-)

@WorriedButterfly just had my 20 weeks scan yesterday, feeling a little bit reassured ;-)

OP posts:

superking · 29/01/2020 20:08

I had an elective C-section there in 2016. No complaints, all went smoothly. I chose it over my closest hospital because of the private rooms w/ ensuite and that was brilliant - meant DH could stay the whole time I was in so I wasn't struggling to lift baby post op. I was in for 3 nights and was ready to go home the next morning but the discharge paperwork took all day - a bit annoying but they were short staffed and it didn't make much difference really.

Be warned that it feels like a very long hobble from the maternity wing to the car park when you do manage to leave!

But overall I would definitely recommend it.

MrsWhy · 29/01/2020 20:30

Watching with interest, I'm 23 weeks and planning on giving birth there

sep30 · 29/01/2020 20:52

I'm planning on having my baby there due in 5 weeks, lots of my friends have had them there and been really happy, I think all have ended up needing intervention but I think that's quite common in hospitals? One had an elected c section and was really happy with them x

Original poster

Fingerscrossed300 · 30/01/2020 09:50

@sep30 so exciting, congratulations! will you let us know afterwards? thank you :-)

OP posts:

Bellafreud · 01/02/2020 20:05

I spent time on the ante natal ward, then a week on post natal ward and my baby was in SCBU. Staff are super helpful but generally busy. The Drs aren’t around much but midwifes were generally all great. I know a lot of people that ended up needing emergency c sections there but I may just know an unrepresentative sample!

cafedesreves · 27/06/2022 21:36

Just wondered if anyone had any update on the Pembury for C sections? I had a very difficult time with DS and want somewhere where DH can stay with me full time. I read a news story about an incident 6 or 7 years ago which worried me so would love to hear more recent stories!

GrowBabyGrow · 28/06/2022 09:08

Hey @cafedesreves , partners are allowed to stay overnight at Tunbridge Wells hospital as you'll have your own room :) they recommend that you bring a blow up mattress or something for him to sleep on though so he's not having to sleep in a chair!

cafedesreves · 28/06/2022 19:26

GrowBabyGrow · 28/06/2022 09:08

Hey @cafedesreves , partners are allowed to stay overnight at Tunbridge Wells hospital as you'll have your own room :) they recommend that you bring a blow up mattress or something for him to sleep on though so he's not having to sleep in a chair!

Thank you! So helpful.

Tigerlily08 · 29/06/2022 02:43

@cafedesreves I'm currently on the antenatal ward at TW waiting for my CS which has been brought forward to tomorrow. The staff in triage have been amazing today. I will update you once we're discharged.

I had my first at Medway so it'll be interesting to compare it.

I'm finding the single rooms an absolute blessing (even though I'm awake at 2.40...) but I am a bit of a hermit so I can see how some may find it isolating.

As said above, partners can be with you 24/7 - mine isn't but only because he is home caring for DD. He will be back first thing. He was with me throughout my time in triage too.

Kikospeedo · 29/06/2022 02:52

I had an EMCS in April this year.. the support and care was absolutely fantastic. The post natal rooms are all separate with e suites. All of the staff were incredible and I was in for 10 days… almost didn’t want to leave! Good luck OP, i hope it all goes really well.

DoubleEspresso22 · 29/06/2022 03:17

Hi, had an elective c-section there two weeks ago and compared to my first birth in London (emergency c-section) it was an absolute dream from start to finish - I was only there for one night but would have happily stayed for longer! They have a separate team for planned sections so you won’t get bumped down the list by emergencies. As others have said, the private rooms are a godsend, partners can stay and are given meals too. I was also given all my pain meds to self administer so didn’t have to wait around for the midwives each time I was due a dose. You’re pretty much left in peace but the staff are more than happy to help if you need them. Good luck with it all!

poppyflower1803 · 29/06/2022 04:12

Had my baby there three months ago, was a emergency forceps delivery in theatre but the theatre staff were lovely. My midwives throughout my induction were great too. I was originally wanting a birth centre birth, but they weren't open yet locally, so had to go to pembury which wasn't far from us anyway and was were I was born many years ago too!

Have had all my scans there incl. growth scans up to 39 weeks as well as being admitted to EGAU and maternity triage many times through pregnancy, and the consultants have all been very good (apart from one cow but she's left now!). Only downside I can think of was my experience on the post-natal ward. I felt quite 'left to get on with it' and even though I got a lot of BF support with trying to get baby to latch, the midwives failed to recognise my daughters tongue tie until I was back at my local midwifery clinic for post birth checks. They didn't check on you medically very often on the ward either, so felt they were lacking there, maybe they were short staffed that day 😅

Good luck OP, it's a lovely clean hospital with great staff and you get to have your own room on the antenatal ward, delivery suite and postnatal ward!

poppyflower1803 · 29/06/2022 04:16

poppyflower1803 · 29/06/2022 04:12

Had my baby there three months ago, was a emergency forceps delivery in theatre but the theatre staff were lovely. My midwives throughout my induction were great too. I was originally wanting a birth centre birth, but they weren't open yet locally, so had to go to pembury which wasn't far from us anyway and was were I was born many years ago too!

Have had all my scans there incl. growth scans up to 39 weeks as well as being admitted to EGAU and maternity triage many times through pregnancy, and the consultants have all been very good (apart from one cow but she's left now!). Only downside I can think of was my experience on the post-natal ward. I felt quite 'left to get on with it' and even though I got a lot of BF support with trying to get baby to latch, the midwives failed to recognise my daughters tongue tie until I was back at my local midwifery clinic for post birth checks. They didn't check on you medically very often on the ward either, so felt they were lacking there, maybe they were short staffed that day 😅

Good luck OP, it's a lovely clean hospital with great staff and you get to have your own room on the antenatal ward, delivery suite and postnatal ward!

Didn't read the date on the thread 🤣

cafedesreves · 29/06/2022 07:05

@Tigerlily08 best of luck today ❤️

It sounds a wonderful place 😊

Herecomestreble1 · 29/06/2022 08:32

MrsWhy · 29/01/2020 20:30

Watching with interest, I'm 23 weeks and planning on giving birth there

Also 23 weeks and giving birth at Pembury - maybe see you there!

Herecomestreble1 · 29/06/2022 08:33

Oh I'm so sorry I've just seen this is an old thread, sorry all!

Cruz86 · 29/06/2022 09:11

Good luck with your CS @Tigerlily08. I'd be interested to know how you find it compares to Medway. I had my first there and am due my second in Medway too, but family members have recommended Pembury which has got me thinking! X

Tigerlily08 · 30/06/2022 15:56

What a fabulous hospital. We are just being discharged pretty well 24-hours after delivery. I found everything about my experience here 1m times better than Medway.

I found the midwives at Medway prickly, pushy and not particularly supportive. It couldn't be more different here, every member of staff has been lovely and the midwives listen to what you want. None of this pressuring you to breastfeed either.

Everything has been very efficient, they communicated well with us every step of the way and made sure that you're involved in the decisions for your care.

The single rooms are a blessing, particularly on the postnatal ward where it's lovely to have the privacy to get to know your new little baby. They supplied a mattress so my partner could sleep on the floor. They're also happy for partners to shower in the en-suite which I know a lot of hospitals are funny about. They provide meals for your partner too.

We're adamant this is our last baby but if anything were to change, I'd definitely be back here.

Best of luck with your pregnancies ladies! Xx

WorriedButterfly · 01/07/2022 05:45

Hi OP, I commented on this original thread back in 2020. Just wanted to say I had a really positive experience a few things to note though:
private rooms are amazing - but ring that bell, if you need support it is there but you need to ask for it.
go with your gut - if you feel there is anything not right.

My Ds wasn’t getting enough milk from me, he had some formula in the hospital, I pumped to help my milk come in and we switched fully to BFing after a day or so. It stressed me out at the time with the formula as I thought I then wouldn’t be able to BF.

on BF don’t sweat it if it’s not for you, fed bub really is best, and a chill mum is everything.

you can order in takeout if you want it but both you and partner can eat hospital food

you can have a playlist in theatre

don’t leave until you’re ready - I pushed for an extra day until
i felt ready with the feeding

it is such a cozy bubble - enjoy! And congrats @Tigerlily08 !😍

mcmami · 03/09/2022 09:27

Hi! These comments are very useful. I have one question though, for those of you that had planned c-section, how many days before due date did you have it? Are they flexible giving you dates?

I'm 34 weeks with possible placenta previa so just trying to plan ahead. Midwife only tells me is somewhere during week 39 but I would like to hear your experiences.

Thanks!!

DoubleEspresso22 · 04/09/2022 18:28

I had my planned c-section two days before my due date, so 39+5. I too was told it would be some time in week 39. Not sure how flexible they are as I didn’t request a different date, sorry!