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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

MARSLADY! I need help!

39 replies

1sttimer80 · 11/03/2008 14:21

Hi marslady I've heard you're the best eprson to speak to about hospitals. I was wodnerign what your experience is with the Whittington hospital?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

funnyhaha · 11/03/2008 20:57

bump

T2M · 11/03/2008 21:19

I'm sure Mars will give you her input until then.

I have worked at Whittington and the staff are lovely, the care in the delivery suite is great but unfortuantly like most hospitals the PN ward isn't that great, so the more natural your birth the quicker you can get home. HTH

Posey · 11/03/2008 21:23

I'm sure Mars can help, but I do also know there are loads of N Londoners on here, many of whom have used the Whittington! Try searching the archive while you wait for Mars to reply or even start a thread with Whittington in the title

mehdismummy · 11/03/2008 21:35

hi had my ds there. They were great. Staff wonderful. Pn care not very good but i had a good experience there. Where are you love?

elkiedee · 11/03/2008 21:37

Hi 1stTimer, I had my baby at the Whittington last May. When are you due and whereabouts are you?

There are several threads about the Whittington on the Haringey local thread - are you there or in Islington?

mehdismummy · 11/03/2008 21:41

wheres my coffee!

elkiedee · 11/03/2008 21:49

mm, get in touch - do you still have my email? I have yours if not. I'm back at work now Monday to Friday full time, if you've got any time over the Easter weekend or weekends following I'd love to try and arrange to meet up!

I've seen that you're in Edgware, 1stTimer. I'm nearer to the Whittington but it's not my nearest hospital, I chose it for public transport links.

I liked all the midwives I met, but found being kept in for 36 hours and not getting the postnatal support which was the point of being kept in very tough - and we ended up being taken back in due to feeding problems - while the standard of care in paediatrics was great in lots of ways, I still feel robbed of the chance to establish breastfeeding and generally getting to grips with things my way at home.

mehdismummy · 11/03/2008 22:12

yes would love to. Can you email me. I thought the same about aftercare. I also would given up bf because literally they did not help. Luckily my stepsister manhandled my boobs into ds mouth. Going to mums from 28th for a week. Then free so whenever you can do

theyoungvisiter · 11/03/2008 22:28

I had DS there - AN care great, lovely consultant (who I saw too much for my liking but she took very good care of me) and delivery fine (one cowy midwife but I think you get one of those everywhere, the others were lovely).

PN care not so marvellous - midwives were still lovely but they were overstretched and the ward was heaving. Very luckily I got allocated a private room because the main ward was full and I was one of the few ladies there not to have had a CS (you have to be on the main ward if you are in CS recovery). It was bliss compared to the main ward, if you have to stay in for any reason and can afford it I would really recommend it. I didn't have to pay because I was put there, rather than requesting it, but I think it's not hugely expensive.

I also had problems establishing BF and the specialist BF midwife came once, said "hmm, try skin-to-skin" and then went off shift for 3 days so I never saw her again. But on the plus side they were very supportive of my desire to BF - no-one pressured me to give formula and they all tried to help - but I think it was sheer luck we figured it out ourselves really.

mehdismummy · 11/03/2008 22:40

there is a great sister on cairns ward tall jamican lady who is fab and also a old small jamican lady who been midwife for years and years. I got put back on cairns after labour and those ladies got me a side room. Bless them. As i said pn care not great. If you wanna bf can get you number of my tutor(i am training to be peer support worker) who would come and see you?

MarsLady · 11/03/2008 23:08

Hello! I'm here now. Sorry busy day.

Personally... am very happy with the Whittington. Some lovely mws there (as with all hospitals I know), couple of VERY gorgeous Registrars etc. No mw led unit but have acupunture on the NHS and a team that are available.

Postnatal care can be pants. Same as most hospitals. BFing support... hit and miss. Some mws claim to be bfing mws and then suggest ff at every opportunity, but they do have a lactation consultant. MN... lifesaver for bfing for a lot of people and I can put you in touch with bfing counsellors, lactation consultants etc.

As with every hospital... you have rights and choices. Informed decisions are the best ones. Don't let the ugly exterior of the Whit worry you or the fact that you walk through the lovely modern entrance into the old Victorian maternity ward.

hth

Ask any other questions, happy to give my personal opinion. Just know that for every good story there will be a bad!

cariboo · 11/03/2008 23:12

Oh, hello Marsy! you ol' sonofagun - how's the Bard? Haven't seen you around for aaaages.

cariboo · 11/03/2008 23:14

I'm the one with the dresses...

MarsLady · 11/03/2008 23:17

I'm around my darling dear. Just rather busy with all these women giving birth. I can be found either on a salsa thread (with DaddyJ and any other brave soul) or on the multiple births thread d'y ever.... Failing that look for an "I'm in labour" thread.

How goes it with you my angel cake? And are there any more dresses?

mehdismummy · 11/03/2008 23:24

hi marslady. Will you adopt me please! I think your great

MarsLady · 11/03/2008 23:28

but of course darling!

mehdismummy · 11/03/2008 23:37

seriously what a lovely lady you are. Always about for advice and cuddles etc. You really remind me of a lady that use to come and help my sister when she was a live in carer. Her name was norma and she was a little old jamican lady. Who use to give me cuddles when i was down and make me rice and peas(god i miss rice and peas and made me feel happy. Not that i am saying your little or old or jamican but you give me the same warm feeling. She also was good at advice(although never understood all of it as she had strong accent!) so thanks for making me feel warm inside.

MarsLady · 11/03/2008 23:39

I'm neither little nor old but I am Jamaican. I make lovely rice n peas! As you're local why don't you pop by one day and I'll feed you. I make a lovely curry goat!

mehdismummy · 11/03/2008 23:54

really. Me? Wow i would love to. Do you ever get up to highgate village? My pub is there. Come in and i will treat you

MarsLady · 11/03/2008 23:59

You run a pub?????

mehdismummy · 12/03/2008 00:01

i am one of the managers! Its also a wetherspoons. So cheap here i come. Also if you would like to see a show at the theatre above us will get you free tickets and a free meal afterwards?

MarsLady · 12/03/2008 00:10

I love love love love love you!

readytoswiggin · 12/03/2008 00:11

Hi Mehdismummy! How's it going? I was thinking of you the other day.

MarsLady · 12/03/2008 00:12

Am off to bed. You can email me all your details [mwhahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa] to lovelymarslady at aol dot com.

We'll meet up. I'll do the curry goat and rice n peas and you can do drinks and a show! Match made in heaven!

mehdismummy · 12/03/2008 00:13

email me at [email protected] and i will let you know what plays are on. Please feel free to come alone or with friends/dp/dcs

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