Homerton Hospital East London - Experiences?

[Aubergenie]

I'm thinking of changing from my current hospital to Homerton, which is also pretty close. The main reason is that my local has suspended all home births but also because I've heard some pretty awful stories about it (although all the staff have been lovely each time I've been).

I'm hoping to have a home birth, but as it's my first baby I'm fully aware that there is a big chance I will have to transfer.

Before I take the plunge I just thought I'd find out what people's recent experiences have been at Homerton.

Thanks!

I'm going for a home birth with my first too and am under the community midwives at Homerton which is just round the corner (I'm near Victoria Park). Everything has been great at scan times, haven't seen their labour ward though. They have a midwife unit with 2 pools so I hear. Like any hospital, the after care is a bit dodgy, we'll be better off at home but perfectly fine if we have to go in, just bring your clean towels, toiletries and perhaps your own pillow. I've packed my hospital bag just in case and have plenty of stuff to make me feel better should I need to go/stay in. Many new mums have had positive experiences there so don't worry.

I had ds1 there in Oct 2003 and I found it wonderful. I really liked it and the midwives were lovely.

Hi Aubergenie
I'm afraid I haven't had experience yet, but I'm going to... Having my first baby there end of September. So far very impressed at scans etc
Very torn between trying for a home birth or just accepting I may well end up in hospital and going there in the first place. Do you mind me asking what has persuaded you to try for home birth?

Thanks Hatrick, Gilly and Jodie! This is a much more positive response compared to the one regarding the hospital I'm currently under! When are you due Gillythekid?

I don't mind you asking at all Jane7. I had a pretty horrible hospital experience a while ago (miscarriage) which made me start think about home birth when the time comes. I like the idea of an active birth in familiar surroundings if possible. I'd like to be able to do things according to what is good for me and the baby rather than what suits the schedule of the people in the hospital. My mum had my sister at home and said it was great. And so many people on Mumsnet have had positive experiences at home it really makes me want to at least try. What's putting you off giving it a go?

I had three dc's there and the only thing I wasn'y happy with was the aftercare on each occasion. Ante-natal and birth were good experiences but my youngest is 10 years old now so hopefully things have changed now. Good luck whatever you decide

There have been other threads on the Homerton and there may be one in the Hackney local section - some mixed views as I recall. I had DC3 there (2006) and it was OK (although postnatal care predictably grotty) although I also went there as an emergency re my gallstones and had frankly negligent treatment. this latter probably does not tell you anything about the maternity provisions but has left me feeling I wouldn't touch the place again...

Have a look under Hackney local (am no good at thread links) - some quite positive recent experiences there.

Hi! I had all three of my DSs there (in 1999, 2001 and 2004).

Like the majority of other women I have spoken to who have had their babies there, I found the midwives in the delivery suite to be very good, but the postnatal care to be decidedly patchy. Also DS1 nearly died when he was born but it would be difficult to blame that on the Homerton (and things have I think improved a lot in any case since 1999).

Also (although this may no longer be the case) the Homerton used to be quite emphatic that there was a very good chance that they would not have enough midwives available to cover homebirths and so even if you had planned a homebirth there was a high chance you would have to go in there to have your baby.

Do email me on [email protected] if you want any further info. Am conscious that my experiences are all rather a long time ago now.

Aubergenie I'm due mid July. There's no real reason why you ought to be at higher risk of a hospital transfer with your first. It's true you might feel pressured by a midwife if your contractions halt but you're much more likely to get the intervention free birth you want at home. Be confident in your body's ability to deliver the baby, I will only transfer having exhausted all other options or obviously if it's medically necessary. Best of luck! PS Great ante natal yoga at Kings Hall Leisure Centre on Tuesdays at 10 when you're on maternity leave!

Blimey this thread is making me feel vaguely nostalgic for the delivery ward at the Homerton . But only very vaguely...

I had a very good experience at the Homerton - midwives amazing, got to go in the waterpool, all round fantastic. APART from postnatal wards before and after - was induced and had to spend a few hours there on my own when DH was sent home - and just general grottiness afterwards. The SCBU there is one of the best in the country though should you have any problems. We had to go back briefly and they were fantastic. Planning home birth this time around but only because I don't want to be on a ward afterwards. Having said all that someone I know contracted Hepatitis giving birth there..

Thanks VersdeSociete I hadn't realised there was a Hackney Local thread. I've had a look at it and some of the recent experiences are positive aren't they. To be honest, any positive experiences are good to hear. I don't expect 5 star treatment but when I posted asking about the hospital I'm currently under (Newham General) the responses were, frankly, scary.

I accept that when the day comes they may not be able to accomodate my request for a homebirth, but I'd like to at least have the chance which is not possible at Newham.

Good luck to you too Gilly! Will you come back and let us know how you got on in July? Thanks for the ante-natal yoga tip too!

Scans, blood tests etc. faultless (no waiting, competent staff)

delivery suite OK but didn't feel I was really listened to, but then I had a fast labour in the middle of the night. Didn't get to the birth pool, ended up on my back being continuously monitored and had episiotomy (but no other interviention). MWs were all really nice but I should have shouted a bit louder!

Postnatal care pretty good - I was moved a round a bit cos they were very busy, but everything clean and staff answered my bell if I wanted help with bfing. We had a bit of trouble getting out as we couldn't find anyone to do the paperwork.

Overall: I have some quibbles but the staff are good. I think as with any hospital you need to be clear about what you want and go for it. Am booked in for no. 2 but we'll prob have moved before s/he arrives

oh and I was encouraged to consider a homebirth by my local mw with DS1 - we decided against it as a) v small falt and b) DH not keen at all.

There is one downside if you have a car: no parking. But then I got a taxi over no problems

Aubergenie they cannot refuse a home birth no matter how busy they are on the day, they just hire in extra. Please be aware of your rights to a HB as they sometimes try to pull the wool over your eyes as a first time mum. Try the AIMS website for more info as they have a script you can use if you go into labour and they tell you to come in. Make it clear to your MW that you want a HB, that way, you can always go in if need be but not the other way round if you see what I mean. You have the right to give birth wherever you want, I'm doing it in a one bedroom upper flat in Hackney with 2 cats, a husband and a mother in law! Read up and arm yourself with the knowledge, you'll feel so much more confident when the time arrives!

Hi there - I am having my LO at the Homerton any day now (currently 40+3). I have been very impressed with the care so far and have done a tour of the ward which was excellent too (although I have also heard some things about the post-natal care which makes me want to get out of there as quick as we can!). I have only heard good things about it from women who have had babies there this year so I think it is much improved over the last 5 years or so.

Re: homebirths, my booking midwife (who I have seen many times throughout and who has been wonderful) told me that she specializes in homebirths. Her name is Irene and she is on the Zone B midwifery team - I don't know what zone you are in but it might be worth trying to get hold of her on the phone if you don't get any answers out of the general ante-natal enquiries line.

Good luck!

I had ds2 at Homerton in 2001 and it was great, a million miles better than the birth of ds1 at UCH!
HTH's

I had dd1 there in march 05, had an awful experience, induced, left alone on the assesment ward, partner sent home, given no pain relief, very nearly gave birth in a toilet, ended up giving birth in the assesment unit, ended up in theatre after the birth for a repair on a third degree tear, just everything about the stay was awful, i walked out the next day against medical advice, I was very reluctant to give birth there again, but did in april 07, and it was like a different hospital, had a c section, was very well looked after before, during, and after, even the food was ok!

Agree about the car comment, dont even try and park there!

My intention isn't to scare, but make people aware of what can happen and hopefully prevent my nightmare from happening to someone else.

I had a low-risk pregnancy. Antenatal care was fine. Was induced at 42 weeks, but when moved to the Mothers' Suite my care was extremely poor. My monitoring was inconsistent and the midwife didn't distinguish my heartbeat from my baby's. She didn't make us aware of any problems and called for help far too late after realising my baby's heartbeat was too low. I was moved unnecessarily to another room where my baby was immediately delivered by ventouse. She was born not breathing and without a heartbeat. She was resuscitated but suffered extensive brain damage, and died three days later after we decided to take her off life support. The conclusion of the internal hospital investigation was that negligent care led to my perfectly healthy baby's death.

The SCBU staff were wonderful; I can't praise them highly enough for their caring support.

I hope by implementing their own recommendations that the chances of this happening again at Homerton is low. However, I would never have thought that there was a chance of my baby dying solely due to negligent care. It did happen and I would hate to think that someone else would also have to go through this devastating nightmare.

Midwives in birth supportive of me having a natural birth but didn't seem to be too clever and failed to notice my baby was a face-up presentation and kept accusing me of insufficient pushing (while keeping me in a lying on my back position). After the baby was stuck in the birth canal for nearly three hours I was finally wheeled through to the obstetric section where they helped deliver the baby with ventous.I had had a deep episiotomy and a few days later some of the stitches came apart - probably because I was walking five or more times a day between the maternity ward and the SCBU. During the birth they hadn't monitored how much blood I lost and I needed three bags of blood four days later when I developed chest pains and breathing problems from severe anaemia. My baby had to be put in the SCBU as he had developed breathing problems and later jaundice but I received only a tiny bit of help (in the SCBU)with breast-feeding him. They taught me how express milk but meanwhile fed my baby with bottles - after which he would not accept the breast. The SCBU was otherwise excellent - caring and dedicated staff. The maternity ward was horrible, however. The staff could not be bothered to move away from the nurses station to advise, help mothers or even give medication on time .I got angry with nurses a few times for not giving me pain relief on time when I needed to go to the SCBU but was in too much pain to walk and for one outburst they pulled a psychiatrist on me as they wondered if I was suffering PN depression. No I was suffering from the Templar ward. The same blood stains in the bathroom on the floor when I arrived were still there eight days later when I left. Filthy ward - surprised I didn't get a serious infection. Aside from being extremely unwilling to nurse, staff wouldn't change my sheets (ended up getting the linen and doing it myself after five days), wouldn't save food for me when I had to go to the SCBU. My partner ended up bringing all my meals in for me. My impression of this hospital is that they are excellent at baby care but don't give much of a damn for the mothers. I wouldn't give birth there again.

I had my twins at Homerton and had a really positive experience. They were in special care for over 2 months so I got to know the place pretty well.

I ran into lots of problems and their fetal medicine unit was first rate, they monitored me very closely. The special care unit is one of the best in the country so you are in good hands if things go wrong.

Like all maternity units I think it's down to who is on shift at the time. I saw some fantastic midwives and received a high level of care. I have heard some horror stories though so went in prepared for the worst! I was also told the loos, etc were really dirty but I had no problems, all fine. I guess it depends on the sort of women you are sharing with, again down to the luck of the draw.

Homerton is a pretty dodgy area and the front of the hospital did initially put me off - lots of weirdos hanging about! I came out of there really pleased with my choice though and glad I looked past this.

Hi glamourbadger (good name I'm glad to hear about your positive experience of giving birth at the Homerton and sounds as if they were spot on for you and your twins (congrats BTW). I know - the SCBU is fantastic and I was moved watching some of those doctors and nurses at work on tiny little ones - and they were sensitive with the often agonised parents too. I saw some sad cases in that unit which put my son's minor breathing problems in stark perspective.

Maybe it is luck with the midwives - I had one experienced and obviously good vibe woman right at the start of my labour (I was actually in their pool at that point thinking it was all going to go smoothly despite being in agony (no break between contractions...I think because of the back to back position). Unfortunately that one went off duty and I was left with a young nervous girl, then some well meaning brutes

SF1102 - very sorry about your baby girl. Thanks for posting about it.

I am due next week, so far I've received care from the Homerton Hospital Team, I had reservations about the hospital from day 1. I initially asked my doctor if I could have my care transferred elsewhere, he recommended that I didn't, I heeded his advice and have had the worst care possible. Homerton hospital's culture is Disorganised, Unprofessional and Lacks Communication. At 34 weeks I thought about transferring my care to the Whittington, but decided it was too short notice, now with one week to my due date I'm reconsidering. This is my first pregnancy and I think the care I've received so far with the exception of a few individuals has been inadequate, is the care I should expect, should it be questioned? How did some of the midwives actually qualify as midwives?! The receptionists are by far the worst you will come across in the country. I would never recommend to the Homerton. So far reeviews of the Whittington have been better and more consistent than those of Homerton. I know with Homerton you can only stay, once you've had your baby for a maximum of 6 hours(providing its a normal birth) Can anyone tell me how long you stay for in the Whittington and what visitation hours are like??