Advice from N16 / Hackney mums please!

[Rozebud]

I would love to hear from anyone local who's done this all before..

Ante-natal classes - anyone use islington and hackney NCT and if so, which venue? Or Jessica James (who does yoga and classes) sounds nice...

I'm planning on giving birth at Homerton. Any positive/negative stories?

12 week scan - At my 12 week scan at the Homerton they are doing the combined test (blood and scan), and apparently you have to wait 10 days for results to arrive in post. Does anyone know if they give you an indication if everything is ok on the day though? I'm not sure I can bear the extra wait...

Thanks

I am also N16, had first baby at Homerton and about to have second there too.

IME the antenatal care has been very good but very over-stretched staff on post-natal wards. Not unusual I think from hearing friends' stories from other London hospitals.

At the 12-wk scan they will give you your risk (if you want it) based on the nuchal measurement alone then you will have bloods taken and a combined risk will come in the post about 2 weeks later. I think the combined test is quite recent at Homerton as I had only nuchal measurement with first baby 2 years ago and combined this time.

Antenatal classes - first time around we went to Bridget Baker in Hackney and have recommended her to others. The support I have received from the other mums we met as part of the classes has been invaluable and we are all still in touch. We also did the sat morning free classes offered at the Homerton which were useful as you get a tour of the labour ward and they explain hospital policy on certain things.

Good luck with your pregnancy!

Thanks Guitargirl, that's really helpful and very much appreciated. Good luck with your's too....

Hi - Rozebud, I live in N16 and all new to this pregnancy thing but due in July - just wondering when you are due? and although not going to Hommerton - having baby at UCL as closer to work for apps - I am doing classes in Hackney and pregnancy yoga in yogahome in Stoke Newington.

Hi - Rozebud, I live in N16 and all new to this pregnancy thing but due in July - just wondering when you are due? and although not going to Hommerton - having baby at UCL as closer to work for apps - I am doing classes in Hackney and pregnancy yoga in yogahome in Stoke Newington.

Hi Rozebud, I also live in N16 and am pregnant with my second baby (due in June).Had first at Royal London and what Im hearing about Homerton is mostly negative..Im thinking of home-birth or birthing centre for myself..
As for triple test; they wont tell you anything on the day but if you are a high risk they will call you withing 5 days.If you are high risk then they send you a letter.So if you dont hear anything really soon thats good..
Best of luck..

Hello all

I live in Walthamstow, but am currently booked in at Homerton (mainly as the only alternative, Whipps Cross, is the stuff of nightmares). So far they've been great, but I have heard bad things about the maternity end of things. But then all London hospitals seem to be pretty dire.

As far as test results go, I was high risk, and they phoned me within three days of the test. Very nice lady, too.

Mica - do you know where there's a birthing centre?

We had a dodgy result from the 12 week scan (1 in 18 chance of Downs) and in fact Homerton rang me as soon as they got the results. I forget now when that was, but think it was maybe about 4 days after the original test (certainly no where near 10).

We had a CVS and thankfully it came back negative - no Downs. They then said the results of that test would take about a week or so, but in fact they had them back in 2 days, and rang to give us the good news.

I suspect they tell you the longest it could take to cover themselves and manage your expectations, but actually operate a policy of contacting you a.s.a.p. particularly if the initial result comes back with a high probability.

I must say also that the midwives and the consultant we had for this bit of the pregnancy were great. Make sure you have the number they give you to call the midwives - you can call them anytime with any questions you have, and I always found them really understanding and helpful.

For ante-natal classes in Hackney I can also highly recommend Bridget Baker.

I was kind of hoping that there is one at Homerton..Saw midwife today and forgot to ask!!Duh!!
Best of luck if you opt for amnio..Had one with DD.Heard that risk is much smaler than 1:100 they tell you it is.
Sorry am no help with birthing centre..
PS I hope that stories I heard about Homerton are either exemption to the rule or that things improved..DD had to stay at the childrens ward when really little and they have been fantastic..

Apparently its special care unit is brilliant, so it's nice to know that's there if things go wrong.

As for amnio, we've decided not to go for invasive tests. The risk of Downs syndrome was 1:99 (and they didn't take into account the presence of a nasal bone, so are probably better than that), about the same as the miscarriage risk. And I don't think we could terminate, whatever the result...

So far, the staff at Homerton have been lovely.

Thanks for all the info!

NewbieMTB - I am due on 12th August... When is your due date in July?

I've been to yogahome a bit in the past... might try it again until Jessica James' yoga classes start (if you do her antenatal classes you also have to do the yoga).

Where are you doing your antenatal classes in Hackney?

I should have said, Bridget Baker's email (for great ante-natal class in Hackney) is
bridgetbaker @ blueyonder.co.uk