Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Pregnancy

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

Chelsea and Westminster hospital

2 replies

Augustbaby · 14/12/2009 20:42

Hi!
New to mumsnet.
I have just found out I'm pregnant and wondered if anyone has given birth recently at this hospital.
I have heard a lot of positives about the ante-natal care and birthing experience but also a lot of negative experiences in regards to post-natal care.
I would love to hear your experiences to help me decide.
Many thanks.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
VerityClinch · 15/12/2009 21:50

Hi there, I gave birth (by elective c-section, due to plancenta praevia) at C&W in July.

The post-natal ward is a bit crazy, I never saw the same midwife twice and they are definitely all rushed off their feet - check you know what drugs you are expecting and ASK if you get given anything that seems different!! But I wouldn't say I had a bad experience at all. I was so wrapped up in my baby, and only there 48 hours despite the c-section, blood transfusion and the fact they insisted I had a fever and were pumping antibiotics into me (I gave birth on the hottest day of the year, and I didn't have a blardy fever, I was just HOT. In the end I took a swig of cold water before they took my temperature, and managed to persuade them I was fine to go home!!)

Post natally, the at-home visits from the midwife were a bit shite, but things improved immensely once discharged into the care of the health visitors - I have a fantastic one, and that's not something you'll hear often.

If you'd like to meet up and quiz me in person (you must be fairly local; I live in Fulham), or even if you have any really specific questions, please do drop me a line - obviously if we meet up I will have to bring my little bundle of joy (now 6 months) with me - but that's no problem (for me, anyway!).

Overall though, I think it's an EXCELLENT hospital, you WILL be well looked after and I had an overwhelmingly positive experience.

And, for what it's worth, I never saw the bathrooms in any state other than spotless... I have heard differently from other mum-friends, so all I can say is, get up early in the morning (this was not a problem for me as I only got about 4 hours sleep the whole time I was there!)

We have been referred to the paediatric outpatients a few times since she was born too (nothing serious, thankfully) and I have to say, I have been very impressed with them... hospital care doesn't necessarily stop with the birth and I would be very willing to take my chances with a bit of shonky post natal care (you will be too spaced out to notice anyway) for the sake of ongoing excellent paediatric care.

And there's a Ben and Jerry's vending machine, and Carluccios over the road does take out, so you don't even have to eat the food.

OK, I am rambling now, do email me if you'd like to!

VerityClinch · 15/12/2009 21:57

Ooops. Also meant to say, there is a group of us mums on facebook, the majority of which gave birth at C&W between May and July this year, none of whom had a straightforward birth, so DO drop me a line and I can point you towards it - we love nothing more than (still, 6 months on) reliving our birth stories and will be only too happy to share.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread