Hi
I just wanted to say that I think it's completely brilliant that you've come from wanting to have an elective c section to wanting to have a natural birth. That's some journey and I wish you all the best, regardless of where you decide to have your baby.
Also, for the people who've posted about previous poor postnatal experiences in hospital and are now pregnant, I wonder if you're aware of private midwifery services who can come into hospital and support you with Breastfeeding to make sure things get off to as a good a start as possible? Could be worth thinking about. Neighbourhood Midwives do this service, you can find us online if you're interested
Best wishes
Julie

Amanda, yes, that sounds very similar. I had a lot of shoving my daughter on the breast, too. And, like you, when the midwife at my home finally showed me the right way, which felt so natural for both of us, I, too, was nearly dried up. Very sad. For months, there wasn't a day that went by when I didn't think about the post-natal ward experience. I still do, occasionally, and keep promising to write a letter to St Tommys.

I'm sorry to hear you had a hard time, too. And having talked to other mums since then, I'm positive we're not alone.

Caroline, your post-natal experience was very similar to mine.

I was transferred to post-natal ward at 3am, Because it was the middle of the night, they weren't willing/able/staffed to show me what's what and I was left to my own devices.

I couldn't get baby to latch, despite pretty much every midwife and lactation expert in the building 'helping' by roughly shoving him on and saying 'there you go'. Even as a first-timer, I knew it wasn't right. We resorted to bottle-feeding until I left hospital and saw a private consultant who got him correctly latched within 30 seconds. Sadly, though, too much time had passsed; my supply had dried and I couldn't relactate.

Good luck with your next birth.

I had my daughter at St Tommy's in 2012 and was appalled by the post-natal ward. (The midwives and, in the end, surgeon during the birth itself were excellent.) I gave birth around 6pm and finally got into the post-natal ward after being held with no care in a holding area for 5 hours. When I finally got into the post-natal ward around 11pm, I asked a midwife for help breast feeding and she told me to wait until the morning. (By the way, they basically dumped me in the ward that night without telling me how to call for help. First, I tried to yell out for a midwife, when I heard one pass in the hall. No luck. When that didn't work, I had to wake my "roomates" - very sleepy new mums - and ask them where the call button was. I couldn't get up to find it, as I had a catheter. Once I found out how to call for help, it took up to a half an hour before anyone came.) In the middle of the night, I called for help again, and the midwife left me in tears, scolding me for not being able to get my new baby to latch on. In the morning, it wasn't much better. By midday the midwife told me I wasn't able to do it at all and should just give up. Give up after less than 24 hours?! From what I understand now, it takes some women weeks to finally figure it out. In the end, I never got the help I needed and ended up bottle feeding - hardly a tragedy, of course - even a blessing in some ways - but quite sad at the time as I am sure we could have done it had to had the proper help and encouragement. Yes, the midwives were understaffed and overworked and took it out on the patients over and over again. I heard two other new fathers yell at two different midwives for issues similar to mine. I couldn't wait to get out of there. I'm pregnant again and am going to C&W, hoping hoping hoping it's better.

My experience of St T's is five years ago so things might have changed.

I loved the home-from-home unit when I toured and had planned a waterbirth. Unfortunately, pre-eclampsia put paid to that and I gave birth on the labour ward. The sh*t hit the fan during labour and the medical team could not have been better, they were exceptional.

Post-birth, though, was another matter, we were there for a week and had a bit of a grim time.

Hi 1sttimemummy,

I sent you an email…

x

Hi
I had the most amazing experience at the Home from Home birth centre at St Thomas', I really couldn't rate it more highly. I was in there for 36 hrs (only because I was anti D) and we were in our own room the whole time and my husband stayed on the sofabed the whole time. I had a water birth, my midwife was amazing and those views are to die for!! Really St Thomas is famous amongst the medical profession (I have a lot of friends who are Dr's) for being a great hospital. C and W on the other hand I have heard nothing but bad reports about (although I can't comment on the new centre which might have been built due to the bad repuation) so much so I have a Dr friend who actually sued them after giving birth there....
That's just my personal experience/stories I've heard but when people tell me they are going to C and W I can't help but feel a bit worried for them!
Good luck!

Have you tried hypnobirthing? I think it was utterly brilliant. The last thing you want is to be anxious and it takes away so much of the fear. I'd really recommend trying it before you go down the elective c-section route. You haven't got long so you may have to find someone who'll do it on a 1-to-1 basis.

Hi there,

I am sorry you feel so let down! I am 7 months pregnant and these hormones don't help do they!

Just to let you know about a case that I was recently made aware of....a friend of a friend was terrified of giving birth and so demanded a c-section and was refused, as you were. This particular lady is a lawyer. She proceeded to investigate the legalities around the subject and it is completely within the woman's right to deliver her baby a she sees fit and therefore you are legally allowed an elective c-section if that is what you want. I am sure she would be happy to discuss with you if you need.

Good luck with everything!


Abi x

I believe C&W has both ICU and NICU but is a smaller hospital overall, so my understanding is that it can't deal with as wide a range of complications, should they arise. Obviously in most cases they don't arise and hence that isn't as important to some people. I also had a work colleague with a horror story at C&W, but that's again very personal and even the best hospitals are going to have the odd horror story.

Hi whirlwind - so Chelsea and Westminster doesn't have an intensive care unit for adults?

Hi for what it's worth i had the most amazing experience at St Thomas'. I had 3 kids (2 were prem) and they couldn't have been more helpful, friendly and reassuring. You're in one of the best teaching hospitals in the world so god forbid something did go wrong you're in the safest hands. I know there are lots of horror stories but i've heard a couple of TERRIBLE ones about C&W - too awful to go into here. Hence why i chose to go to St Thomas and they couldn't have been better. x

Hi

I was at St Thomas' in the labour ward as induced, and I personally found it fine. However, when choosing between St Thomas' and C&W, what swayed me was the availability of emergency care. I know that isn't top of everyone's list and indeed it's a personal choice, but bear in mind St Thomas' is a Category 4 hospital, ie the highest you can get - so they have both intensive care and neonatal intensive care. C&W is not as big. I know it's rare, but I have a friend who ended up in a different hospital to her baby, and that's quite distressing.

Good luck in making your choice.

If you do choose to go to C&W enquire about their doula nest as well.

Hi mumandmore,

Yes I think normally they do not allow tours, I only had a tour because I have been seeing a consultant for fear of giving birth- I wanted an elective section but they decided against it, so they thought it would help with my anxiousness if I knew where I was going to be. Too be honest I'm not sure it helped!