Lewisham Birth Centre - experience?

[stina]

We are expecting our 2nd in a couple of months and I am interested in finding out more about the new(ish) Lewisham Birth Centre which wasn't around when we had our daughter. Does anyone have experience from giving birth there?

Thanks in advance

[slh2009]

Hi, I don't have experience of the Birth Centre unfortunately but just to say that they are very strict on who they let give birth there. If you have any complication at all they will not allow it. I wanted to use the Birth Centre but was unable to so recently gave birth on the Labour Ward. Although the birth was quite traumatic, the care that I received at Lewisham was very good and better than others I've heard of at Kings by all accounts. I'd recommend it!

[Keef]

A friend of mine recently gave birth there, and she said it was amazing.

We have quite a bit of history with Lewisham for one reason or another, and the staff there have always been wonderful.

[duchessofdulwich]

Know someone who had a baby quite along time ago (8 years) and had a very good experience at Lewisham.

[Keef]

I'd be surprised if Lewisham took people from east dulwich though. Unless of course, you live up in Forest Hill or Sydenham (as we do). I could well be wrong though.

[batgirl]

I gave birth to both my children at Lewisham Hospital,one in 2004 the other 2006.I lived on Asylum road in Peckham at the time. You are able to make a request to give birth in a hospital of your choice, but if out of your borough they may not accept.

[craigy]

Lewisham may well take from SE22 as it is based on PCT and health authority so you are still in area living in Southwark as HA is Lambeth/ Southwark/ Lewisham and you do have a choice between hospitals in that area..

I have heard good things about the birth centre but is always important to remember that birth is very subjective and one womans amazing birth may be another womans horror story...

[Beagle]

I think you can visit to see it. I know some girls in my post natal group who had water births there since it opened in March. They speak extremely positively about the experience and the overall feel of the facility.

[simonethebeaver]

If you're booked to have your baby at King's, you can use Lewisham Birth Centre. We were told that last week at a parentcraft class at King's. BUT if you need to be moved out of the birth centre, you will then of course be at Lewisham Hospital, not King's.

[stina]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I've just been on the phone to the birth centre (and spoken to two extremely helpful women) and will make a visit to see for myself.

[kemurf]

I had my second daughter at the Birth Centre in September, and used the maternity ward upstairs 2 years earlier with my first daughter; I can highly recommend Lewisham Birth Centre. The staff are incredibly professional, welcoming and warm and make every effort to make you feel calm and comfortable - from the fantastic, modern decor, to the reception area, to the tea room (!), it honestly feels like everything has been created with the 'client' in mind - and that's how I felt - like a client, rather than a patient. It does not feel like a hospital. And the 5 birthing rooms are incredible. I had one with a pool in which was AMAZING! And I was discharged, 5 hours after giving birth and I have never felt so good. Have you googled Lewisham Birth Centre to see what it looks like? If not PM me as we took a photo of it when we arrived - it looks like a hotel!

You have to have no known risks - straightforward pregnancy, no medical complications etc to be allowed to use it. There are 2 risk assessments performed before you are 'on the list' to give birth there; one with your community m/w one with a Birth Centre m/w - I had the latter whilst on the routine tour at 37 weeks.

I understand that Kings are looking to have a Birth Centre, so fingers crossed.

Good luck Stina!