Giving birth at Kings/Lewisham/Guys & St Thomas's

[aelizabeth]

Hi

Sorry for repeating old threads, but would be great to hear from recent mum's on their experiences of giving birth at Kings/Lewisham/Guys & ST Thomas's.

I know every experience is different, but I'm contemplating swapping from Kings to Lewisham (I live bang in between the two) and I'm really torn.

I know Kings is outstanding, but I think I'd like to give birth in a midwife-led birthing suite, and I know Kings only offers 2 of these rooms versus 5 at Lewisham. Also looking at Which? it seems that Kings has much fewer beds (9 vs 16) for the same number of babies delivered so I'm really worried about how busy Kings will be (a worry that has been reinforced by some horror stories from friends)

Would love to hear about other people's experiences

AE

[midivydale]

Hi and congratulations! I gave birth for the second time at Kings 8 weeks ago. Again the care I received was outstanding. Yes it?s busy and the postnatal Ward isn?t great fun but from I hear I think that?s the same st both Lewisham and st Thomas. Best of luck, for me Kings was a given as if went wrong (they did first time around) I knew that the care would be great (it was). You will be fine wherever you go. x

[sillywoman]

I've sent you a pm. x

[PurdeyHJ]

PM'ing you

[chica9]

From what I understand, both centres have really improved and are keen to have more babies born in the midwife-led units. It?s worth contacting them both to find out whether you are likely to meet their criteria for having a baby in the midwife- led units though - I found the criteria were pretty strict and have failed to meet them both times! So it?s worth thinking about how you would feel if you ended up on the main labour ward of each hospital. That said, those people I know who have been able to birth their babies in the (midwife led)lewisham birth centre speak really highly of the experience.

[ruthief]

If you are considering the midwife-led suite, have you thought about a homebirth? We just had an amazing homebirth through the Lewisham community midwives (our first was born at Kings) and I would totally recommend it. As someone posted above, the midwifery unit has strict criteria for use, but homebirth is a bit more relaxed (we wouldn't have been able to use the midwifery unit for example, as I was 'overdue' at 42+1 and outside hospital policy, but still able to have a wonderful homebirth in the pool). You also benefit from caseloading midwife care for homebirth at kings and they are moving to this at Lewisham too which means continuity of care through 0regnancy and postnatal.

[zoester]

I have had the same concern, I am in the early stages but was discussing with the midwife yesterday and she said that because Kings has such a high number of home births there is rarely an occasion where the midwifery suites are over booked. I really hope that is true as I just don't have the space for a home birth and the thought of a ward intimidates me.